Wondering how a Maximus or P5X would compare to a Bravo 1 on a 2002 Powerquest 280 Silencer 496HO.
Most folks including me with a 502 or 496HO are running a 26 Bravo or Labbed 26 Bravo.
Speeds seem to be 67-68 @ 5100 with a Labbed B1 and 65-66 @ 4900 with a STD B1.
The STD B1 has a better cruise at lower RPM.
Has anyone tried a 24p Maximus or Maximus ST with the shorter center hub, or a P5X on this boat?
Wondering if it actually will plane better or run even better cruise speeds at a lower RPM without sacrificing too much top end.
The Merc website says it would have less prop slip on a step bottom boat.
Any input or first hand experience would be great!

I have run STD Bravo 1 26 and STD Maximus 24 on my current boat, the cruise was much better with the Maximus at a given rpm, the top end was the same, but the MPG was worse with the Maximus and they seem to be hard on the drives, more clunking than the Bravos when docking. In the end I settled on 26p Bravos with a lot of extra cup and a bigger diffuser ring welded on, kind of like a 4 blade version of the Maximus. I also tried a 26p P5x but my current boat did not like them at all. I can also pull STD 28p Bravos, and I get better cruise and 2 mph more top end, but the MPG suffers as the motors a being worked a little harder.

I have no experience with your particular boat but an untouched Maximus is to a boat what drag slicks are to a car they just hook up. I also had another boat that came with STD 30 Bravos and after testing lots of props a STD 29 P5X gave me the same top end, better cruise and MPG, and no blowout getting on plane. It was an Eliminator 28 Daytona, and I also tried a STD 28 Maximus and the cruise speed was great but the motors couldn't pull them on top and I went from 88 with the 30p Bravo and 29p P5x to 80 with the stock 28p Maximus.

I have never had any luck with labbed props, (sharpened and thinned blades), all they ever got me was more slip never any speed to go along with the extra rpms.

You have to figure out what your boat needs to perform the way you want, bow lift, stern lift, more slip, less slip. The best way is to try lots of props and see what the reaction is.

The 5 blades hook up hard and give a lot of mid range punch but on your exact style of boat (mine was an '03) does not handle the same as with the Bravo 1's, and your drive will be taking a beating.
The 5 blades give the boat too much stern lift and plant the nose creating a different handling issue when coming off the gas hard.
It is not confidence inspiring by any means.
You can always try one to verify my comments.
To make the Silencer a really fun boat takes more than the 496's can dish out.
Cheers,
Mike

Both will aid in low end and cruise numbers. The Maximus is a much better canvas to work with if you want to go to customizing the prop for your boat.
We have either in stock form for testing if you desire.

Brett