Sonic Prowler...
#1
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 497
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From: Saucier/Gulfport, MS
Ok, I think everyone knows the 26 has an issue with Porpoising...
I've got K-planes, & they do a great job of controlling it, & mid 50's, I am able to lift them to "neutral" (not sure if that is still considerd to be dragging). However, the porpoising will still return at that speed if a wake is hit, or any wave to upset the ride. Again, I drop the tabs, & all is well.
I've also swithced to a Hydromotive P5X, hoping to help the issue. It does seem to help some, but what that prop does more is...On plane much quicker, & I no prop blow-out in turns.
So, more or less, I've "learned to live with it"...With that said, I really enjoy the boat. I love the ride, it is a very secure feeling boat. I do plan on keeping it for a while. So, I started learing more about the Porpoising issue...
Being that all Prowlers do it, I'm convinced it's not a "hook" in the hull, unless it was a design issue, & I've never heard anything about that.
I have also read about the "notched transom" being the issue. Well, I'm not ready to have it filled in....lol.
I am thinking more along the line of drive depth. I'm not sure which way it would need to go to help it. I've read where some boats do better with a shorty, & some do better with a drive spacer.
So, short of spending lots of money to test, I'm looking for a bit of input.
I know there was a thread here a while back, & someone was planning on trying a shorty, but I've not seen where they actually did.
Has anyone tried a drive spacer? I'm thinking that is the direction I need to go. It seems to me (definitely not an engineer) the prop would have more "leverege" to hold the bow, if it were a bit deeper in the water. Am I thinking wrong with that?
Then I look at what a shorty may do, it seems that the boat would want to run more level, & that boat definitely seems to like...more level.
I had even considered looking into an extension box, but that is quite a bit more work, & I know nothing about what they do...anyway.
Sorry for the long post, I'm just thinking of ways that can make the boat better.
Thanks for any input on this....
I've got K-planes, & they do a great job of controlling it, & mid 50's, I am able to lift them to "neutral" (not sure if that is still considerd to be dragging). However, the porpoising will still return at that speed if a wake is hit, or any wave to upset the ride. Again, I drop the tabs, & all is well.
I've also swithced to a Hydromotive P5X, hoping to help the issue. It does seem to help some, but what that prop does more is...On plane much quicker, & I no prop blow-out in turns.
So, more or less, I've "learned to live with it"...With that said, I really enjoy the boat. I love the ride, it is a very secure feeling boat. I do plan on keeping it for a while. So, I started learing more about the Porpoising issue...
Being that all Prowlers do it, I'm convinced it's not a "hook" in the hull, unless it was a design issue, & I've never heard anything about that.
I have also read about the "notched transom" being the issue. Well, I'm not ready to have it filled in....lol.
I am thinking more along the line of drive depth. I'm not sure which way it would need to go to help it. I've read where some boats do better with a shorty, & some do better with a drive spacer.
So, short of spending lots of money to test, I'm looking for a bit of input.
I know there was a thread here a while back, & someone was planning on trying a shorty, but I've not seen where they actually did.
Has anyone tried a drive spacer? I'm thinking that is the direction I need to go. It seems to me (definitely not an engineer) the prop would have more "leverege" to hold the bow, if it were a bit deeper in the water. Am I thinking wrong with that?
Then I look at what a shorty may do, it seems that the boat would want to run more level, & that boat definitely seems to like...more level.
I had even considered looking into an extension box, but that is quite a bit more work, & I know nothing about what they do...anyway.
Sorry for the long post, I'm just thinking of ways that can make the boat better.
Thanks for any input on this....
#3
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Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 365
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From: Manassas Va.
Try talking to Julie at throttle up. I spoke with her, she said that when Dollar offshore and Sonic were kinda tied together her and Mindy did a lot of prop testing on Sonic's. She is familiar with what the Sonic hull likes.
#4
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Solomons MD
All 26 are built like that. I have a 502 in mine and my prop sits that low in the water. Im not an expert, but if the X dimension was raised, would there be enough clean water getting the prop?
#5
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Solomons MD
Ok, I think everyone knows the 26 has an issue with Porpoising...
I've got K-planes, & they do a great job of controlling it, & mid 50's, I am able to lift them to "neutral" (not sure if that is still considerd to be dragging). However, the porpoising will still return at that speed if a wake is hit, or any wave to upset the ride. Again, I drop the tabs, & all is well.
I've also swithced to a Hydromotive P5X, hoping to help the issue. It does seem to help some, but what that prop does more is...On plane much quicker, & I no prop blow-out in turns.
So, more or less, I've "learned to live with it"...With that said, I really enjoy the boat. I love the ride, it is a very secure feeling boat. I do plan on keeping it for a while. So, I started learing more about the Porpoising issue...
Being that all Prowlers do it, I'm convinced it's not a "hook" in the hull, unless it was a design issue, & I've never heard anything about that.
I have also read about the "notched transom" being the issue. Well, I'm not ready to have it filled in....lol.
I am thinking more along the line of drive depth. I'm not sure which way it would need to go to help it. I've read where some boats do better with a shorty, & some do better with a drive spacer.
So, short of spending lots of money to test, I'm looking for a bit of input.
I know there was a thread here a while back, & someone was planning on trying a shorty, but I've not seen where they actually did.
Has anyone tried a drive spacer? I'm thinking that is the direction I need to go. It seems to me (definitely not an engineer) the prop would have more "leverege" to hold the bow, if it were a bit deeper in the water. Am I thinking wrong with that?
Then I look at what a shorty may do, it seems that the boat would want to run more level, & that boat definitely seems to like...more level.
I had even considered looking into an extension box, but that is quite a bit more work, & I know nothing about what they do...anyway.
Sorry for the long post, I'm just thinking of ways that can make the boat better.
Thanks for any input on this....
I've got K-planes, & they do a great job of controlling it, & mid 50's, I am able to lift them to "neutral" (not sure if that is still considerd to be dragging). However, the porpoising will still return at that speed if a wake is hit, or any wave to upset the ride. Again, I drop the tabs, & all is well.
I've also swithced to a Hydromotive P5X, hoping to help the issue. It does seem to help some, but what that prop does more is...On plane much quicker, & I no prop blow-out in turns.
So, more or less, I've "learned to live with it"...With that said, I really enjoy the boat. I love the ride, it is a very secure feeling boat. I do plan on keeping it for a while. So, I started learing more about the Porpoising issue...
Being that all Prowlers do it, I'm convinced it's not a "hook" in the hull, unless it was a design issue, & I've never heard anything about that.
I have also read about the "notched transom" being the issue. Well, I'm not ready to have it filled in....lol.
I am thinking more along the line of drive depth. I'm not sure which way it would need to go to help it. I've read where some boats do better with a shorty, & some do better with a drive spacer.
So, short of spending lots of money to test, I'm looking for a bit of input.
I know there was a thread here a while back, & someone was planning on trying a shorty, but I've not seen where they actually did.
Has anyone tried a drive spacer? I'm thinking that is the direction I need to go. It seems to me (definitely not an engineer) the prop would have more "leverege" to hold the bow, if it were a bit deeper in the water. Am I thinking wrong with that?
Then I look at what a shorty may do, it seems that the boat would want to run more level, & that boat definitely seems to like...more level.
I had even considered looking into an extension box, but that is quite a bit more work, & I know nothing about what they do...anyway.
Sorry for the long post, I'm just thinking of ways that can make the boat better.
Thanks for any input on this....
I really dont think it matters what prop we use, if we shorten the drive or add an extension. Its the nature of the hull...
#7
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Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 497
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From: Saucier/Gulfport, MS
After posting this thread, I spoke with Todd at Hydromotive. I am going to send him my P5X to do some work to the "leading edge" to get more "bow lift".
I did notice a change in the porpoising as soon as I put the prop on right out of the box...It was still there, but it did improve.
I was thinking I needed more "stern lift", but the way Todd explained it, I was thinking "backwards"...go figure
I will post the results when I get it back.
Thanks for all the input...
I did notice a change in the porpoising as soon as I put the prop on right out of the box...It was still there, but it did improve.
I was thinking I needed more "stern lift", but the way Todd explained it, I was thinking "backwards"...go figure

I will post the results when I get it back.
Thanks for all the input...
#9
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Solomons MD
After posting this thread, I spoke with Todd at Hydromotive. I am going to send him my P5X to do some work to the "leading edge" to get more "bow lift".
I did notice a change in the porpoising as soon as I put the prop on right out of the box...It was still there, but it did improve.
I was thinking I needed more "stern lift", but the way Todd explained it, I was thinking "backwards"...go figure
I will post the results when I get it back.
Thanks for all the input...
I did notice a change in the porpoising as soon as I put the prop on right out of the box...It was still there, but it did improve.
I was thinking I needed more "stern lift", but the way Todd explained it, I was thinking "backwards"...go figure

I will post the results when I get it back.
Thanks for all the input...
#10
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: Saucier/Gulfport, MS
However, I do have a bit of "prop torque" while getting on plane, now that I have the 5 blade, but no big deal.
I decided to wait to send to prop back to Hydromotive. I've got some runs I plan on doing over the next month, & I don't think he could get the prop back to me in time. I'll most likely wait until late next month & see how busy they are.





