Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Boat is a 1996 35ss with 502efi's.

I have a set of 24 bravo one 4 blades on the boat now. Is this the best style 4 blade prop for the boat? I know that hydros give strern lift, but i'm not sure if this boat will benefit from that? I am interested in a decent cruise speed. boat runs 69mph on GPS at 5100 with the 24's. and runs about 40mph at 3400.

Friends say boat looks bow heavy when running.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

you need more smoke

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

So does your sister.

Hey BN, did you do any prop testing with your 35 ?

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

My '90 34ss with 550hp is running 75 @ 5200 (3/4 fuel) with 28 Bravo's
Had hydro's on it at one time, cruise was 8 mph less!

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I bought the boat with 25P 3 blade Mirage's, then I borrowed a set of 24P 4 blade Hydro's and the boat seemed to get up on top of the water a lot better. I was able to borrow the Hydro's for the rest of that summer. I don't remember exactly, but I think it ran 69 with the Mirage's and 68 with the Hydro's.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Thanks for the replies.

BN.... Did the Hydros' give you a better cruise speed? Did you ever try Bravo's ?

Did you ever mess with direction (IN vs. OUT) ?

thanks
Mark

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

hey Mark-
I talked to Julie yesterday at Throttle Up, and she's going to call Hydromotive about their props on the 35 versus the Bravo 1's. She should call back Monday.
by the way, I have 26's B1 on my 358 with 500EFI's.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I had my props spinning in for awhile. A little faster......Spinning out now. Boat manuevers ALOT better around the dock now, more stable in rough water too. When hundred people are watching you back into a 8-1/2 ft slot between a half million dollars worth of boats, manueverability is a good thing!!! :drink:
Generally, hydros will give a better top speed(2-3 mph), lower cruise.
Just my experiences, would like to hear others setups/experiences

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Yes the Hydros had a better cruise speed. Never tried spinning the drives in.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Thunder,
What kind of speeds and rpm's are you seeing with the 26's??

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Did you ever get work from Julie about the Hydros ?

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I hope all of you don't mind if I interject here. I too am a Sonic owner ('04 Prowler, 500efi, ITS, XR, kplanes -- the works). I've read dozens ans dozens of articles on the same topic regarding prop selection for Sonics. Mine came from the factory w/ a 26p Bravo one. Could only turn 4750 rpms. Way too much prop for this boat. Put on my buddy's 24p B1 and went up to 5150rpm's.
What I am really concerned with is the same subject almost everyone talks about (regarding Sonics) --- the continual porpoising of these boats and the constant need for use of the kplanes. I guess I'm getting a little tired of hearing "you've got to get these boats on top of the waves" or "they run better in rough water" or "once your at 50 + miles per hour they run great!"
After my X dimension was checked I was told (by an individual synonomis w/ powerboats) that the best way to eliminate this porpoising problem was to have the hull blueprinted. I'm sure you all know what this costs.
What's going on with these Sonic hulls? Are the molds dated? How come no one and I mean, no one returns my calls at Sonic? Richard called me weekly before my wife and I made the decision to buy a Sonic. Now I don't hear from him, Bruce never calls back, Fred is gone Mindi doesn't return calls.
There are alot of questions that need to be answered.
To finish. I spoke to Julie at Throttle Up. Nice person. Said she would run some numbers on my boat and make some recommendations. I thought that perhaps the new 5 blade hydro would do the trick. It appears Prowlers need stern lift. Hope my boat settles down and begins to run right.
Sorry for venting, but almost all Sonic owners (Julie agreed with me) have similar problems. Believe me I read dozens of other boat manufacturers forums and they are not having these types of hull design problems. I didn't have these on my Baja and it ran in the low 80's with no tabs at all!

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Hi All,

While I am a new Sonic Owner (2000 358 500EFI's), I have considerable boating experience. The porposing you refer to is a characristic of the boat. All boat designs are a trade off, Want a fast boat in rough water, or a fast boat in smooth water, you can get one but not both, same with performance, want a big roomy cabin or a fast boat, can't have both... The Sonic hull and weight and balance leans towards great performance in rougher water. The trade off is you need tabs or a lower drive position in smooth water. I have found neutral drive position (2 on my boat) and plus one from neutral tab position eliminates the bounce at lower speeds. In rough water I do not need as much tab.... I have accpeted this as a feature of hull and weight and balance in the design of the boat... Any thought from more experienced Sonic Owners?

Mikee
2000 358

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I know that this thread is getting off topic, but I have to say that my 31 SS does not porpoise at ANY speed, in ANY kind of water.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

My 31SS did not need any tab either but now I have an 02 358 and need to run with a ton of tab unless I'm running at or near full throttle. With 2 people on board I will run with my tabs at "6" and my drives at 2-3 , this is all that keeps it from bouncing. I've found that with a full load of people on board (7 or 8) I do not need to use nearly as much tab - what's up with that? It almost seems like there needs to be a ton more weight in the rear to keep it down.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Mark-
Julie at Throttle-Up never called me back. I got a set of used 28's and have just about eliminated the porpoise, and mid-range is better. (2003 358 w/ 500EFI's)
3800rpms at 59 GPS, WOT at 76

I have the pair of 26's in the garage. if you want to try them, just give me a call.

Adam
cell# 540-847-3124
home# 540-891-8268

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I am not sure where your neutral point for your tabs is on your boat, but my tabs are at neutral when at 5. So moving my tabs to 6 is not a "ton" of tab for me. Check to see where your neutral point is for your tabs.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I used a straight edge and ran it across the bottom of the boat and it looks like they are "level" with the trailing edge of the boat at 3 or so. Is this what you would call neutral or is it where it actually breaks below the surface of the boat or hits the straight edge?

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I consider neutral being level with the running surface of the hull.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Neutral is when your cavitation plate is parallel with the bottom of your boat.

Best way to do this is use your tongue jack to adjust the bottom of your boat to level, using a level.

Then, adjust your drive to the cavitation plate being level; (matching bottom of hull).

Mark your indicator with a little tick mark with a Sharpie so you always know where neutral is.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Hi Steve, I do return calls, have not recieved a message from you. my extension is 204, 954-237-0332.
I would be happy to assist you with this if I can.
Please contact me, thanks, Mindi

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

Mindi,

I've put several calls into Sonic and was promissed a call back. Never happened.

Had 2 very specific questions and Tom could not answer them. He took my name and number on a few ocassions and said that Bruce would call me back. It's been 3 weeks.

I think i would rather talk to Bruce anyway, because I asked Tom about the porpoising issue, and he suggested that i try a set of those "dolphin" things that you drill on your cavitation plates. As soon as i heard that suggestion i knew i was in trouble!!!

Wish i could get a call back!!

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I wish I could also get a call from Sonic. I've left (4) messages.

Adam

cell# 540-847-3124

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I hope this information helps, I finally got a chance to go run my boat this afternoon. It is a 2000 358 with 502 EFI's. It has stock 28P Bravo props. With full fuel, water and one person it turned 5200 this afternoon. It showed about 78 on the gps. The GPS was kinda hard to read this afternoon between rain drops.

Hope this helps

Mikee
2000 358

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

I have changed from Mercury Bravo 1's to Hydromotive 5 blades on my 358 and it has made a drastic difference in the handling of the boat. Much stronger out of the whole, improved midrange throttle acceleration, and at slower speeds almost no tab is required. The porposing does not have to be a characteristic of the boat!

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

When I had my 35 SS, I ran 24P 4 blade Hydromotives and the boat handled great.

Re: Best props for a 35ss ?
 

well i try'd a one inch drive spacer on my prowler and the only thing that changed was that the boat was very hard to get on plane,didn't matter if it was a 3 or 4 blade the same props i was running before spacer,my brother took a picture and now with spacer you can see the first strake under the boat on the outside when your running at speed.