Wanting to try a 4 blade

caddyjoe77 · April 27, 2016, 02:43:23 PM

Right now I have a 25 Tempest on my Ranger z119 with 225 Optimax. I feel like I need a little more lift as well as need this prop worked a bit. So, with that said I was looking at a Bravo 4 blade. Problem is, the bravo's look like only the Bravo I will work?

True or False? Also, what should I be looking for as far as matching the prop to my motor..etc. Any tips/help are appreciated.

Lee Smith · April 27, 2016, 03:13:25 PM

Correct on a Bravo I. I have a 28P you can try if you want. I went to a 26P Fury and it made the boat a completely different critter

Bigwrench · April 27, 2016, 03:15:50 PM

Quote from: caddyjoe77 on April 27, 2016, 02:43:23 PM
Right now I have a 25 Tempest on my Ranger z119 with 225 Optimax. I feel like I need a little more lift as well as need this prop worked a bit. So, with that said I was looking at a Bravo 4 blade. Problem is, the bravo's look like only the Bravo I will work?

True or False? Also, what should I be looking for as far as matching the prop to my motor..etc. Any tips/help are appreciated.

A Fury wont work with that engine ? Just curious since mine had a 4 blade 25P fury that came with it and I run the 25P tempest now. I wish I woulda kept that dang prop now LOL

caddyjoe77 · April 28, 2016, 12:29:10 AM

Quote from: Lee Smith on April 27, 2016, 03:13:25 PM
Correct on a Bravo I. I have a 28P you can try if you want. I went to a 26P Fury and it made the boat a completely different critter

Ok Lee, wont that make my boat not get to max RPM? I am pretty prop "not so smart" but adding pitch would take the RPM's down?

Is there any kind of a formula so I can get to a ballpark figure?

caddyjoe77 · April 28, 2016, 12:30:00 AM

Quote from: Bigwrench on April 27, 2016, 03:15:50 PM
A Fury wont work with that engine ? Just curious since mine had a 4 blade 25P fury that came with it and I run the 25P tempest now. I wish I woulda kept that dang prop now LOL

Shoot man, I got no idea

Computer thing ok, prop thing.....no

Lee Smith · April 28, 2016, 04:23:48 AM

It will cut your rpms down, I was thinking as far as the handling part. Mercury has a 'prop calculator' on their site.

I'm just willing to bet a 26P Fury would rock on your boat! Holler at Ron, he's been through prop hell with his

caddyjoe77 · April 28, 2016, 07:22:03 AM

Quote from: Lee Smith on April 28, 2016, 04:23:48 AM
It will cut your rpms down, I was thinking as far as the handling part. Mercury has a 'prop calculator' on their site.

I'm just willing to bet a 26P Fury would rock on your boat! Holler at Ron, he's been through prop hell with his

Ok, I will give him a call.

Why not a 25? In other words why a higher pitch?

Lee Smith · April 28, 2016, 07:49:30 AM

Quote from: caddyjoe77 on April 28, 2016, 07:22:03 AM
Ok, I will give him a call.

Why not a 25? In other words why a higher pitch?

If your getting all your RPM's at WOT, you may have some power still on the table, a 26P would let you know, if you get the same R's out of the 26P You know you have everything you can get out there.

jonboy · April 28, 2016, 07:07:18 PM

Quote from: caddyjoe77 on April 27, 2016, 02:43:23 PM
Right now I have a 25 Tempest on my Ranger z119 with 225 Optimax. I feel like I need a little more lift as well as need this prop worked a bit. So, with that said I was looking at a Bravo 4 blade. Problem is, the bravo's look like only the Bravo I will work?

True or False? Also, what should I be looking for as far as matching the prop to my motor..etc. Any tips/help are appreciated.

The Bravo 1 is actually designed for inboard motors. Guys are buying them, shortening the hub, adding the PVS holes and adding a little cup in order to make them perform on bass boats. Because so many were being done, they came out with the Bravo 2. It is the same prop but with all of the before mentioned work done. I would think you would need a 24 or 25 p Bravo to get max RPMs on your set up but that is just a guess. You usually can run 1 pitch bigger on a Bravo than you can other 4 blade props to achieve the same RPM's.

caddyjoe77 · April 29, 2016, 10:14:33 AM

Quote from: jonboy on April 28, 2016, 07:07:18 PM
The Bravo 1 is actually designed for inboard motors. Guys are buying them, shortening the hub, adding the PVS holes and adding a little cup in order to make them perform on bass boats. Because so many were being done, they came out with the Bravo 2. It is the same prop but with all of the before mentioned work done. I would think you would need a 24 or 25 p Bravo to get max RPMs on your set up but that is just a guess. You usually can run 1 pitch bigger on a Bravo than you can other 4 blade props to achieve the same RPM's.

So when you say one pitch bigger, you mean a 24 or a 26? I was thinking a 24.

thank you for the information.

Ron Fogelson · April 29, 2016, 11:06:11 AM

Nothing is set in stone with props and boats because nothing is the same; even of the same boats built the same can have small to huge differences in them. Add in how the motor is tuned/running, how the boats/motors are rigged, how big the driver is; If Laurie drives a boat set up for her and I get in to drive it,,,, the hole shot and top end won't be the same

The basics,,,, if you are at max RPM on your 3 blade and want to go to a 4 blade and keep max rpms often you will need to go down in pitch by one. If the base claim is the B2 can be run one pitch higher then other 4 blades when switching from a 3 blade to a B2 you in theory be able to keep the same pitch.

The newer Rangers are running bow high but IMHO are crazy to handle on anything but long straight runs with that set up, trim down just a bit to level the boat and she runs on rails. A 4 blade has the potential to help get more of the boat up out of the water to gain better top by bringing up the rear of the boat without having to trim out as much keeping a more flat running boat with better handling from the boat and better bite from the prop.

Was great chat yesterday as I said I'm still playing with mine but only with jack plate height and boat load layout so far,,,, being one of the fastest boats on the water for me right not isn't worth the $500/600 prop drop right now. Once I drop my motor a few more times I'll start running different props here with friends and then drop some $$$$$ on a new one for me.

If you are getting max or close to max RPM's now you can try and drop the motor a big more but that is going to run you flat,,,,, before spending the cash now that you have seat time start bringing the motor up, watch your rpm's and water pressure and see if coming up a 1/2 to 3/4 inch and adding more trim won't pop the front end out of the water getting you fully running on pad. With mine at 66 / 68 MPH I'm running on pad,,, add in more trim and it feels like the boat lifts another foot LOL but the top end moves up to the 72 mpg range,,, 72.2/.4 and .6 As I said with me still not turning max rpm's I'm a firm believer this boat is a 75/76 MPH boat all day long if not better.

Sadly between a dual house hold,,,, paying for ours and supporting our oldest, our camping trips, family trips a 16 year old at home and life in general,,,,,,,, I've been unwilling to spend the $$$ to finish dialing mine in

Princeton_Man · April 29, 2016, 12:37:15 PM

Quote from: Ron Fogelson on April 29, 2016, 11:06:11 AM
Nothing is set in stone with props and boats because nothing is the same; even of the same boats built the same can have small to huge differences in them. Add in how the motor is tuned/running, how the boats/motors are rigged, how big the driver is; If Laurie drives a boat set up for her and I get in to drive it,,,,

Ron is spot on! I couldn't have been any happier with my Stratos before I replaced the Intruder with an ETEC. Now you'd thing same props, same boat, same set-up, same HP, same gearing, same performance. Not even close. In fact, it's totally different.

Another guy from the ETEC Owners group has the very same boat, very same ETEC, and very same 4 blade, and loves it. The performance he's getting was what I used to get. I moved up in pitch and down in blades and get nearly as good of performance as I used to get with the 4 blade but without the great hole shot. It's crazy.

I spent quite a bit of time talking with Mark Croxton about it and he helped me understand most of what was going on. I finally decided to sell my two 4 blade props and try one of his Razors.

jonboy · April 29, 2016, 03:26:40 PM

Quote from: caddyjoe77 on April 29, 2016, 10:14:33 AM
So when you say one pitch bigger, you mean a 24 or a 26? I was thinking a 24.

thank you for the information.

Copied from Fogys post:The basics,,,, if you are at max RPM on your 3 blade and want to go to a 4 blade and keep max rpms often you will need to go down in pitch by one. If the base claim is the B2 can be run one pitch higher then other 4 blades when switching from a 3 blade to a B2 you in theory be able to keep the same pitch.
Fogy is correct.... I did a lot of research on the Brovo's before I bought mine is the only reason I knew that. I am by no means a prop guy. But I have dealt with them enough to know that what Fogy is saying about whitch prop works best is right. Everybody drives different and wants different performance from their boat. The best bet is to find some buddies that have some props you can try and see for yourself. I was fortunate enough to have a prop shop close by that had a lot of used props. He allowed me to try different ones before buying.