snopro13

I have an 02 Silencer I have only had it out twice but I noticed that the boat runs flat on the water. I guess the reason for this is if the bow is up higher the step would not work like it should.. is this right? I also called Hydromotive and was told there props did not work well on this boat becouse Powerquest raised the drive height. Has anyone with a newer 28 tried any other props? Thanks..

hp500efi

BillR on this board is the guy to talk to (eventough he has since upgraded to a 340 )

Might want to send him a PM.

jmackin

I was told Powerquest designed their bottoms around a bravo 1 and they are what works best.

Kentz

I've never heard of a hydro being the "best" all around prop except on the smaller Fountains (light). They might offer 1-3 mph on top, but good luck getting on plane or having any midrange excelleration.
Funny, I always found my 26 and now, my 34 to run bow-high, as most 38's I've been in. Thought it was a PQ thing!

I to have spoken with Gary @ Hydro and got the same advice, stick with a Bravo.

My 02

ROGMAN

I have a 00 280 Silencer. Been running through some prop testing with no luck. Boat came stock with a 24. See 65-68 on speedo. It's pretty easy to hit the rev limiter when trimmed up. Got a 24 Turbo prop - works OK, but really saw no gain. Turbo is a 14-1/4" prop, very easy to hit the rev limiter. Friend of mine let me try his hydromotive and a 25 Mirage. Both props did nothing, had massive prop slip. Contacted PQ, they tell me the best prop for that boat is either a 24 4 blade or a 25 3 blade Brovo 1. I'm taking my prop to the local prop shop to add more cup. Seems that the 4 blade makes the boat ride better.
Bill R has been giving me some guidance. After all his trials, he used a tweeked down 26. Hopefully I'll have a tweeked up 24 when I'm done.

challenger

I am in the process of having a Hydro blue printed for my 280. I had my Bravo 24 blue printed last year and the best I saw was 69mph at 5000rpm. The Hydro I bought is a 26 pitch which is way to fat but the price was right. I really like the way the Hydro makes the boat feel. I think it gives me a little stern lift. When I talked to the people from Hydro last year they said that there prop would give me a much more stable ride at top speed. Right now the hydro is terrible out of the hole and top end is about 63 at 4650 rpm. I'll let you know how the hydro works as soon as it is done and the weather allows another test.

jmackin

A 24 bravo 1 is really probably only a 22 in a hydro.

Raypanic

I want to try the new P5 from hydromotive but I need to set a baseline for my rig first.

BillR

I've tried LOTS of props on my '00 280. It had a 502MAG.

I tried:
Bravo 1 24P
Labbed Bravo 1 24P (tweaked w/ extra cup)
Labbed Bravo 1 26P (tweaked w/ slightly less cup)
Hydromotive 24P w/o diffuser ring
Labbed Hydromotive 24P w/ diffuser ring (latest grind)

The Hydro 24P was the absolute fastest prop, BUT difficult to get on plane, blows out in corners, and WON'T plane if it is rough. . . just blows out. Not a good choice.

The Labbed Hydro was almost as fast but the blow out situations were reduced by about 90%.

The Labbed B1 26 pitch was my best all around prop. Get one of those and send it to Merc to be tweaker out w/ a little less cup and you'll have the best all around prop.
The labbed 24P made the boat feel like a sports car. Awesome hole shot and incredible mid range punch. Had to add cup to keep the motor off the rev limiter.

Here is a spread sheet of the props w/ rpm & speed.
Note also the "mods" made (Arizona Speed & marine ECU, Stainless Marine exhuast) didn't improve performance VS dollar spent.

Consistant speeds (GPS)

Before ECU update (stock)
Hydromotive : 4950 rpm @ 70.2 gps mph before blueprint
B1-24: 4750-4800 rpm @ 65 to 66 mph
B1-24Lab: 5080 rpm @ 67.7 gps mph (std lab)
4875-4925 rpm @ 66 (+ extra cup)
4990-5000 RPM @ 68 MPH. (+1/2 extra cup)
B1-26 5000 RPM @ 69.8 MPH


ECU update:
Hydromotive labbed: 5020 RPM @ 68.25 (Windy!)
Hydromotive labbed: 5000 RPM @ 66.? (4 people 40-50 gal)
B1-24lab (+1/2 cup): 5150 rpm @ 66.5 mph (4 people 60 gal gas)
B1-26lab (- ½ cup):

After Headers:
B1-26 5100+@ 68. ?mph 3 people 1/3 tank
Hydromotive labbed 5100+@ 69.1mph 2 people 1/4 tank (windy w/ wind)

Glad I kept this chart.