Mercury Racing Lab Finished Bravo I Outboard Propeller.

Mercury Racing Pro Finish Bravo I XS outboard propeller.

You may wonder how we go about testing props. We have a number of our own outboard and sterndrive boats that we use for initial testing. Nevertheless, I’m a firm believer of getting feedback from those who use the product everyday in the real world. Recently, I wanted feedback on performance differences between our Lab Finished Bravo I and Pro Finish Bravo I XS outboard props. My target applications were Walleye and bass anglers.

My colleagues at Mercury (known internally as,  “The Big House” or “Mother Mercury”) provide me access to members of the Mercury Pro Angler Team. Walleye pro, Pat Neu of Forestville, Wisconsin, is my Walleye test guy.

Pat's Ranger 620 VS dual Console Walleye boat.

Pat runs a 2011 Ranger 620VS Dual Console Walleye boat powered by a Mercury 250 ProXS. He also has a Mercury 9.9 Pro Kicker. The boat was initially rigged and dialed-in with a stock, 21-inch pitch Mercury Tempest  prop. The boat ran great and most people would be satisfied. Not Pat.

Pat's 250 Pro XS rigged with the Bravo I XS.

Like most pros and enthusiasts, Pat is continuously tweaking his set-up for improvement in overall boat performance. Pat was very receptive to my request for some feedback on our Bravo outboard props on his rig. Mercury Racing is the only propeller manufacturer to provide outboard variants of the Mercury Bravo sterndrive prop (see my blog post, Bravo for Outboards, Yes!).

Pat did back-to-back runs — up to wide open throttle (WOT) — comparing the Lab Finished Bravo I with the Pro Finish Bravo I XS.  Both props were 22-inch pitch. The tests were completed with a full fuel tank, tournament gear (all compartments full) and two anglers in the boat, each weighing approximately 210 lbs.

Test Results:

Bravo I Lab Finished…

RPM @ WOT: 5,850 (full tank of fuel). Speed @ WOT: 57 MPH. Hole shot: 4-5 seconds. Price (MSRP): $1,162.

Bravo I XS…

RPM @ WOT: 5,750 (full tank of fuel). Speed @ WOT: 56 MPH. Hole Shot: 5-6 seconds. MSRP: $708.

Pat noted both Bravo props didn’t care how much weight is in the boat but noticed the engine would tick the rev limitor when the fuel level reached less than half a tank. Pat suggested those who plan to run lighter loads move up to a 23-inch pitch Bravo I XS prop.   As you can see, both props ran very well on Pat’s rig.

If your interested in fishing and getting a turn-key, dialed in rig off the show room floor, a Ranger 620VS Dual Console Walleye boat is a great choice. If your like Pat, and want to get the most out of your boat, you’ll want to consider our Bravo outboard prop options.

Propellers are available in both right-hand and left-hand rotation. Some hull types with twins respond best with the props "turning out" or away from each other as illustrated.

Turning out.

Rotation. Propellers come in both right and left-hand rotation. Standard rotation for both outboards and sterndrives is right-hand: the prop spins clockwise when in forward gear.  Left-hand props spin counter clockwise.  Left-hand props are typically used with multi-engine applications. The counter-rotation prop works to balance (or reduce) the torque effects from the right-hand prop. Most twin engine applications are setup with the the props “turning in”; the port engine spinning right-hand and the starboard engine spinning counter clockwise.

Hull types and designs respond differently to prop rotations. Some need additional stern lift to reach maximum efficiency and performance. To obtain this, the rotation of both propellers are set up so they rotate away from each other. We call this turning the props out.  The left-hand rotation prop is on the port side and the right-hand rotation is on the starboard side.

For example, a high speed catamaran loaded with gear and passengers often runs best with 5-blade cleaver props with 15-degree rake. Turning the props in pulls the stern down, enabling the boat to float over chop. With lighter loads and ideal conditions, the same cat can gain 6 to 8 mph when using 18-degree rake, 5 blade cleavers “turned-out.”

Number of Blades

Lab Finished Lightning E.T. outboard prop.

Pro Finish 5-blade CNC Cleaver sterndrive prop.

In theory, two blade props are most efficient since they have the least amount of surface dragging through the water.  Two blade props are commonly used on lower horsepower outboards and trolling motors. Three blade props are the most common design used today. The added blade reduces vibration while maintaining most of the efficiency of a two-blade design at a convenient size and reasonable cost.

Higher sterndrive x-dimensions and ventilated, stepped hulls have evolved from offshore racing. Photo courtesy of Paul Kemiel Photographics.

Racers and performance boaters raise sterndrive mounting heights (x-dimensions) on ventilated, stepped hulls. The steps create air bubbles, raising the hull off the water on a drag-reducing cushion. This, combined with reduced drag from the higher drive heights, improves hull efficiency. This trend has spawned an evolution of prop designs featuring four, five and even six blades.  The additional blade surface helps offset slip induced by air bubbles flowing from the ventilation steps toward the props.

Blade Thickness

Cross section showing the thickness of a common prop blade.

For efficiency, blades should be as thin as possible to reliably handle a particular power range. A cross section of a typical constant pitch prop blade reveals a flat section on the positive (pressure) side and an arc surface on the negative (suction side) of the blade. Edges are usually 0.06″ to 0.08″ (1.5 mm to 2.0 mm) thick for aluminum props, thinner for stainless steel.

The cross section of a cleaver style prop blade is shaped like a wedge.

The blade cross section on surfacing props such as our Lab Finished 3-Blade Outboard Cleaver and Pro Finish CNC Cleavers is wedge shaped. The thick trailing edge adds strength. Surface air ventilates a low-pressure cavitation pockets behind the trailing edge, enhancing efficiency.  The contour or shape of most propeller blade tips (other than cleaver) are round.

I will discuss propeller slip more thoroughly in Prop School – Part 6.

Bob Teague uses Mercury Racing Pro Finish CNC Cleavers exclusively on his 525 EFI powered Skater 388 Super Cat Lite race boat. Photo credit: Paul Kemiel Photographics.

Response to my Prop School series has been been gratifying. It has generated a lot of good discussion (online and off) regarding  propeller design, function and application. One of the most common questions is about prop slip. It is the most misunderstood of all propeller terms.

A wing moving through air produces a pressure differential: low pressure above the wing, with high pressure below it, creates lift.

Propeller blades work like wings on an airplane. Wings carry the weight of the plane by providing lift; marine propeller blades provide thrust as they rotate through water. If an airplane wing were symmetrical (air moves across the top and bottom of the wing equally), the pressure from above and below the wing would be equal, resulting in zero lift.   The curvature of a wing reduces static pressure above the wing — the Bernoulli effect — so that the pressure below the wing is greater. The net of these two forces pushes the wing upward. With a positive angle of attack, even higher pressure below the wing creates still more lift.

Marine propeller blades need to move through water with an angle of attack to create thrust.

Similarly, marine propeller blades operating at a zero angle of attack produce nearly equal positive and negative pressures, resulting in zero thrust. Blades operating with an angle of attack create a negative (lower or pulling) pressure on one side and a positive (higher or pushing) pressure on the opposite side.  The pressure difference, like the airplane wing, causes lift at right angles to the blade surface. Lift can be divided into a thrust component in the direction of travel and a torque component in the opposite direction of prop rotation.

Prop slip is the difference between actual and theoretical travel resulting from some angle of attack.

Slip is the difference between actual and theoretical travel through the water. For example, if a 10-inch pitch prop actually advances 8-1/2 inches per revolution through water, it is said to have 15-percent slip (8-1/2 inches is 85% of 10-inches). Similar to the airplane wing, some angle of attack is needed for a propeller blade to create thrust. Our objective to achieve the most efficient angle of attack.  We do this by matching the propeller diameter and blade area to the engine horsepower and propeller shaft RPM. Too much diameter and or blade area will reduce slip, but at a consequence of lower overall efficiency and performance.

Calculating Rotational Speed, Blade Tip Speed and Slip

Our propeller engineers study props at the 7/10 radius (70% of the distance from the center of the prop hub to the blade tip). The 7/10 radius rotational speed in MPH can be calculated as follows:

And can be shown by a vector arrow.

Blade tip speed can be calculated using the following equation:

Forward speed is shown by an arrow in the direction of travel. The length of the arrows reflect speed in MPH for both the measured speed and the theoretical (no slip) forward speed.

Donzi 38ZR with Twin 525 EFIs. Photo courtesy of Donzi Powerboats.

Now let me walk you through a real-world example using  formulas to determine theotetical boat speed and slip. I’m trying to determine which props (stock 15.25″ diameter x 34″ pitch Bravo I vs. 15.625″ x 34″ Lab Finished Maximus) will run best on a 2005 Donzi 38 ZR. It is powered by twin 525 EFIs coupled to Bravo One XR drives with 1.50:1 gear ratios. Max engine RPM with the Bravo props is 5250. Max engine RPM with Lab Finished Maximus props is 5200.

Click image to expand size.

Turns out the ST Maximus 5 blade performed the best on paper and in water, offering lower slip with increased top end.
Back in the day when the Everything You Need to Know About Propellers book was published, the Internet didn’t exist and you had to actually use these cumbersome formulas or rely on the handy dandy Quicksilver Propeller Slip Calculator. Today, you can get all of your prop information with our online prop slip calculator. Try it out!

I hope you have found my Prop School blog series both educational and useful. I’ve enjoyed sharing with you.

Big four strokes are back as a viable power option for bass boats.

The new Pro Finish Bravo I FS prop was developed for four stroke outboard applications.

I can’t wait for the 2012 Miami Boat Show. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and talking props with boaters, boat builders, dealers, consumers and racers. We’re geared up to have another big show. Fred Kiekhaefer has another exciting new product to unveil and I have a couple of new things to show as well. In fact, I just couldn’t wait any longer to talk about our new outboard prop.

You may recall my post regarding the Bravo I XS. We took the proven Bravo One sterndrive prop, added big one-inch vent holes in the hub and did some other tweaks to make it a big performer on low-emissions OptiMax outboards.

Four strokes are a popular power option for center console bay boats and larger flats boats.

Mercury's Pro FourStroke outboards created a resurgnece of interest in four stroke power.

While working the BASS Masters Classic last year, it was apparent large four-stroke outboards are coming back to bass boats. From there, I did additional research and found this trend happening in most fresh and saltwater markets as well. Four-strokes are being used on walleye, flats and a new line of bay boats. Mercury’s new Pro FourStroke outboards had a lot to do with this trend, I’m sure. The new engines run great. All that was needed was a prop designed to enhance performance for the various applications. The logical thing to do was start with the performance assets of the Bravo I XS and transfer those over to a prop designed for four-strokes.

The Pro Finish Bravo I FS is designed for use on 150 h.p. to 350 h.p. four-stroke outboards including Mercury Verado, Mercury Pro FourStroke and non-Mercury engines. The right-hand and left-hand rotation, 15.25-inch diameter Bravo I FS is available in the following pitch ranges: 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and 31 inches.

I have some of these out in the field and initial reports are very positive. I’ll post test results as soon as I get them. In the mean time, if you are going to the show, please stop by and visit with us in the Mercury booth, M-96, in the Miami Beach Convention Center. I’ll show you the new Bravo I FS in person.

Mercury Marine reps celebrate another BASS Classic victory. (L-R) Scott Reichow, Kevin "KB" Brown, Mike Shedivy, Randy Qualls (Legend Boats), Chris Lane (2012 Classic Winner), Michelle Kilburn, Steve Miller

The Pro Finish Bravo I XS outboard propeller features a tuned exhaust tube with large one-inch vent holes for enhanced 2-stroke outboard performance.

I’m fortunate to annually represent Mercury Racing at the Bass Master Classic in the Mercury booth. This year, a fisherman named Rick asked me if there was a Mercury prop that would work for him. He had recently purchased a 2012 Triton 19XS powered by an OptiMax Pro XS 200. Rick was frustrated with the performance. The sharp turns and switchbacks on the Bayou where he runs were causing his propeller to break loose. This forced him to back off the throttle, causing the boat to lose speed and drop off plane. Rick had contacted his Triton representative regarding the issue. Although they discussed various options, the rep suggested Rick continue using a three blade prop.

The performance facts that I gathered in our conversation pointed me to a Bravo I XS. I told Rick the prop is designed specifically for low-emissions 2-stroke OptiMax outboards. Rick responded, “Isn’t Bravo I a sterndrive prop?”

Lab Finished Bravo I sterndrive propeller.

I explained the Bravo I was first conceived as a sterndrive prop. However, Mercury Racing modified it for use on outboards as well. At Racing, we sweat the details — creating a perfectly balanced prop with a tuned exhaust tube, durable blades, clean leading edges and uniform cup heights. All of these unique features work together for enhanced 2-stroke outboard performance.

Rick was genuinely interested in the Bravo I XS. He asked, “What kind of planing speed and top-end speed can I expect when compared to my current prop? More importantly, will the Bravo I XS stay hooked up in turns?” All good questions.

I had asked Rick if he had a jack plate. He said he did. I asked him to get a bench mark with the Bravo I XS by starting at Triton’s recommended engine height for a three-blade prop. I then suggested he raise the engine in 1/4″ increments until he finds the sweet spot. In Rick’s application, the sweet spot is 3/4″ up from factory recommended height.

Rick's Rig.

Rick's Triton 19XS with OptiMax 200 Pro XS.

The beauty of the Bravo I XS is it will allow  increased engine height for better performance. The Bravo I XS actually gives a better hole shot at higher transom heights. What’s also cool is you’ll need to increase 1” of pitch to achieve the same RPM at wide open throttle. Increased pitch at the same full throttle RPM means greater top-end speed. It also yields greater efficiency and thus fuel economy as the propeller moves further through the water (and the engine works less) at cruise. Rick provided me with the following test information.

Running shot of an OptiMax Pro XS powered 19XS. Photo credit: Triton Boats

“Top speed with the 24″ Tempest Plus prop was 64.6 mph as measured on my Lowrance HDS-8. Top speed with the 25″ Bravo I XS is 65.8 mph. Performance is noticeably better at mid-range speeds as the Triton now has more “snap” when I give it full throttle. My fishing partner noticed the difference too,” said Rick.

Mercury TempestPlus propeller.

Rick continued, “It seems to me it’s more important than ever to have the boat running at optimal efficiency with the price of gas where it is. My home town of Picayune, Mississippi is about 50 miles from New Orleans. Louisiana has better bass fishing and thus I spend almost all my time fishing there. If you do a Google Earth search of the Southeast Louisiana Coast, you will see why having a boat that is nimble in turns is so vital.”

View Larger Map

Test Results:
2012 Triton 19XS with Mercury 200 Pro XS

Before: Tempest Plus
Engine height: Triton factory setting (sorry no numbers)
Propeller: Mercury Tempest Plus 24” pitch
Performance: Hole shot was great, falling off plan in slow speed turns, top speed 64.6 at 5800 RPM

The 25" pitch Bravo I XS on Rick's OptiMax Pro XS 200.

After: Bravo I XS
Engine height: Rick raised it ¼” at a time going up a total of 1” bringing it back down to ¾” above factory setting
Propeller: Mercury Racing Bravo I XS 25” pitch
Performance: Hole shot was the same – great, locked in with slow speed turns, top speed 65.8 at 5800 RPM

Rick concluded, “The boat jumps on plane. Handling in twisty turns was incredible, even with the switchbacks. The boat never once dropped off plane. If that wasn’t enough, I actually gained top speed. Where I come from we have a saying for something like this, we call it “Lagniappe” (Lan-Yap). It means something extra; you’re giving your customers something extra with this prop. Good job.”

The all new Pro Finish Bravo I FS.

The power behind Jim Saric’s 620VS Fisherman Series. Photo credit: Jim Saric.

At Mercury Racing we’re really pumped with the performance of our new Bravo I FS props. With some help from my angling friends, the application of the Bravo sterndrive prop on four stroke outboards was an instant success. We first focused on the single engine applications.

Long time friend and coworker Steve Miller, Senior Category Manager for Mercury, recently fished with Professional Musky angler Jim Saric. We gave Steve a 22″ pitch Bravo I FS for Jim to try on his Verado Pro 250 powered Ranger 620VS.

Video courtesy of Jim Saric – The Musky Hunter Television Show.

Jim’s rig – a Ranger 620VS Fisherman Series with Mercury 250 Pro Verado and 15 Pro Kicker. Photo credit: Jim Saric.

“I finally had a chance to test the new Bravo I FS Prop on my Verado Pro 250 powered Ranger 620. All I can say is I was really impressed. I tested it against my Tempest Plus and the Bravo out performed it in all categories. The Bravo has a better hole shot, as it pushes the boat forward more and onto plane rather than lifting the bow to get the boat on plane. It has a more efficient mid-range and has a better top end. This is the prop for the Fisherman series boats,” said Jim.

Test Results
Date: 11/17/12
Air temp” 49-degrees
Water temp 46 -degrees
Water Conditions: Calm
Boat: Ranger 620VS
Engine: Verado 250 Pro
Fuel: 40 gal in boat
Load – Driver & one passenger

The Musky Hunter Jim Saric with a prize catch.

BRAVO I FS 22-Pitch
Max PRM: 6200
Max Speed:  61 MPH
Not as much bow lift and faster on a plane
Mid range: 11.5 g/h at 40 mph, RPM 4100

TEMPEST PLUS 19-Pitch
Max RPM: 6400
Max Speed: 59 MPH
More wetted surface at top speed, not as fast
Prop lifts bow before getting boat on plane
Mid range: 13.5 g/h at 40 MPH, RPM 4500

Jim summarized his experience by saying, “the Bravo I FS is an awesome prop. You should encourage others to put it on the Ranger 600 Fisherman series boats as well as similar models.” Requests for left-hand rotation Bravo I FS props are ramping up. Stay tuned for a future post regarding Bravo I FS performance on multiple  engine outboard center consoles.

Erik Christiansen (R) and I unveil the coveted 1650 RACE sterndrive.

I just got back from the Miami Boat Show where, in addition to our unveiling of the awesome 1650 RACE sterndrive, we debuted the all-new Pro Max outboard propeller. Some of you may be familiar with the high performance 150/200/225 h.p. Pro Max outboards we produced back in the mid 1990s. I thought the Pro Max name was perfect for our new prop and it’s intended applications.

We needed a prop to help lighter weight hulls get up on plane faster and improve top end speeds. The Bravo I XS is the solution for 2-strokes carrying heavier loads. The Bravo I FS is the prop for four strokes with heavy assignments (single and multiple engine rigs) as well.  The new Pro Max fills the gap for  OptiMax ProXS and 300XS and Verado Pro FourStroke outboard applications on hulls with natural bow lift.

An Allison XS-2003 GrandSport was used to validate the Pro Max for sport boat applications.

Outboard drag racing veteran Glenn Reynolds, owner of Reynolds Racing and Marine, helped validate the prop for us. Glenn ran it on an Allison XS-2003 GrandSport with the new Mercury 150 Four Stroke. He also provided an OptiMax 250 ProXS powered Bullet 21XD bass boat. Glenn and his team are ecstatic with the Pro Max. “We experienced jacket rabbit acceleration. Both boats were on plane in 1-1/2 seconds!,” exclaimed Glenn. The Allison didn’t realize any change in top-end speed due to the engine height restriction with water pickup location on the stock 150 gearcase.

“The Bullet, benefiting with a high performance Torque Master gearcase, improved on both hole shot and top-end speeds,” said Glenn. “We did back-to-back tests comparing the Pro Max with like size Pro E.T.s as well as a variety of other props. The Pro Max outperformed everything on the ramp. We love it!,” Glenn concluded.

Eric Simmons test the Pro Max on his go fast SCB flats boat.

The Pro Max prop was mounted on an OptiMax 250 Pro XS for the flats boat test.

Eric Simmons, owner of Simmons Custom Boats, was my go fast flats test guy. He too tested with an OptiMax 250 ProXS. “We’ve dialed in our boats with the Pro E.T. It’s a very durable prop. If we could get acceleration similar to what we experience with the Bravos, while maintaining the E.T. blade durability and overall performance, I would say you have a winner,” said Eric in our initial phone conversation regarding the project. “Water levels are an issue where we are. Hitting bottom is inevitable and thus blade durability is a big deal,” Eric said.

Pro Max BASS Classic. display.

A Bullet 21XD similar to this was used to validate the Pro Max for bass boat applications.

Upon completion of his tests Eric called to say we have a winner. “The Pro Max’s appeal is it’s speed and efficiency coupled with the improved hole shot realized with the through hub exhaust, said Eric. “Our testing produced considerably lower slip numbers, proving you nailed your proof of concept in every aspect. We can’t wait to get some of these for our customers,” said Eric.

Glenn and Eric have been an immense help in making the Pro Max a reality. Production starts in April. Meanwhile, I’m off to Tulsa, Oklahoma later this week for the BASS Master Classic. I will display the Pro Max there in the Mercury Marine booth. For those of you going to the show – stop by. I would love to see you and chat about props. I’m excited about the new Pro Max and our expanded mix of low emissions outboard props. Now if it would just quit snowing! Spring and Summer can’t come soon enough  :)

(L-R) Go Fast Fishing Charters Captains Joe and Sam Maisano.

It’s been a year since we introduced the Bravo I FS outboard propeller. It was originally developed for single engine four stroke outboard applications. We’ll, it didn’t take long for the word to spread regarding the prop’s performance. Folks running multiple four stroke outboard rigs started asking for right and left-hand rotation sets of the popular prop.

Twin Verado 300s with 1.75: HD gearcases.

Being the conservative person I am, I opted to first work with a handful of people running various hull types to prove the concept before releasing the counter rotation Bravo I FS models. It took longer than I thought to get feedback from the field.

I  grew frustrated because I wasn’t getting any details regarding performance results. All I would get was, “They’re great! Thanks. ” or more often than not – no news at all. It was like pulling teeth. I found out over time the props worked so well that they wanted to keep their performance secret to themselves. Eventually, I got the detailed information I was looking for and I am happy to share it with you here.

Capt. Sam enjoyed measurable performance improvements with the Bravo I FS.

Captain Sam Maisano and son Captain Joe own Go Fast Fishing Charters in Treasure Island, Florida.   They repowered their 32-foot Donzi ZF center console last year twin Mercury Verado 300′s equipped with the HD 1.75 gearcase. They tested six different props, none of which met their performance goals. Their timing of contacting me was perfect as I was just beginning to research the feasibility of producing left-hand rotation Bravo I FS props for applications like theirs. In late February, 2012, they tested a set of 23″ pitch Bravo I FSs. The results were outstanding!  Capt. Sam said, “Since then we have run over 150 fishing trips and logged over 400 hours of excellent performance.”

Go Fast Fishing Charters’ 2004 Donzi 32 ZF CC with 2012 Verado 300 outboards.

Capt. Sam provided the following list of benefits he has realized after running Bravo I FS props.:

• Excellent fuel economy at low, mid and high speed
• Engine achieves 6100-6400 RPM, as recommended by Mercury
• Stern lift and bow lift, boat rides on steps as designed
• Excellent throttle response at all speeds and conditions
• The boat jumps up on plane and does not cavitate
• Best top end speed compared to all other props tested

The Pro Finish Bravo I FS is available in both right and left-hand rotation.

“We are extremely satisfied with the Mercury Verado 300′s and the Bravo I FS props. Together they are built for maximum speed, performance and efficiency and since the name of our business is Go Fast Fishing Charters these things are very important. We would certainly recommended these Mercury products to anyone,” concluded Capt. Sam.

Good stuff. I hope those with similar applications find this information helpful.

The Boat Doc is a full line Mercury and Triton Boats dealer.

Man – I love this time of year. Things are humming here at Mercury Racing. In fact – I’m so jammed – I really shouldn’t be taking the time to write this. I just couldn’t wait to share the latest news regarding our Bravo I FS propeller.

I recently provided  22-24″ pitch FS wheels to Josh Wiesner who owns The Boat Doc, a local Mercury dealership in Lomira, Wisconsin. Josh agreed to conduct a performance test, comparing the 4-blade Bravo I FS with the 3-blade Tempest Plus. The test boat was a 2013 Triton 216 Fishunter powered by a Verado 300 Pro Fourstroke.

Power to the Water

The Pro Finish Bravo I FS.

Josh couldn’t have picked a worse time to test. It was a week-long stretch of 85 degree temps and unusually high humidity. Thanks to electronic boost control, the supercharged 300 Pro Fourstroke didn’t miss a beat.

The 300 Pro Fourstroke was first rigged with a 22″ pitch Tempest Plus. The boat ran 62 mph @ 6150 rpm with full fuel, two guys and a boat load of gear. Josh then switched to the 24″ pitch FS and began his run. Over time – he was able to raise the engine by one-half inch.  At that setting the boat ran 64.9 mph at 6050 rpm. The engine height, (measured from bottom of the cavitation plate to boat bottom) was 4-7/8 inches.

Whats Up Doc?
The Triton likes the Bravo I FS.  Although hole shots were similar, the FS provided enhanced bow lift, faster acceleration and nearly three mile per hour gain in top-end speed. A big change – particularly when under heavy loads as Josh has demonstrated.

Thanks, Josh for taking the time out your busy schedule – and literally sweating the details in your Bravo I FS test session. We appreciate it and I know our readers will find your results useful as well.

The Pro Finish Bravo I FS propeller.

Mercury Racing’s Bravo I FS prop turned on this 565 powered Nordic Deck Boat.

I just got some great news from Mike Griffiths – our resident product integration expert. Mike has been helping me dial-in an assortment of props for various applications. Mike and I tested props with anglers during Mercury’s National Walleye Tournament in Fond du Lac earlier this summer. Mike claims he is not an outboard guy, but you would never know it. It didn’t take him long to transfer his sterndrive performance boat knowledge to enhance the set-up of an average outboard walleye rig.

A number of anglers were smiling after reaping the benefits of Mike’s work on their boats. Mike provided input on weight distribution, engine height, trim tab positions and of course, props. The Bravo One XS was the star wheel for Optis; the Pro Finish Bravo I FS was more often than not the wheel of choice for Pro Verado folks.

The swap from a stock 26″ Bravo I to 27″ Bravo I FS resulted in an over 5 mph gain in top-end speed.

Triton’s 216 Fishunter walleye rig with Verado power.

As much fun as Mike had with the outboards, his first love is big block sterndrives. He recently did some testing with various West Coast boat builders. With the recent outboard props at his disposal – he thought why not try one with a sterndrive. The boat was a 29-foot Nordic Deck Boat with 565 power.

Mike began his test with a stock 26″ Bravo I prop on a Bravo One XR drive. The 565 turned 5380 – 5400 RPM @ 69.5 mph. Mike then grabbed one of his test props for a spin. The 27″ Bravo I FS turned 5450 RPM @ 74.8 mph; an incredible 5.3 mph speed gain! Mike is impressed – and it takes a lot to impress him. Nordic is equally impressed. I am too. It looks like Rick Mackie will be updating the Bravo I FS sell once again with a new title; Bravo I FS for Outboards…..and Sterndrives!

The Bravo I FS propeller features Mercury’s patented Performance Vent System (PVS).

I just received this fantastic video from professional Musky angler Jim Saric – the Musky Hunter.  My friend Steve Miller followed up with Jim a year after first loaning him a 22″ Bravo I FS for his Verado Pro 250 powered Ranger 620VS. We could not have asked for better testimonial. Others have shared similar results with the FS in a variety of outboard applications, including bass, flats, cat flats, bay boats, offshore center consoles as well as sterndrive deck boats and vee bottoms under medium to heavy load. We’ve recently  added 20″ and 21″ pitch sizes and the patented Mercury Performance Vent System (PVS) across the Bravo I FS prop line.

Video courtesy of Jim Saric – The Musky Hunter Television Show.

Good stuff, Jim. Enjoy the prop!

The official start of Summer is June 21. If the volume of blog comments, voice mails and prop orders are any indication, the summer boating season has been under way for a good month already. I, like you, am ready to get some boating in and enjoy the warm summer weather.  And – just in time for the season, I’m pleased to announce the official release of two new props that expand the versatility of our popular Mercury Racing Bravo and Maximus propeller lines.

Bravo for Outboard Cats! 

The Bravo I OC is designed for outboard catamarans like this 30 foot Motion. Photo Credit: NaplesImage. Click photo to enlarge.

The new Bravo I OC features a total of eight PVS vent holes for fine-tuned performance in outboard catamarans.

Newly released this week is our all-new Bravo I OC (Outboard Catamaran) prop.  The Pro Finish Bravo I OC was designed specifically for high powered outboard catamaran hulls. The new Mercury Racing Bravo features a total of eight PVS vent holes for fine-tuned performance.

The Bravo I OC diameter is cut down to 14.75″ and features a pitch range of 28″ to 35″ (even and odd) sizes and left and right hand rotation. A shortened exhaust barrel settles the stern to minimize drag while reshaping the blade maximizes performance with the new diameter. The prop has been tested on 28-foot to 32-foot Skaters, Talon, DCB, Spectre and Doug Wright hulls. It outperformed three and four blade cleavers in both acceleration and top-end speed (medium to heavy loads).

Bravo I OC part numbers and MSRP pricing:

Maximus ST

The Maximus ST features a shortened exhaust tube and Mercury’s Performance Vent System (PVS). 15.3″ and 15.6″ diameters are available. Click image to enlarge.

Terry and Sandy Everson’s Beautiful M29 DCB. Photo courtesy of DCB.

Designed for sterndrives and big horsepower outboards, the Pro Finish Maximus ST (short tube) propeller is available in 24″ to 34″ (even) pitch sizes in both left and right-hand rotation. It too features a cut-down diameter (15.6” to  15.3”) and a shortened exhaust tube for enhanced performance. The Maximus ST is rated for up to 600 h.p. Dave’s Custom Boats of El Cajon, California helped validate this latest generation of our high performance Maximus line. DCB’s Dave Hemmingson and Tony Charimonte liked the STs so much they asked if they could use them for the Desert Storm Poker Run Shoot Out. They installed 32″ STs on Terry and Sandy Everson’s beautiful M29. The boat is  powered by twin 565s coupled to 1.35:1 Bravo One XR Short Sport Master drives with Integrated Transom Systems (ITS). Terry and Sandy won their class in the shootout; bumping the rev limiter at 115 mph! Tony said, “the 565s pull so hard – we could have used 34″ pitch STs.” “We really like what Mercury Racing has done with the latest generation Maximus props,” Tony said. DCB is building a new M31 which will again feature the stout 565 sterndrives and Maximus ST props. We’re anxious to get the numbers on that one as well.

Maximus ST part numbers and MSRP pricing:

We’re very excited to offer these two new props. I’ve received a number inquires regarding both. Outboard cat owners are excited to bring new life to their performance hulls powered by our classic 2.5 EFIs or the epic OptiMax 300XS. The Maximus is waking up both four stroke outboards and sterndrives on a variety of applications. I look forward to hearing from you regarding these or any of our Mercury Racing props. Be safe and have a great summer!