Who uses a lab prop?

[Swoop]

Curious.... What benefit do you see, 1-2mph? I know for most people that means nothing and some it means the world so i'm just curious..
If you do use one, do you switch it on and off all the time or just leave it?

[ULTRA26 # 1]

I am using a Merc labbed 28, on a 496HO. I run this prop 90% of the time. Top end is a good 3 mph and higher cruise speed at the same RPM. I also have a 26 that was worked by Joel at Bronson/Hill Propellers in Santa Ana that I use for heavy loads or high elevation.

[new2cats]

Ran Bravo labbed props on my 30' sleek with 1,000 Teague, my 28' Howard Bullet with 525 and my 25' Howard bullet with 575.
Here are the pos. & negs.:
Positives-
1- we saw between 3-5 MPH usually at WOT
2-boat felt lighter from 4,000-5,000 ish
3-could feel some reduced drag if you are intuitive
Negatives-
1-sharp as a scalpel, kids feet will suffer!
2-some "blow out" & cav. at launch
3-double the $$$$
4-mid range suffered a bit
5-edges chip easy (thinner obviously)
6-not an exact science (each prop varies)...if you run twins can be funky
Bottom line, we traded back to stock Bravos every time!!!!

[Swoop]

3-4 MPH sounds worth it to me...

[new2cats]

Really???? Then just have 2 sets of props......one for being logical..one for the ego.....this will usually work......by the way, I am pretty sure nobody can actually FEEL 3-4 MPH.....it is all ego anyway, right!?-:)

[Debbolas]

With our other boat, we had a prop for the river and a different one for Lake Powell. I'm not sure why, but if we didn't switch the prop, the boat went REALLY slow ;)
I had Prime Marine lab our prop, it's all nice and shiney now :D

[Swoop]

All ego, just spent nearly twice as much on my new boat so anything to justify it makes it all the better! :D

[Not So Fast]

I would be skeptical of big mph claims:idea: We all know what it takes to gain 2-3 mph and its not that easy unless you are seriously mis-proped to start with, But if you do get one then I hear you want the Merc labbed, as one already said it is not an exact science so beware. Try it first:D NSF

[IDRPSTF]

When we are most boats ready to sell we get our props labbed at Gibbs here in Lake Havasu City.

[Swoop]

I thought it would be 1-2mph anymore then that would be amazing...

[THOR]

I run a labbed 27 w/ a 496 HO. I can see the difference when hammering the throttle. The cruising speed will be higher with a stock prop.
A good lab job should get you 3-4 mph.

[new2cats]

All ego, just spent nearly twice as much on my new boat so anything to justify it makes it all the better! :D
Oh, I hear ya....was not passing judgement as I just blew the kids' college fund on an F-29!!!!!

[Throttle]

running a labbed 26 for a HO. I was not as interested so much in the small mph gain as I was in the overall performance for the motor. It allows me to run more efficiently at higher rpms in the hotter months.
now that it has cooled down I will prolly hit rev limiter more, however at least I know the motor is not lugging.

[BadKachina]

Swoop what prop is on the boat now? At the Food drive run a couple of weeks ago I ran a stock 26 at 80mph turning 5400rpm. At Lake Pleasant I usually run a labbed 26 but I still drop a couple of mph because of the elevation. I won't take my labbed prop to LHC because every time I do I scratch it up with the sand. Last summer I whacked it going into the channel from Thompson's Bay because I was too far over to the right. I just barely bent the ear over on one of the blades but I still able to run 76 in the summer with 4 people on board and a hundred gallons of fuel and a bent blade. That makes me think that it really doesn't make a difference what prop is on it. Also the boat will run the exact same speed with a 28 on it at a lower rpm but then the midrange is spongy. My advice would be to stay with the stock 26 it has and save your money. Honestly I gained a couple of mph in the midrange by putting a Hydromotive nose cone on with the same rpm. Not only that but the boat actually handles better, it feels like it has more control. They say the nose cones don't really work until the low to mid 70's so you are right in the range to try it.

[Kachina26]

Got a labbed 28 that Gary and I were gonna hang on that ride of yours last time out. You are more than welcome to try it out. Unless you would be one to vote for option 2 in this thread (http://***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164491&highlight=borrowing+101) :D

[Fast Freddy]

i use a "hand" lab finished 28" at low elevation lakes and a "CNC" finished 26" at high elevation lakes. the "hand" finished prop is better imo.

[WishIknew]

Got a labbed 28 that Gary and I were gonna hang on that ride of yours last time out. You are more than welcome to try it out. Unless you would be one to vote for option 2 in this thread (http://***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=164491&highlight=borrowing+101) :D
Some how I KNEW this would come up:D :D

[Swoop]

heh

[Kachina26]

Some how I KNEW this would come up:D :D
Well, now that I know that not everyone thinks like me, I have to know where I stand. :D

[ToMorrow44]

i use a "hand" lab finished 28" at low elevation lakes and a "CNC" finished 26" at high elevation lakes. the "hand" finished prop is better imo.
What CNC 26" prop are you running? Is it a 4 or 5 blade?
-Tom

[ratso]

My boats already too fast with the stock prop...

[Fast Freddy]

What CNC 26" prop are you running? Is it a 4 or 5 blade?
-Tom
the "CNC" prop that i am running is a lab finished 4 blade from mercury.
the hand finished one is a 4 blade as well.

[ToMorrow44]

the "CNC" prop that i am running is a lab finished 4 blade from mercury.
the hand finished one is a 4 blade as well.
A lab bravo is far from a "CNC" prop (I'm not sure why you quote it either). In fact a lab bravo is a hand finished prop. The only CNC Props out there are Herrings, Throttle Up, and Mercury Racing's Cleavers.

[Fast Freddy]

A lab bravo is far from a "CNC" prop (I'm not sure why you quote it either). In fact a lab bravo is a hand finished prop. The only CNC Props out there are Herrings, Throttle Up, and Mercury Racing's Cleavers.
i think you are wrong about that. last year mercury racing started making and selling 4 blade "CNC lab finished" bravo props. from what larrys engine & marine told me and they could be wrong > mercury racing doesn't sell "hand lab finished" 4 blade bravo props anymore. they only sell "CNC lab finished" props now. with that said i still like my hand finished prop better. all you do is buy a regular style non-lab finished 4 blade bravo prop and send it to a prop tuner and have him lab finish it by hand for you. that is what they did with my 28"