Results From Fury 4, Fury 3, and Tempest on 2005 Puma

Thought Id share some numbers with all after running some props today to try and re-prop my 2005 DC Puma. I had my L1 lower unit replaced on my 2005 Evinrude HO (non-etec) with a M2 lower unit (1.85 gear ratio). I also add two 10 talons to hydraulic jackplate. I had been running a 26 fury, which currently with me and partner, full gas the boat will turn 5600rpm pretty regular, 5700rpm with some finessing and I would typically see 65-67mph (and actually at 5700 rpm I think I start losing speed). By myself the gps says I touched 70 mph but I never saw it while looking at the instant read which usually shows 66-67 again at 5600-5700rpm. With the livewells full, me and my partner and full gas the boat cant get up on plane. So I got some props and made some test runs today. Water temp 86-88 degress and air temp 86-90 with light wind 3-5 mph. Id take a run up one way and back the other trying to watch my handheld WASS enabled gps and set the trip tracker to catch the top speed. I also played with the hydraulic jackplate height to try an improve holeshot (but most done at same height marked for using my 26 Fury) and while underway would adjust trim and jackplate to vary the RPMs while keeping the rooster tail even or below the cowling of the motor. I had all my gear, 200lbs in sandbags for my partner, all tanks of gas full, 4 batteries in the back, and my Minn Kota 112 up front. 25 protech 4 blade with 6 vent holes empty, 2 with medium or small vents couldnt get up on plane with live wells full.25 pitch Fury 4 all 8 vents open (yes the marina in town got one just today and let me run it). With livewell full hole shot 12 seconds, 0-30mph 21 seconds, 66 mph at 5900 rpm with wind 65.6 mph against the wind. Ran again livewells empty, hole shot 7.5-8 seconds 0-30mph 14 seconds, and would see 65-66 mph at 5900 rpms. The trip tracker though showed I hit 68.64 mph, but I didnt see it when I was looking. Boat ran flat, was easy to steer/control, minimal rooster tail, if I got much of rooster tail actually started loosing speed. I did have it slip and recover in one tight corner around 30mph but suspect playing with the vent hole would fix that. 25 pitch Tempest two holes blocked and one large vent, livewells full. 21 second hole shot with jackplate all the way up, had some blow out as broke over, 66.39 mph at 5900 RPM. With livewell empty hole shot is 12.85 seconds (Id say same as 26 Fury) and top speed tracked by trip tracker 69.53. The nose ran higher, was hard to steer (had more felt torque at WOT) and wanted to start to chin walk but not quite. 24 pitch Fury with 3 medium plugs livewells full hole shot 13.6 seconds, 0-30 mph 15 seconds, WOT 5900 67 mph. Empty livewells hole shot 7.5-8 seconds, 0-30mph 12 seconds and at 5900-6000 rpm still 67 mph. Not as hard to steer as the Tempest but more than Fury 4, feels steady. 26 pitch Trophy Plus all 4 vent holes empty couldnt get on plane. Ill likely go out again on Friday and see if I can get the Trophy to run, play with the vent holes on the Fury and the Tempest to see if that affects hole shot. I want to run a 26-27 Bravo 1 FS which was suggested by Scott at Mercury racing, I have a line a Bravo 1, but dont think its an FS. Im also thinking of trying BBlades OB/F (their Bravo 1 competitor). Im told the Fury to Bravo 1 conversion is to go up 2 pitches in the Bravo 1 to equal the Fury (3 blade Fury 24=Bravo 1 26). What a fun way to spend a day off of work! Last edited by dlivings4433 on October 1st, 2016, 6:42 pm, edited 3 times in total.