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February 14, 2015
In our trifecta of Miami product releases propellers are always the unsung heroes. They are often forgotten about in the glitz and glamour of media conferences and product unveilings. However, it is that polished piece of art bolted onto the leg of an outboard or sterndrive that makes or breaks an engine’s performance. Performance propeller guru Scott Reichow gets it and is continually serving niche markets with new props and or enhancements to existing models. He did just that for the Miami Boat Show with the release of the all-new Pro Finish Bravo I XC propeller as well as enhancements made to the popular Bravo I XS and Pro Max props. Bravo I XC
Specifically for single outboard powered hulls, the Pro Finish Bravo I XC features a tremendous amount of blade cup offering a shorter time to plane, improved grip at lower speeds and quicker throttle response. Air entrapment flats boats particularly benefit as the larger blade area enables the engine to run at elevated transom heights – without sacrificing performance. The prop stays hooked up for quick planing and provides enhanced performance throughout the engine rpm range. The exhaust tube is designed to support planing and stability at lower speeds. The Bravo I XC diameter is increased to 15.3″ and currently features a pitch range of 20″, 22” and 24” right hand rotation. Bravo I XS
New for 2015 is the addition of a second vent hole on the exhaust tube of the popular Pro Finish Bravo I XS outboard propeller. The dual holes, designed for Mercury’s patented Performance Vent System (PVS), enable the user to fine tune the amount of venting needed for quick planing. New half-inch pitch models enable owners to fine tune their smaller performance-oriented center consoles, bay, multi-species and bass boats. And, for some applications, the half-inch pitch will offer additional bow lift for enhanced efficiency and top speed. The stainless steel prop, designed for use on Mercury V-6 OptiMax, OptiMax XS and OptiMax ProXS outboards, features four robust blades and a tuned exhaust tube. The shortened exhaust tube provides greater top-end speed, while minimizing stern lift for improved boat handling and performance. The Bravo I XS offers excellent time-to-plane performance, sweet mid-range punch, and awesome top-end speeds for bass, flats, cat flats, and performance center-console bay boats. Dual PVS and half inch pitch sizes enable performance four stroke owners to dial-in their engine for peak performance in a variety of applications. The right-hand rotation, 15.25-inch diameter Bravo I XS is available in the following pitch ranges: 22, 23, 23.5, 24, 25, 25.5, 26, 27, 27,.5, 28, 29, 29.5, 30, 31, 31.5 inches. Pro Max
The Pro Max propeller was developed to help light to medium weight hulls get up on plane faster and improve top end speeds. The stainless steel prop is enhanced with the addition of Mercury’s patented Performance Vent System (PVS). PVS enables the user to fine tune the amount of venting needed for even quicker planing and enhanced acceleration.
The Pro Max features Mercury Racing Pro E.T. drag race blades combined with a custom through-hub exhaust tube. This unique combination provides a 33 percent faster hole shot that the Pro E.T. and top-end speeds up to three mph faster. It is a perfect match for OptiMax 300XS, OptiMax ProXS, Verado 400R and Verado Pro FourStroke applications on hulls with natural bow lift (bass, flats, cat flats, high performance sport boats and race boats). The right-hand rotation, 14.50-inch diameter Pro Max is available in the following pitch ranges: Pro Finish: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 inches. Lab Finish: 24, 26, 28, 30, 32 inches.
