Merc Max5 vs 5bl cleavers

[Toffen]

Hi!

Happy New Year !

Soon summer, and its on again

Last year we lost 2 mph on my Phantom 25 with Mercury 450R spinning a Max5 27 15,25 dia ST prop compared to when the Max5 was new in 2021. The prop has 200 hours on it, and I will send it to BBlades in a few days for refreshment. So hopefully we will be back to upper 93 mph...

I considered back in time to try out Mercury CNC cleaver for my 400R. I may well do it this summer on my 450R. Hill propellers also offer 5 bl cleavers for the 450R, but they only offer 26 or 28 pitch. Not 27.... I need a 18 rake version, and I have been recommended to try a 14,75 dia 27 pitch. The question is how much faster the cleaver will be compared to the Max5. The Max5 is a little loose on WOT, hopefully the CNC 5bl cleaver will settle it a bit...

Any experiences and thoughts?

All the best,

Toffen

[Speed Jr.]

If it's anything like the taller props, that 26 Hill will be stiffer than a 28. A 30 measured out to 33 and the 32 measured out to a 35. They are very inefficient with the actual pitch. I wouldnt compare different prop manufacturers stampings to each other. The Mercs are far more accurate. The CNC props are the ticket.

[hellbents-10]

I always wondered if they marked them with a lower pitch number then actual to sell them on low prop slip numbers? I recently bought a used 31 that runs like a 34-35 myself!

[Z06man]

The 5 blade over hub cnc and hill are a solid 5 MPH faster on a 21 cat.

[FBM]

Hard to beat a Merc CNC for top end, they do leave a little to be desired on holeshot though. The hill holeshot is even worse. As mentioned above, Hill is very inconsistent and typically stiffer than stamped, not a bad idea to have the hill balanced either….very inconsistent all the way around.

[David - WI]

Last year we lost 2 mph on my Phantom 25 with Mercury 450R spinning a Max5 27 15,25 dia ST prop compared to when the Max5 was new in 2021. The prop has 200 hours on it, and I will send it to BBlades in a few days for refreshment. So hopefully we will be back to upper 93 mph...

So, you think it's the prop rather than the motor (or hull) that changed?
I'm just curious because I would always suspect the motor (compression or bad fuel/octane) first, then the hull (extra weight, water, or damaged surface), and then the prop if nothing else.