Bravo 3 prop recommendation?

[lrdchaos]

Just purchased a new to me Monterey 238ss with a 350mag and bravo 3. The current props are Mercury bravo 3, 4x3 26p that turned 5000 rpm with me and 1 other person in the boat. The water temp was 44 and the air temp was 58. The previous owner has got the prop in sand and pea gravel that roughed up the tips.

I’m going to have the props reworked, balanced and checked. The cost of this process is 3-400, which got me to thinking should I rework these props or purchase a new set? I’m a little concerned that the boat only turned 5k with 2 people and the cooler water/air temp. The boat wot rpm range is 48-5200. Should I rework the current props, or put that money towards a new set of 24p 4x3 or 4x4 props? Is there any benefit to the 4x4 or the 4x3?

 

[alldodge]

Rework the props, then load boat for normal use and get numbers. Changing things before knowing where your at is just throwing darts

 

[QBhoy]

Just purchased a new to me Monterey 238ss with a 350mag and bravo 3. The current props are Mercury bravo 3, 4x3 26p that turned 5000 rpm with me and 1 other person in the boat. The water temp was 44 and the air temp was 58. The previous owner has got the prop in sand and pea gravel that roughed up the tips.

I’m going to have the props reworked, balanced and checked. The cost of this process is 3-400, which got me to thinking should I rework these props or purchase a new set? I’m a little concerned that the boat only turned 5k with 2 people and the cooler water/air temp. The boat wot rpm range is 48-5200. Should I rework the current props, or put that money towards a new set of 24p 4x3 or 4x4 props? Is there any benefit to the 4x4 or the 4x3?

No. Leave them as they are, in terms of pitch. Sounds well set up to me. Once they are perfect, you may gain a little rpm and speed too, should you see more lift.
Remember a little bit of chop and air under that hull would easily see an extra few rpm and speed too. Flat calm conditions always sucks some speed and rpm from the hull and engine.
Added to that...unless you have smart craft or vessel view...your tachometer could be lit by a 100 or so rpm anyway.
All sounds really good to me. I wouldn’t change it. Nothing worse than being on the rpm limiter...with lower pitch than your need. You’ll lose efficiency at cruising speed and top end too...if you go down in pitch. Sounds perfect. Honestly.