What gears for lake hydro, 375-425 hp

[DUECE'SDAD]

Need advice/opinion on gearing for my 71 sanger shovelnose, I was thinking i was going to get the bigger engine going for this season but am still stuck with the one around 400 hp very mild hydralic cammed 454. I now run 25's bevause they were affordable, and one had 37's because the were even more affordable and all i could find. Originally the boat cam with 9% and when i put this motor in it, it never hit the rev limiter. The bad part is I dont have a tach so i dont know what rpm with the 25's but i would say closer to 5k than 5500. I have a guy that needs my 37's as I dont think i will be able to turn them, and he is saying that with my setup i should be around 15% -18%. I originaly wanted 18's when all i could afford was the 25's, and he just so happens to have the 15% 12 degree's that he says i need. What should i do with what i got to pick from ? ?

[blowngas]

trade the guy the 37's for the 12's to run with the stock motor----keep the 25's for later and you can always trade up later on if you need to

[lost boy]

I would think the 15's are the way to go. It will take alot more motor to pull any thing over 18's properly

[FLYTE RISK]

Ask Sangster that's about the same H.P his motor put's out.. :D

[Boatmike]

18's seem to be a pretty all around gear for a lake hydro. I tired 25,22,18.

[Morg]

That's cold Flyte, You already forgot your roots. :rollside: :rollside:

[FlatStupid]

Ask Sangster that's about the same H.P his motor put's out.. :DNICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[Sangster]

Ask Sangster that's about the same H.P his motor put's out.. :D
:sleeping: :sleeping: :sleeping: ....Consider the source......

[DUECE'SDAD]

:sleeping: :sleeping: :sleeping: ....Consider the source......
well what do you run ? ? ?

[DUECE'SDAD]

Well , i got the 15% gear and will put them in and test this weekend, i will post an update, But i have a 3 blad 11 1/4 x 16 prop, I was told with low hp i need 3 blades for the 1/3 more lift, what should i expect if i put the same prop but 2 blade, ( i know it has to be a hydro prop) or would there be something else i would want to try ?? ? Any Pros or Cons

[77charger]

9 or 12s.
we ran 12s on our drag boat with 700 hp then moved to 15s with 850hp.But it was for quick accel but did fine on the river.
forgot to add this was a flat

[SUI-CY-COLE DIMARCO]

9 or 12s.
we ran 12s on our drag boat with 700 hp then moved to 15s with 850hp.But it was for quick accel but did fine on the river.
15% good stuff...12% or 9% even better...unless you got the typical big hydro power then put 40% in it and run 1/2 mile :hammer2:

[Kurtis500]

18's would be close. Theres no way to tell with your props, theres about a hundred variables to them. 15-18-22's are going to be your range. Hopefully your prop will lift the tail with the heavier boat. My guess is you will always drag the tail in the water...but so what.