I have a new 2014 Stratos 294XLE with a Yamaha 200hp SHO. I'm now trying to get her setup correctly. I tried a 27" Tempest and best performance was 5300rpm at 2.75" below pad for a top speed of 69.5 gps. I've tried going lower but lost speed and handling. I tried a 26 pitch Tempest and could only get 67.4 mph at 2.25" below pad but the rpms did raise to 5700. Both Tempests would spin just as the boat planed out. I tried a 26 pitch Fury yesterday and I really liked the way the boat planed out. No spinning on break over like the Tempests but I still couldn't get the top end speed equal to the 27 Tempest. It planed out really quick and best performance was 5400 rpm at 67.5 mph, 20 psi at 2.5" below pad. All theses numbers are for tournament loaded 2 people and over half tank of gas at 2000 ft above sea level elevation.
I'm going to try to get a Yamaha 25 T1 prop and try it this weekend. Do you guys with experience on this setup think the Yamaha prop would have better top end than the 27 Tempest? It seems most guys go with the Yamaha prop with this setup but I have seen some guys with the Tempest or a 26 pitch Fury. I mostly run the boat at my local lakes and the elevations are around 2000 ft above sea level, so I know that I won’t be able to reach the performance that others see, if that helps any. Thanks for any suggestions.