We're going on app 300 salt water hours in two years with Whipples with only one minor problem. 90% of our boating is long distance to Grand Bahama, Bimini, Nassau, etc at 3000 to 4000 RPM with a very occasional less than 1 minute WOT (5,500 rpm). The singular problem was a front pulley bearing that seized on the way back from Key West this past November. Sent it back to Whipple and it was replaced and back to us within 1 week, Outstanding service! (they now use a sealed and superior bearing to eliminate the problem we encountered)

Ours is a triple engine Black Thunder with Bravo XR's, 1.36 ratio, 5 blade Hydromotives 29" pitch. The engines were assembled by Chief Engines in Fort Lauderdale, dyno at an average 700 HP.

Good luck and have fun.

Steve

steve

what motors were they stock

boat4life,

Originally they were 500 EFI's (1999) In 2002 we sold those short blocks and replaced them with GM crate engines. Put on Merlin 310cc heads, crane cam identical to 500 efi cam and crane rockers. The original engines were fine, just over 600 hours and due to the nature of our boating, like to keep them till 600 then either sell or complete rebuild. At the time, Tommy at Chief Engines could assemble the GM crate engines fairly quick, otherwise it would be 3-4 months to completely go through the existing engines. Only problem with 500 efi's when Whipples were added, was one blown headgasket at about 230 hours. Cause was detonation at WOT between cylinders 5 and 7.

take care,
Steve