Most aggressive X dimension on a 24 ol?
 

Just curious what the highest X dimension or the highest prop shaft height anyone has ever ran on a 24 outlaw/240 sport. I know a lot of guys have raised their X 3" and 4" with a standard length b1. Basically I'm trying to decide if there is a real potential to gain any notable speed/handling. (Not 1-2mph but maybe 4-5?)

Right now I have an imco -2 and a hp500 with a warm cam that runs 72-73 all day ( worked 24b1 spinning to 5400 )and I've seen as high as 74.3 with a serious tail wind and 0 fuel. While it's very respectable for what it is you always want more and more. I am gonna try and squeeze alittle more out of the motor this winter and since my transom is dry and solid I had this crazy thought of raising the X about 5" and with the -2 that will put the prop shaft right about parallel with the bottom. Has anyone raised it that high? I can space it down alittle if needed just trying to get some brain storming. I know it'll be a good amount of labor and I have to re cut the exhaust and the whole 9.

Am I wasting my time or would it be noteworthy? It will atleast throw one serious tail with the prop that close to the surface.

7" is almost certainly too much

Yea that might be alittle extreme, but I would hate to raise it 3 and wished I went 4. I could ditch the -2 and put a standard length lower on it or use spacers to achieve the perfect setup . I've seen some of the twin engine boats setup with the prop shaft 1-2" above the bottom. Just wanted some opinions and thoughts from people who have raised the X on their boats. Thanks for your input.

If you decide on going 4 you can always add a spacer, if it is too much and blowing out all the time. :D

John jr

As someone that's been there, done that...I wouldn't go through the effort to raise the X when you've already got a -2 lower. You start surfacing Bravo props, you start throwing blades anyhow.

If you want to gain a little more X height, maybe look into an extension box. I think that would give you more gain and be less work than re-doing the transom.

I don't think you'll find bravo boats with std bravo style props 1-2" above the bottom. If you went that high you would end up needing the ssm 6 style props

I was figuring on running a surfacing style prop like a herring, I agree that a b1 wouldn't work well at all. And I've slung 2 b1 blades this year already. I was just merely wondering if there would be any notable results. I have considered an extension box, and considered spending a lot of time making sure the bottom is perfect as well. I am aware the hull isn't the model of perfection for blazing speeds and anything over 75 in a 24 foot boat in anything less then perfect conditions the boat gets small quick.

The boat as is surprises a good bit of people in the rough when we are running with them (380s really help extend the running surface) but you're always wondering what could be done to gain alittle more without just throwing more and more power at it.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions/input.

I would've liked to throw real big power in mine but didn't get around to it. Bottom had been blueprinted, -2 lower, 26p bravo 1 55-5600 rpm, 78-79 mph with 3 guys and half tank of fuel. Only boat I ever bought that was faster than the previous owner stated lol. The boat handled awesome, and didn't do anything funny. Being that its more of a rough water good handling hull than a speed demon I'd up the power and leave the rest alone. You can add a lot of power to your motor for the cost of that herring prop.

Thanks lil red, I agree that it'll never be a speed demon and going real fast but only being able to run that on flat water is kinda pointless in a performance boat. I plan on trying to squeak another 120hp out of it and if it'll run 80-82 on a every day thing id be more then thrilled.

Just out of curiosity how bad was the bottom on your boat? Did you do the blueprinting?

I would add the extension box and increase the power.. The box will increase your trim leverage thus increase your speed and the power will increase the speed. Win Win in my opinion!!!

Curious about this as well. Just finished up a 548ci in my 98 24. All I had access to was a 22p B1 and its currently at 72 at 5600. Wondering where I should go setup wise to get the speeds up. Motor dyno'd 650hp/675lbft and I know there is still a ton of room to grow in the setup.

Now should I go with a +3 box or a neutral box? With a neutral box I'm gonna guess that will lower the X even further as the transom isn't flat so with a +3 box you'd still have to raise the motor 3" accordingly correct? Just trying to figure out what's exactly involved with installing the box. Also I know the steering would have to be mounted on the box wings or have to make extension blocks off of the transom? Thanks for the ideas. Keep them coming.

I tried a 24 on your boat, was sluggish. A few things to address over the winter then can work on propping it. Definitely look for a -2 shorty to start though.

I believe a neutral box, keeps the x at the same exact height as it is now, and a +3 will raise it 3 inches. They are designed for the transom angle. I have the x raised 4 or 4.5 inches cant really remember now on my 240..and I would love to try a shorty on my boat to see what it really does. I don't need a box on my boat though, cause its already really nose "high" happy with just a little trim. My boat also has no cuddy in it, (race boat set up). So there really is no weight in the front of the boat.

Sounds to me like you want to add a stellings box. :D

John jr

Hey john you should come out Saturday for the end of season fun run kareokemike is throwing. Most of the stops are off the patapsco. And yes I'm very tempted to buy an extension box this off season

Hey stilliberator did you ever find those hatch hinges you were looking for? And how does your boat plane out with the X raised up that much?

Sorry to get off subject but where is there to hang out on the patapsco? We have been looking for some new places to stop for a bite or a drink. And that river is only about a half hour boat ride I think!

I raised mine 4" & it works great going straight but sucks for water sports like tubing with the kids. Every time you turn the boat sharply to get the tube outside the wake the prop blows out or slips. 5 blade prop helped but you lose most of the speed advantage. I have considered notching the transom but doesn’t seem like many have tried it with success.

Have you tried a 1" spacer? How is it in rough water? Lose bight easily?

Hey man, thanks for the kind words on the other post about my boat. And there are tons of bars/restaurants off of the patapsco (not really directly in the patapsco but off of the creeks that dump into the patapsco.

Here's a short list

You have rowboat willies in the millers island channel. (Used to have dock of the bay but they closed up shop)
Cheshire crab in bodkin creek. Directly south across the mouth of the patapsco from the millers island cut.
Mikes crab house north in rock creek
Nabbs creek inn (in Stoney creek)
Stoney creek inn also In Stoney creek (used to have good food I've heard they Changed personnel and I haven't been this season)
You have reckless rics in furnace creek (off of Curtis creek) as well as 2-3 other hole in the wall bars/food spots right in a row. Beach bar, dukes and Afew others but they're pretty much dives
You then have pirate mutanty in Marley creek (also off of Curtis creek) which has good food and you can go via boat but it's not waterfront which is kind of weird because you can't see your boat.

Lastly you have bear creek which is on the Dundalk side it is the creek that runs next to the steel mill and 695 cuts over it. Personally my favorite spot which is hard yacht cafe, during the summer there's live music 7 days a week. you'll see Marty bass the local weather man in there (local Baltimore legend if anyone has met him you have a Marty story)
You have seasoned mariner which has some decent food but seems to change names every other season
And lastly the seahorse which has decent food as well don't go there often though.

Sorry for the long winded response. there are definitely options though. Feel free to hit me up any time your down and I'd be happy to show you around, go for a boat ride.

How much speed did you notice with a 4" raised X? Interesting that you feel it doesn't handle as well as it used to. I feel the X is pretty deep to begin with on these hulls. What year is your boat if you don't mind me asking? I think in some years the X is different then others.

Are you referring to a 24 Outlaw or to the Four Winns in your info?

I have my prop shafts at 4.25 below the bottom and I have extension boxes on my 320 and it was the absolute best thing I ever did to that boat, well the 500's were a nice addition also!!

Now we aren't really talking apples to apples but did you do all your upgrades at the same time? This year I did the motor and the shorty at the same time so I don't really have a comparison to what exactly the shorty did. Now this year I'm bumping the hp on the motor and possibly an extension box so I'm probably not gonna tell what does what. Unless it slows it down. Then I'll know something's up with the box lol.

No I raised the x first which was an improvement from stock, although I did need to go to 4 blades because I couldn't get the boat on plane..

Next was the box which made a huge difference in the attitude of the boat.. and it gained roughly 4-5 mph. With 454's and the raised x it ran about 66mph I added the box and it would hit 70-72 depending on conditions.. Now with the 500's it runs 80!

Do you have the standard lower to stick back on the drive so you can test it get some #'s? then put the shorty back on it and see what changes occurred.. Then put the box on it test, then do the motor and test! Should be cool to watch what takes place for each scenerio!

Keep this in mind too, if you up the hp enough to make your boat start going real fast you can possibly reach a point where raising the drive seems to slow you down as the boat seems to climb higher out of the water and the drive doesn't run as deep at speed and the becomes hard to maintain bite/bow carrying ability, prop loads and unloads, I lost real speed with stellings box and I lost real speed with imco shorty and am back to my fastest set-up-a std length drive with 7 1/2" PROP centerline, Smitty
A totally gutted out cabin-now THATS a idea for BIG speed numbers, GF would kill me though!

I do actually have a stock lower that can go on, I however am getting ready to pull the motor and once it's out it's getting done but won't have the box or it ready to go on till after the motor is on its way to getting done.

I really have enjoyed the whole process with the boat. And I don't know that I'll ever be the guy with the biggest or fastest boat but I enjoy hanging with them in a 24 and when we stop they are all surprised how well the boat runs for what it is. I get more compliments then I ever thought with an 87 lol.

Very good point smitty. I've read a lot of your threads and i really admire your trial and error approach with it. And I agree with what someone said earlier you definitely got a set on you to run it as hard as you have. I need to dig up some pictures but my boat does carry the bow really well even loaded down. I'd love to gut the boat make it a 4 bolster setup bulkhead off the cabin and put some big power in it but that's wishful thinking for down the road.

I hear ya brother! People say the same thing about mine..

http://m1292.photobucket.com/albumvi...9600.jpeg.html

Actually I tried a .5” spacer first with little improvement & now have a 1” spacer with noticeable improvement. Would eventually like to try a 1.5” spacer as it still slips sometimes with a 5 blade prop. Would also like to hear anyones results with transom notches. With no spacers 3 blade props where useless. Some 4 blades would blow out in rough water going straight & all would still slip while tubing. I haven’t tried any four blade props with the 1” spacer. Ideally I would like to go back to a 4 blade with a notched transom or lower drive.

How much speed did you notice with a 4" raised X? Interesting that you feel it doesn't handle as well as it used to. I feel the X is pretty deep to begin with on these hulls. What year is your boat if you don't mind me asking? I think in some years the X is different then others.

I did this on my 1995 Four Winns & gained 4 mph gps. My drive was originally 8.5” below the keel. Its not a Baja so its not apples to apples but thought it may help anyway.

Thanks for your input. It almost seems that your boat was setup pretty good from the factory. Have you ever had a prop labbed for your boat to try and see if you could gain some bite back?

I had a labbed 24 that I ran all season and it really worked well never lost bite and planed easy even with the shorty. It slung a blade last weekend so I'm going to finish the season with a stock 24 I have.

Yes, I asked about labbing my existing 4 blade props but was told he couldn’t do anything about getting more bite out of my Rev 4 or Hydro QIV. I did try a B1 but it was worse than the Rev 4 so I had a Maximus labbed & modified but it didn’t produce the results I needed. Only after spacing the drive back down did I notice real improvements for water sports. If I was only concerned about speed I would have left the Rev 4 on & probably never would have messed with the drive spacers.

It was to bad I was on call for work this weekend, I would have loved to try one of these places out before the season ended or to join you guys on this fun run! How was it anyway?

It was a good time, rough goings from our creek to the meeting spot, solid 3s in a quartering sea make for a slow go in a 24 footer. But after that it was just rough enough to be fun and in the late afternoon the run to the last stop was glass. 25-30 boats all together definitely a good turn out.

Hey stilliberator did you ever find those hatch hinges you were looking for? And how does your boat plane out with the X raised up that much?[/QUOTE]

Yes sure did..ended up making some works perfect now. I have the largest K-planes that eddie marine makes, and it planes off fine. I ran the boat for over a year with no planes at all..and it planed off fine, I am never hard on getting on plane though, I just ease into it very slow..I run a 26 bravo 1 prop..It doesn't slip really at all, I mean I can throw it in a turn pretty damn hard, and get it to blow out..but you just have to know the limits on how hard you can turn...