[QUOTE=debcod2;4554314]you are correct and that's the dilemma I am having with this since we are getting into the top gun territory which is ultimately what I want to have at some point.

Wife and I have gone back and forth over this and she don't care either way Café or gun but she is my voice of reason and would rather we hold out a little longer if the top gun is what I ultimately want and hopefully even get something a little newer, etc.

Would love a gun with 525's for the turn key reliability even though they may not be as fast as something with bigger power but im not sure I want to mess with blower motors either
Understood, what about one of these? You probably saw them?
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...ck-o69378.html
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...un-o68993.html

I have that first top gun here. The owner of our brokerage took it on trade. We have a deal pending on it.

[QUOTE=Rhythm and Blues;4554317]Yep have looked at both of these online repeatedly. Like the colors of the second one in Ohio.

With 454's and small blowers, what is realistic maintenance schedule for top ends and blowers to be gone through? I have always been told about 250-300 hrs if you're somewhat easy on them.
What kind of realistic speed out of a straight bottom gun with 600HP per side? Would it hit 70?

[QUOTE=debcod2;4554384]I'm of the same school of thought, 200-350 on a top end depending on how you use the sticks AND the build components. I'm going to say for sure on the 70 number being attainable.. Seems like with a lot of these boats the drives are a focal point.

[QUOTE=Rhythm and Blues;4554387]Gotcha, thanks for the input

[QUOTE=debcod2;4554394]
No problem but I'm no expert. I use to shy away from blower engines but now I believe a mild blower engine is more favorable than N/A carb. The way I understand it is generally the way they make power/torque is better on drives... High comp carb motors have their own set of traits.. I'm sure someone here will lend some words on the subject.

If you want a gun, you should just get what you want. Don't bother starting with a Café. Though, there's not a huge difference between the two. Plus there's more to chose from in the Gun category and the prices are pretty close. I've spend just as much time behind the wheel of a Café as I have my own Gun. They handle the same, same cabin and cockpit layout, etc. Gun will be slightly faster with same power over the café as the guns hull is more efficient. Only reason I can see to go with a Café is you have size limits for storage or you want the 1k or so weight savings. Other than that, get what you want would be my .02

and 600 hp will get you to 70 no sweat on a gun. My gun 525 SC's that were slightly warmed to 650 a side and they were pushing SSM3A (trannies) and would hit 75.

yup. which is the reason i went with a Cafe, the marina where i was going to keep it had a 36' dry stack limit. After buying the boat i was then told they also had a 8k weight limit. So i couldn't even stack it.

We have been talking about this non stop for last few days again and I am just going to hold off for a bit to stash some cash and get what I ultimately want which is the gun.

I appreciate the input from you guys

Baja paint on a Cig.......:picard1: