yeah, there's a fine line between maintenance and project!! I wanted something I could put a few weekends into and then go out and enjoy. With only 503 hours on a stock 454 mag hopefully I will have a few seasons without many headaches.

Having removed bottom paint before, it is a LOT of work. we used some west marine water based bottom paint remover. put it on, let it sit, scrape it off. Works, but damn it was a lot of work. I have heard that you can soda blast bottom paint off without harming the gel. If that is true in fact, that would be the best bet, and if it cost a few hundred, it will be well worth it. The West Marine crap was expensive and crazy time consuming.

That might be a project for next year....I don't want to work on it all spring.

Well, I finally got her out on the water after 2 months of waiting for some nice weather. Got my new sound system installed (14 speakers, 3 amps, 2 subs, a 4.0 farad capacitor, 3 batteries and a sony deck) and got the wakeboard tower removed and sold!! I also got all the fluids changed and replaced the trailer wiring. The boat runs flawlessly although according to my speedo Im only getting to 50 mph at 4500 rpm. Here are a few pics from this last weekend. Im getting compliments everywhere I go and all my friends agree its one of the coolest boats they have been on! This boat is also the smoothest hull Ive ever been in. I dont care how big the wave is, she just crushes the wave! Pretty amazing! Im happy but would love to see a little more speed....
Pics:

you need a GPS to really know what speed your are running,
though having 5 people and 14speakers,3amps,2subs and 3 batteries
is gonna slow you down a good 4-5mph..

Dont forget about the bottom paint too!!

Yeah, I didnt have a GPS out with me last weekend but have one now. Next time I go out I will be verifying the rpm's with a timing gun and verifying the speed with a GPS. From there I will need to decide if I stick with this prop or drop down to a 21p.

Regardless though Im very happy with the boat, the ride, the sound system and the price. Its almost summertime and time to enjoy the water and some cold ones with my friends and family.

That's a great deal you got - don't push the revs too high on that puppy until yu get some go-fast parts in there. If the top end has 503 hours, you might experience a little more valve float than you would want to see for high (er) revs - IMHO

Nice looking boat btw

+1 on the bottom paint...i agree there is potentially 5 mph there.

Otherwise...50~55 is about tops with that rig as configured. Be happy with it if you can cruise around all day 40~45 with no strain and enjoy it.

Do you guys ever get out in the open ocean up there? That's where you'll get a true test of you "wave crushing" ability.

Thanks! This is the magnum motor though so it has all forged internals and with 500 hours it SHOULD still have alot of life left. WOT range is 4600-5000 and Im at 4500 now which isnt good for the motor. I have a 21p Mirage prop in my garage Ill probably throw on this weekend and see how she performs--that prop is almost 1 inch larger in diameter but 2 inches less in pitch. Im guessing 4800 rpm which is perfect.

The ocean is quite a ways to go (hundreds of miles). Most of us here do boat in the sound alot which is salt water but much calmer than the ocean.