35' Mistress performance
 

Hello, new to the forum and offshore boats. Typically a jetboat guy. Looking for some performance advice.
Just picked up a 1985 Cigarette 35' Mistress, twin 454s that look pretty stock (supposed to have been a basic refresh about 60 hrs ago) with velvet drive trans and TRS outdrives. We put in on the water here in north Texas today, and the motors run out about 4700 rpm with speedo showing right at 55(didn't have my phone to check gps). It's running 4 blade 22p Bravo props.

The boat came from Santa Fe, NM so I expected to do some rejetting on the carbs. Motors seem to run good with the 79/92 jets it has now by sound and seat of the pants, although I haven't checked the plugs. I am wondering if anyone has anything comparable to determine if I really need a big jump in jet sizes, maybe be able to turn a 23 or 24 prop or even expect much more speed out of the boat at all.

Any info or suggestions apppreciated.

Thanks
-JR

JR,

You stole my boat! Best of luck with her, she looked like a real find, especially at the asking price. Too bad I was so far from New Mexico or I would've snagged her myself!

These are heavy old tanks; takes lots of power to make them move, but they'll go through anything! For what it's worth, Don Aronow advertised the boat with speeds up to approximately 64 MPH with stock 454/400 power and TRS drives. My old '78 Mistress had that setup, and I was hard pressed to see 60, but I wasn't perfectly dialed in either.

Harry

It did turn out to be a pretty solid boat. Needs a little interior wiring work (everyone apparently thinks they are electricians- just spend the last week doing a complete rewire job on a jetboat). It was a tossup between a mid 80s Scarab and this, and we got it for a good price I think. Trying to get it to a decent baseline at our altitude before we start doing anything to the motors. Had a good time on it this past weekend. And you know, everything is for sale! Will probably keep it a couple of years and then see about a Top Gun.

-JR

I have an 86 Mistress. It had Hawk power originally when I got it (540s) made about 600 give or take, with transmissions and SSM3 drives. It would run 72. I freshened them to what I assume was about 700 and it would run 78 and I did get it to go 80 a couple times. I currently have 580s in with 10-71 blowers at 6psi and I believe it is probably making about 950, will run a tick over 90 all day in pretty much any condition

I was hoping to get it into the mid 60s, but don't want to drop a ton of money into the motors, thinking I may not have it a long time. It is a good steady riding boat being as heavy as it is. I assume these are 454/420 engines, so I'll see what I can do with them without breaking the bank or drives.

-JR

There a Mistress listed on on Craig's List in Miami that sounds the same as your Mistress? is it the same boat?
looks nice in the photos
Thank you
Jim

If you're referring to that one for 25k, not the same boat. Very similar though. That's a nice looking machine.
-JR

There's a guy on here that built some Junk Yard 540s in his Lawnmower shed with a pair of vise grips and a multitool that is running 72.

Can't remember his name on the site.

Use the search button.

What carbs? If they are 420s, they would have been 800s with 76/87 jets.

They are Holley 850s according to the numbers. Pulled the bowls and they're running 79/90 jets. Ran nice this past weekend, first it had been out since coming from NM.

-JR