On my buddies boat we have to put a new transom in it anyway because his is rotten, so getting the x raised will be cheaper than fixing it and buying a shorty drive. I don't think raising the motor 2-3" will affect the COG on a boat that will max out 65 (hopefully). I have heard the center of the prop shaft needs to be anywhere from 1.5"-5" below the bottom of the boat but I would like to see what people with this boat has their drive heights.

ok you got me,,im a year off,thought 97 was the first year for steps but it was late 97 and 98 was the first year for them..

There is no such thing as a 1987 25zx. There was a 1987 Z25, but that boat is quite a bit different than the ZX hulls.

I probably is a 25z. His just has a updated 25zx interior in it.