Ok got the test sheet. Apparently my boat was the 4th 35ZR built.

With 28 pitch Bravo 1's, the boat tested at 83.5mph at 5000rpm and cruised at 50.2mph at 3500rpm with 2 people on board. This was with a test weight of 8412lb including 75 gal of fuel on board (1/2 a tank).

According to the survey when I bought the boat, the props are now Bravo 1 30" pitch. I will confirm this next time I'm at the marina (boat is on a lift so it should be straightforward).

Currently performance isn't great. 4000rpm gets 50mph, and 5000rpm gets 74.6 with 7/8th tank of fuel and two people on board. The extra fuel would add about 300lb or so to the test weight. While this test was run in fresh water, we did test the boat in salt with 4 people and less fuel and performance was very similar - the heavier people load basically balanced out the fuel load.

The hull is clean, and I had all nicks taken out of the forward edges of the drives and skegs even though it was essentially cosmetic.

I think I will also check the toe-in on the drives as well.

Any other suggestions?

I would put a brand new pair of 28 Bravo's on and run it. Not telling what was done to your 30's by the previous owner. Seen plenty of boats that didn't perform like they should because of crappy prop mods. Shouldn't be hard to find a loaner set.

Exactly what I was thinking. Thanks for the advice.

jmeng is right. Put the factory 28's on and you will see 80. If it helps, mine does 50 @ 3,500, 60 @ 4,000, 70 @ 4,500, and 80 @ 5,050. I can show you 83.3 at the max, and cheating in every way. No fuel, no crap in the cabin, going down river, with the tide, with the wind. Mine is completely stock, stock, and stock. (2008). What I have learned is to wind it up, trim it out, and wait, and wait, and wait. Seems like it takes a minute or so to get that last 2 mph. As a caution, I have also seen a top of 77 on some days. Just a slight side breeze, or a strange current, and everything falls quickly. Oh, and I am convinced that new props make a difference. Once you ding them, forget about that last 2 mph. It' quite pickie: there is a certain spot on my river where is always goes faster, and you can feel it. Lastly, I am in fresh water. Good luck.

Amen!!

All the ZR hulls need a couple of miles to squeeze out the last 2-5 mph!

Ok I definitely didn't run it a couple of miles. Going to give it another shot on Wednesday with the current props but unfortunately its looking like we won't be able to try the 28's this season which sucks.

I have been corresponding with Chuck Wagner at Donzi customer service and he sent me a table of recommended props for the 35zr. This table was in effect at the end of production so the x dimension may have chanced since mine was built.

Anyways, for the 496ho's they recommend the 28" prop but they also list a labbed 30 as an optional upgrade. I think I'll give bblades a call to talk with them as well.

I don't know from personal experience but I remember reading somewhere that some one was able to squeak a few more mph out with a set of Hearings.

Ok, just heard from Double R. They tested out of the box fresh 30's and 32's on the boat. The 30's I have have been reworked they said - whether this was due to them getting dinged or not who knows.

With stock 30's they saw 5300rpm and with the stock 32's they saw just under 5000-ish. Boat speed was about 83mph. This is one person on board, fresh water, not a heck of a lot of fuel on board.

They are recommending Merc labbed 32's for best overall performance in a variety of conditions.

Just wanted to update everyone.

One other thing: the blades on the Bravos bend with each revolution of use, and eventually snap off. Start with a fresh factory set. I get about 150 hrs out of a set and then performance starts to diminish. At around 200 hrs, a blade disappears. Don't trim out too far or they really bend, and the life gets really short. Just my experience: I have 800 hrs on the whole boat. Good Luck!!