What is your oudrive depth?
 

I have been researching this for a long time and thought maybe we could use a post just for compiling data. Most people may no how to check it but if you do not here is how I do it. Get the outdrive as level to the boat as possible. Use a 4' level or strait edge and lay it on the bottom off the boat. Measure the distance from the top of the level to the propshaft centerline. I will post my boat and a couple other friends boats to get it started. If anyone has made any changes post the height before and after and if it helped speed or handling.
I just noticed we are getting great responses, maybe add your prop pitch and type, top speed ect... like some of the guys have done.

1994 236 Baja
 

This is my boat with a Bravo 1 outdrive the depth is deep at 8". I am currently using a Mirage prop. I have tried a 25 pitch mirage lab finnish @ 4900 RPM and 23 pitch mirage (non-lab) @ 5400 RPM both have similar speed 69-70 on GPS. I may lab finnish the 23 and see what that does. Running a 489 stroker engine with 500HP.

2005 25' Outlaw
 

This is a friends boat with a Bravo X drive at 6.5". He uses a Mirage prop and plains off with no problem

2007 Nordic Rage
 

This is a friends boat with a Bravo X drive at 5.5", he uses a bravo 1 26 pitch prop and has not tried anything else.

Mine are around the 3" neighborhood... I have boxes too.

I run 32 pitch maximus's......those seem to work good.

1995 sunsation aggressor
 

8" ,I tried a 2" shorty last year picked up 3mph, bought a 1" spacer and during testing the lower gears let loose and wasted the housing. im running the stock length for now ,just bought a new 2" lower to try again next year.
I'm a low tech drive guy.
800hp . 32p bravo none lab

I run the propshaft 3.5" below the keel spinning a 30 pitch P5x doing 92.5 mph with 730 Whipplecharged horsepower.

Always lookin for more,

Chris

I went from a propsheft to bottom height of 3" to 1" and gained 2mph on GPS. i allready have a -3 IMCO and am 1/4" from the swim platform or would put the propshaft higher. I am running the ITS standoff. The boat rus 90 on GPS. Handles and planes great.

Donzi classic 18, 5" below with -2" shorty labbed repitched 29 to 28 pitch M+ runs 72-73 on gps stock mx 6.2.

I assume you were at 7" before the shortie. What gains did you see with the shortie drive?

-93 (non step) 27 Fever, 4,5" below.
HP500, 70 mph / 5200rpm with a 14,5X24 4 blade Mach prop.
bl

Yes I was around 7 before shortie, total gains 3-3 1/2 shortie and labbed prop, better handleing boat at WOT also. Takes a little longer to plan, runns flatter but better handleing overall

2.5" prop shaft height. ITS box. Bravo 1 32" Labbed.

Boat ran a personal best of 102mph.

What type of drive? XR,ZX ? I know you and John have done tons of testing and info swapping. I have no one to work with,I'm the only nut with a 100mph 25 sunsation.

Challenger was 5.5" below the pad stock. With an 2.5" Alpha SS shorty it's now right around 3" below the pad. Had to go to a QIV over a 3 blade cleaver to correct alot of slip. Runs 80GPS with a SBC..

My 28 Pantera with notched transom was 4.75" below the bottom with a 3" spacer. With a 2" spacer at 3.75, it was to high and couldn't leverage the bow enough.
I haven't ever really checked the height on my 32 AT.

IMCO SC drive and lower.

I would really like to get your friends phone number to find out how deep he is running on the yellow Heat.

Chris

both of us are going to a shoot out in a week, I'll check,I do know it's a stock length drive.

Nordic set the drives at all different heights.
Check it and let me know please.

Thanks,
Chris

2001 Stingray 230LX, my propshaft is 7.5" below the notched transom and running about 69 with a 430hp (prop) SBC. My speeds range between 68.7 and 70.5 depending which prop I have on it. I have tried a Laser II, a Tempest, a Rev4, and a Mirage +. The mirage makes the boat feel very loose and I have to over trim it to get max speed, but it has the least tendancy to chine walk. I have a -2 XR lower that I am going to try next weekend. I was a little disappointed on how fast the boat went when I got the motor in it, but I still dialing in the driveline. I was expecting mid 70's and I hope the shorty gets me there.

32' AT, deep V non-stepped hull, no notched transom. Bravo One XR drives sitting on Stellings extension boxes with -2" IMCO shorties. The propshaft centerlines sit about 1.5-2" below the bottom of the hull (directly in front of the drives). The boat had a terrible time of planing with 4-bladed props. It planes great with 5-bladed P5X 30" props.

With the IMCO shorties I saw much better handling---it was night and day difference! Speed increased 4-7mph on top depending on water conditions---at least in this reference.

Zero hours on fresh rebuilds....My -2" IMCO shorties are FOR SALE and have just been rebuilt by Mr.Gadgets/Dick...new cryo treated gears, new bearings/races, seals, Max Machine Worx propshafts and vertical shafts, satin finish, fresh water use, and blueprinted/hand fitted for assembly.

Also FOR SALE are my Stellings extension boxes, IMCO heavy duty inner transom plates and Marine Machine wing plates modified to extend your external steering---all the stuff required to add extention boxes.

Reason for selling---I am selling my boat and decided to remove some items.

Do not get discuraged. Are those GPS speeds, that sounds really fast for that boat and power. Let us know what the shortie drive does. Sounds like that is next on my upgrade list.

I had a stock 230SX 425hp it ran 72 plus on GPS with two guys and 1/2 tank. It was stock. merc racing did a labbed 25 Mirage plus (they worked it 3 times for me until we got it perfict). Raising the drive will help a lot. And yes the mirage is loose but the best top speed by far, and no cine walk. Stingray's do not have chines.... The z plane hull has long thin flat lfting strakes where the chine would be, that is why they are so fast. But thereis a limit its about 87mph and it gets scarry. I had one with a V10 Ilmore in it. I feel if I raised the drive it might have been better but the customer opted to put the motor in a new Eliminator.28'

Yeah those are GPS speeds. The Laser II was the fastest at 70.5, but it felt like it was dragging the bow and stern too much and had a very hard time getting on plane.

Doc, I realize they are not really chines, just didn't know what to call them other than lifting strakes. I just call them chines to not confuse others.. I will keep you posted on the results in my -2 XR Sportmaster thread in Drive and here briefly.

With that set up did it hurt your performance in the rough stuff,we were looking at doing this on a 38 Cig. Do your know what your slip was with the p5x ?

I could not pm you it said your full. I wanted to know what you wanted for the drives.

I did a inspection of the transom. Looks like I have a leak around the seal, exhaust blockoff, or a boot?? While I have it all apart I am going to raise the cutout and the engine a few inches. I am at 8" below the bottom now, if I raise it 3" that would put me at 5". MOW (from speedwake) is running his at 5.25 with good luck. My deadrise is 22deg very similar to the 265 force 21deg hull. The inner strakes and wedges are not a issue with this hull. After 60 the hooks (wedges) are out of the water. The strakes from the factory stop several feet from the transom. Looks like I am going to pull the engine in December and go from there. If anyone has any input that would be great. If anyone has had good experience with a Fiberglass shop in the St Louis Metro area I would be interested in that info also.

1987 formula 357-sr1 trs drives 5" below bottom of strake running bravo 1 4blade 26p props not labbed 540ci 620hp motors at 4800 rpms looking to raise the rpms to about 5500
so far I have hit 65 mph on speedo double checked with gps.:evilb:

How did you make your drive height adjustment? That must be a very heavy boat. Sounds like a 24p would put you closer to your RPM target.

I am trying to keep my eye out for a pair of decent 24p bravo1's for next year I got the boat running late this season. I didn't adjust my drive height that is where it was when I bought it.:evilb:

Formula had it figured out back in 87. That must mean in had a 3 blade on it originally. You may want to try a 25p mirage and see what that does.

I will keep it in mind.
thanks
Steve:evilb:

I have a powequest 185 xlt, 428 sbc. I am at 6.5" with my alpha SS. Right now its runs 87-88 before I get blowout, Switched to a bravo1 prop and its alot better. Planning on raising my X dimension 2.5-3" here pretty soon, That will put me about 3.5-4" below the hull.

hey jeff I was wrong about my drive height it's alot lower than five inches below the strake I was running off of memory and I was wrong I will try and measure properly soon. i realized my mistake when I was filling the outdrive with fluid.:lolhit::eek::evilb:

I thought that sounded pretty aggresive for 87. Only 3 blade props were available then. I have been told at 5" I will need a Bravo 4 blade vs Mirage 3 blade.

I PUT A'' SHORTIE ON MINE WENT FROM 7 1/2 TO 5 1/2 PICKED UP 8MPH WITH CARB CHANGE

There to deep if you have twin 620hp , my buds 420 311sr1 runs 68 to 70 gps. and a cig tg or cafe with 620hp will run 75 and there at the same weight or heavyer.:coolcowboy: you need 2'' shorties and if need to lower by a 1/2'' until it bites good

Arti my speed is Speedo speed but probably close to accurate. 311 is a LOT lighter then a 357 however.

hey don't I now you from way back, who got the bat:drink:

true