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SecondWind 10-25-2017 01:24 PM


Originally Posted by Knot 4 Me (Post 4590017)
Not sure how much a drive guardian will help in this situation as this is not a boat that sees air time. Where are your torque spikes going to come from that would cause the guardian to slip?

Not sure if this post was for me or not. I was told the DriveGuardian will help with torque spikes from planing to prop re-entry and everything in between. The prop shaft is approximately even with the center pod behind a 12 inch box when the drive is set for neutral on the trailer. When traveling at speeds over 80mph the boat likes positive trim. The prop comes out of the water more than expected when managing boat wakes, etc. The worst is trying to keep on plane with a full load of passengers at LOTO or Lake Michigan in rough water. The boat comes out the water so much in waves over 2 feet I won't even try and get on plane in those conditions anymore. Live and learn!

SecondWind 10-25-2017 01:57 PM


Originally Posted by IGetWet (Post 4590002)
With how well your setup performs currently, triple digits plus being able to pull tubes and skiers, inspecting the lower after every season sounds like a fair trade off to me.

If you do decide to go with one of the scx lowers, most likely the 1400, I'd get it up as high as possible, which would be 3.5" above the bottom of the center pod if I read your first post correctly? I haven't read of many or any scx lowers retaining the same speeds of an sc lower if they aren't raised above the bottom of the hull. Imco also makes a #6 propshaft adapter that could be used for testing #6 props as well if you couldn't get a bravo style prop to work out.

I'm going to have to try an sc lower on my outlaw next season because 800hp for lower 80s with the 1300scx lower just isn't cutting it if you ask me. My lower is 2.25" below which I believe leaves too much of the massive lower unit to drag.

I would be willing to bet the SC lower will put your boat in the low 90s.

Knot 4 Me 10-25-2017 02:16 PM


Originally Posted by SecondWind (Post 4590028)
Not sure if this post was for me or not. I was told the DriveGuardian will help with torque spikes from planing to prop re-entry and everything in between. The prop shaft is approximately even with the center pod behind a 12 inch box when the drive is set for neutral on the trailer. When traveling at speeds over 80mph the boat likes positive trim. The prop comes out of the water more than expected when managing boat wakes, etc. The worst is trying to keep on plane with a full load of passengers at LOTO or Lake Michigan in rough water. The boat comes out the water so much in waves over 2 feet I won't even try and get on plane in those conditions anymore. Live and learn!

Guess I didn't realize how much your prop comes out of the water, Rob. If you are always experiencing the prop breaking loose then by all means a drive guardian should help.

SecondWind 10-26-2017 07:47 AM

4 Attachment(s)
This is the type of water that kills the drive. We were taking a customer and his wife to the City Winery on Chicago's Riverwalk in late July. I couldn't keep the prop in the water to save my life so I finally just took it off plane and idled to the lock. Super fun trip though. We parked behind a yacht with someone playing the violin off the stern of the boat. We pulled up looking like the Beverly Hillbillies, good times!

Knot 4 Me 10-26-2017 08:03 AM

I forgot all about your love of Chicago boating! And obviously LOTO during the SOTPR would be hard on the drive.

I'd stay with the SC lower for now. If you decide to go SCX lower you can get adapters made to where you can run Bravo style props instead of cleavers. Not sure how that would work out given the shape of the SCX bullet.

SecondWind 10-26-2017 12:10 PM

4 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by Knot 4 Me (Post 4590219)
I forgot all about your love of Chicago boating! And obviously LOTO during the SOTPR would be hard on the drive.

I'd stay with the SC lower for now. If you decide to go SCX lower you can get adapters made to where you can run Bravo style props instead of cleavers. Not sure how that would work out given the shape of the SCX bullet.

Even this afternoon got a little dicey at LOTO with very few other boats on the water (July 5th). I guess we were one of the few who decided to go to Backwater Jacks with a storm moving in. Fun ride home to say the least.

sl 10-29-2017 09:21 AM

One thing you may want to consider if you stay with a SC is REM and Cryo of the drive components. A lot of info on the web about it. Did them to my SC lowers 5 years ago. Been trouble free behind 800's. Relatively inexpensive to do and added reliability and performance.

IGetWet 10-29-2017 10:21 AM

Secondwind, were you running the 1-7/16" shaft? I've heard better results from that lower.

SecondWind 10-30-2017 06:18 AM

We were running 1-1/4” propshaft before. I’m not sure if a 1-1/4” or 1-7/16” propshaft is going back on. Performance Boat Center is installing the DriveGuardian and new lower. I called IMCO about 1-7/16” propshaft over the Summer and they mentioned customers order them if they’re worried about throwing prop blades. The larger diameter propshaft is less likely to bend if you throw a blade. I was under the impression that was the only advantage. I didn’t even ask PBC what SC lower they ordered. I’m trusting the Coil brother’s at PBC to order whatever they think I need.

SecondWind 10-30-2017 06:22 AM


Originally Posted by sl (Post 4590761)
One thing you may want to consider if you stay with a SC is REM and Cryo of the drive components. A lot of info on the web about it. Did them to my SC lowers 5 years ago. Been trouble free behind 800's. Relatively inexpensive to do and added reliability and performance.

I’ll look into that. Who did you use to strengthen the gears?


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