I looked around a little but didn't find what I was looking for. What is, or are, the reasons to switch your drive ratio? I saw that someone switched from 1.36 to 1.5 and their boat handled better. Why? If you have an ill mannered boat, wouldn't the manufacturer have installed the proper drive ratio for the best overall performance? I suppose production boat companies may have a huge inventory in a particular ratio and just run with it? The problem I have is that not many if any at all have ever put any "performance parts" on an Enticer so I don't have much guidance. Thanks for your comments.

Are you experiencing something in particular? Back in the day, there were often time very limited options on propeller sizes/pitches...so some would elect to change drive ratios to be able to work with what they had. As far as "handling better", not sure what that means?

think of it like this, if you change the gear ratio in your car how could it possibly affect the handling?

going to the 1:36 ratio lets you to not to need a pitch prop in a very high pitch numerically when you have a big hp motor.

I didn't understand the reason it helped in handling either hence my question. I've been all over OSO today and couldn't find that particular post again. Sounds like the only reason to switch is for a propeller. Thanks for your comments guys.

only suggestion i have is over 90 mph on mine i can get a slight walk. i just drop the littlest tab a can. my theory is it acts a little like training wheels. lol

drive for drive there is no way the handling would change, meaning if you have std height low water pickup bravo and did nothing but change the ratio for example. the only part that would change the way the boat runs is the props. if the props were crappy for the boat and after the ratio change the new props worked better then that is what changed. if they changed ratio but ran the original props then any change in handling would be because of engine response. i.e. the engines were lazy feeling and the response to steering or throttle changes was slow or struggling due to over propped or too much ratio then the ratio change would make the boat feel more responsive. it does not really "handle" better it just reacts better.

Prob 90% of V bottom Bravo 1 boats of have 1.5 drives. A few have 1.65's and those are often used for higher altitude boats.
Boats with 1.36 and 1.25 usually only go that route due to prop pitch limitations.

From what I've read over the years "in cats" most guys run 1.35's and if you switch to a 1.24 they recommend over 1200+ hp and lots of torque. I'm assuming the 1.24 wouldn't have the acceleration the 1.35's have but would be better suited for midrange cruising. I'd think same would apply to 1.50's and 1.36's

My experience with the subject....bought a 1.35 sportmaster lower used as I didn't have the coin to swing a new one....single 1000 hp pad vee....I had to drop down to a 26 pitch prop to get in my RPM range I wanted and the boat did NOT like it. Very touchy with steering and wanted to chine walk at all speeds. Could have had the prop worked probably but ended up going to 1.50 gears in the lower and back up to 28 pitch prop and it handled much better. As said, gear ratio had nothing to do with it as it was all in the prop. I will say on the flip side of that however that the boat does all around feel better with the 1.50...acceleration, mid range, and top end are all better again though most likely due to the prop.

Same here, have ran my donzi 21 with both 1.36 and 1.50. Both with bravo1 props. -2 cases.

Boat handled like crap with 1.36, switched to 1.50 and its awesome.

Prop rpm matters, thats my take on it that have done back to back testing..