I have a 28 TD 496 HO's with Bravo XZ drives, 5 blade 29p Hydros and no boxes. My propshafts are 1/2" to 1" above the lowest part of the inner sponsons. Then there's a 3" or so step-up and another foot of boat. I've noticed on a lot of the newer 28's the propshafts are even to 1" below the second or higher step with or without boxes.

I've been debating about adding the 12" IMCO boxes with 3" rise or just going with 2" IMCO shorties and no boxes. All in all to raise my x dimension 2". What would be the best route to take?

Hope this isn't to confusing?

Call kenny at eliminator. I was just talking to him about the x on boats this week. very helpful.

Harper...

1-2" above the bottom of sponson (drain plug part) is the ideal spot according to Eliminators riggers when I spoke with them....you can get them too high even with 5 blade props.

for a singlr or twin?

twin

I talked with Kenny at Eliminator today for at least 20-25 mins. and he recommended 2" shorties and a Dana tab (mt1800). If 2" is too much I can always add a 1" spacer. I all ready run P5X's so that will help overall.

You mentioned the drain plug. That's about where my prop shafts are right now, so it's just a matter of dialing in 1" or 2" inches above that. The only part that sucks is the possibility of having to add a $2000 tab just to get on plane.

On the good side, there's a possibility of picking up 6-8 mph without touching the motors...

what kind of 5 blade props are you running?

They're Hydromotive P5X's 29p.

A correction to post #6. I just went and looked and my shafts are 1" below the drain plugs, so I could easily go up 2".

I think the neutral IMCO boxes drop your X a little. The 28s that I have put boxes on, we had to drop the front of the engine .75 to 1.0". Mine has solid mounts, so it required some drilling.

You also need to think about the prop pitch you are running. One inch up from the bottom and 36" bravos are tough to get on plane and almost impossible at the start of a poker run, even with a tab. Five blades are better, but if you are taking off in a poker run, it still can be tough. 34" bravos are OK and 32" bravos are no problem.

Another thing we found to keep from blowing out if using MSD distributors, is to lock the advance. That way you don't have one advancing ahead of the other and blowing one prop out and killing you. This can create other problems.

The best thing I did to keep from blowing out a prop on a start at a poker run was to install intercoms. I keep my ass in the seat and watch the tachs. My navigator stands for the first few seconds and tells me where to go and until we roll over. This also allows me to have my lap belt on before we take off.