Our last 2 stock 600's a few years ago.93.4 and 94.8. Formula's European dealer(pokerrunboats on OSO) is at 100 mph with his own 600 tweaking,and apparently has more as he gets it dialed in. Thread here somewhere.

Macjazzy

That photo was my from my friends 292 during the 2008 River Shiver on Fox Lake. Weather looked worse than it was that day.

It was the last run of the year so pushed the sticks to the wall. (Seems like there could be a few more MPH with a different prop.) I don’t really like doing that but once in a while…

The waves in the photo are from the other boats during the Shiver. And yes, the 2 foot waves are best as it seems to release the hull and get that little extra burst of speed. The cooler weather is also a plus.

How's a 496HO (425hp?) as fast as a 500EFI (475hp?) in the same 353? Not trying to be cynical, I know you're the man MF, just puzzled.

Don't quite understand your question,never stated 500efi speeds,which generally,back in their day,were 78-80. Basically,the 496HO's are much stronger than anyone realized,and an undiscovered bargain. If you ever get a chance to run one,you will be impressed. I never thought they would run that well,but they do,and it surprised me.

Magicfloat has regularly posted GPS pics of boats in the past....although something about that Alabama water does seem faster than what the rest of us see. Roberts numbers are also new boats before they are loaded with all the crap we tend to carry around with us....that alone may explain the 1-3 mph higher numbers Robert regularly sees.

I had Merc tech on my boat updating Axius software last week. He told me that he has dyno'd several HOs - and they all come in pretty much 440 to 450 HP. I agree they are a great deal for the price.

Sorry Robert,
I was vague. My boat with 500s does 75 and change wich was what you were saying a 496HO will do. I understand elev, water, temp, and weight all play a roll with speed. I guess I'm just surprised that a 496HO will do an honest 75-76. I'd love to get 80 with my boat... maybe she's a little tired (480 hours). Redoing the springs this winter, maybe that'll help.

No apology needed.If you had told me 3-4 years ago that a 496 HO 353 would run 75+ i would have said you're nuts. The performance of that package surprised me as much as it did you.

Sleek1,

480 hours? Is this the first time the springs will be changed?

Yes, the engines still have the factory seals on them (according to the surveyor). I bought the boat last March and wasn't about to sit on the shoreline another summer. Decided to take an "educated" risk and use the boat til this winter. The boat looked like it had been well taken care of (good brand of oil, etc) compression was no lower than 153 and most were in the 160s. Not many hours at WOT. No problems so far and I'll get the springs done before it warms up again. Oh wait, it was 87* yesterday.