I was out a few hours the other day and the boat ran great. I was pleased for the first trip since buying it this winter.

Now my question, it has twin 454 magnum 385hp (gen V, not that it matters) and 25p mirages. I was getting 66-67 mph @ 4600 rpm with positive trim. About 60 @ 44-4500 with the drives tucked

I am used to running well over 5000 rpm and this seems like I am not wide open or something. Is this the right range and speed I should expect from this set up?

There is nothing mercruiser left on the motors that would have operating specs.

Are there better props for this boat?

Your engines should be at 4600-4900 RPMs... you may be over propped. A 23" whould get into the upper RPM's but it would seem that a 272 with mags should be able to turn 25's?

My 311 went 67mph with stock 454 magnums, definetly should be seeing 4900rpm at wot!

I had an '89 272 that radared at 61 with stock 330's spinning 25 mirage props at 4400 rpm.Upgraded the motors to about 460 hp and the boat would go 71 at 5100 rpm with the same 25 pitch mirages.Your speed with 365's is about right.My '89 311 with 365's and Gils will go 65 mph turning a 25 mirage about 4600 rpm.

I guess for what it is worth I have to add more info. My drive indicator cables are broken so I do not know drive position so when I trim up I am only hitting them for a second. There is most likely more to go but until I get the new cables in I am not trying it.

On the test drive before I bought it I had 68.8 on the gps with the previous owner driving.

So some repair and practice is in order rather than props???

My old 1988 Formula 272 Ls 1 with 300 HP/350 mag mpis ran 60 exactly. The company told me 23 mirages were stock for the small blocks and 25s were stock with the 454s then rated at 300 prop hp. When I dropped pitch it did not improve top speed.

It's all feel, indicators are helpful but the boat will tell you what it needs. The more seat time you have with her the better feel you'll get. My first year with my 292, I was constantly checking my trim gauges. Now, I hardly look at them. I just glance at oil, water temp, and rpm every now and then.

Did you get my PM from the other day?

Has anyone run 4 blades on a 272 or 292 ( they are close right?) ???

Will they make any difference?

I just ordered a set of Hydromotive Quad IV's for my 292. I won't have a chance to test them though for a few weeks. From what I've read this is the best prop for the 292/311.

I tried 4 blade hydromotive Quad 4 props on my 272. They were 24 inch pitch. The rpm was the same as the 25 mirage,about 5000-5100 and the boat was about 1 mph slower at 70 mph.The boat was more sensitive to trim, and was more stable at high speed.Planing and midrange cruise was better too.After i put the Quad 4 props on I never went back to the mirages.