Silent Thunder... what to do?
 

So... I am debating going the route of the "thru thunder" mod, or just ditching the Silent Thunder all together. I've liked the mods done to the boxes, and I have the parts to do it. My question is around weight and center of gravity... does the boat balance out better with the reduced weight of the platform? Shaving almost a couple hundred pounds off the back above the drive has to be worth a good amount in handling. Or does it?

If I ditch the platform, I'll probably order an aluminum unit for next season.

Interested in thoughts on this.

The search function works well! Found out a lot... still on the fence about the stock platform.

Decisions decisions.

On my 206 after switching to aluminum exhaust and intake manifolds I then took the platform off. The weight off the bCk made it a bit nose heavy and my laser 23 prop couldn't carry the bow, it would blow the prop out above 50. I went to a 23 mirage and that fixed it but still a mph or 2 slower without the weight on the back.

That's the feedback that I was looking for... the top end on mine is all aluminum, but I have the blower assembly that negates a little of that.

Did you put the platform back on?

The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of modding the S/T (for the simple fact that the mod is pretty cool in its own right). The S/T makes ingress/egress much easier, and a cooler sits on it within easy reach from the stern (three young kids and a girlfriend makes this important).

I ran my 572hp 525sc 242 without the platform for a day. The boat did everything better. Revs way quicker. The exhaust in the platform is probably a zero hp loss on a 330, but on my motor it for sure choked it down. That said the platform is back on. It was way too loud without it. I would do an aluminum one with mufflers if I ditched the stock unit.

I left it off the 206. It's an 86 prior to silent thunder so the exhaust went over the platform, too hillbilly for me. It's loud.
On my 311 I piped through and made the tips bigger. There is a thread on it with pics

I think the ST platforms add to the lines of the boat. Aluminum ones, to me, just don't look right on a Formula. Just something about the square tips and rubber flappers, lets you know its a Formula. I remember reading thread a while back that guy removed ST platform and couldn't stop the boat from porpoising after.

My girlfriend and I were discussing this last night... she's fine with the platform going away (I was surprised!), but after going over it in my head (thinking about the potential negatives), I'm just going to pipe through the platform as originally planned. The square tips are being replaced with round flush-mount tips (they'll be available if anyone needs them).

I should have it done sometime this week.

Just put st box back on ,way to loud with blue motor,made no difference in speed .Nice deep sound now,I guess getting old not racing my shadow anymore.

My buddy and I started surgery this past evening. I need to pick up some silicone hose bends to get her all done. Should be done in a day or two.