35 Lightning Order questions
 

Hi gang,

I just got confirmation on the build date for my 35 lightning. Were going with 496's and XR's. My dealer is suggesting/looking into adding Sportmaster's and Herring's on my boat order while I still have time to modify the options.

What do you think I would gain or lose with those on a 496 powered lightning? The dealer is going to be checking with Fountain to get their take on it. The Herring's are probably going to make a difference but I'm not sure about the Sportmaster lower units.

I'm building the boat with cost in mind (initial cost, insurance, etc) and upgrades to come later (possibly CMI's). But I want to build it right initially. I'm going to be in the boat for the long haul.

Help me spend my money! :D

Thanks!
Lee

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Save your money, if you want speed at a later date, go with the CMI's. After you add the CMI's then you will know what RPM's you are turning and can adjust accordingly with your props.

FYI, talk to the folks at Throttle Up about high X-dimensions on stepp hulls, BE CAREFUL, also the sportmasters will not help you unless you are running 90 MPH +.

Fountaindriver

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

The sportmasters have onger skegs, create more drag, and will slow you down - some say- as much as 3mph. I don't understand why they would suggest that you run sportmaster lowers with 496's.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Thanks for the feedback so far. Still in research mode and I'm sure Fountain will have a opinion on it too.

What about 5 blades alone on the stock lower XR unit? Probably a lot of blade area for the 496's to spin? Where I will be boating I have quite a few long distance ports of call. So efficiency in cruise is as important as top end. I've read that the 5 blades will increase mid-range speeds with little or no change on the top end.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Agreed! Congrats on the new ride. :drink:

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Are you referring to my new ride, if you are THANKS.

Fountaindriver

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

525's, 525's, 525's, 525's, 525's!!! What are you thinking???

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Driven both a 496 and 525 lightning. Mid range punch and top end are better with 525's but not enough to justisfy the increase $$. Maybe 4-6mph on the top end according to my test rides. The delta is about $35K between the blue and black motors. That's a lot of gas, CMI's, Raylar kits, and beer. Plus I need to insure this thing.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Point made...good luck!

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Money is money and only you can judge what works for you. I think the speed difference is more like 7 - 8 mph. The resale one day will also put bucks back in your pocket..... Although the 496 will go for more hours before a rebuild, not sure if that matters....

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

I dont think you need them we have a cutomer that sat with stock 496s and xrs gps at 85 same boat!!!!! stone stock!!!!!! in 35 exectioner ( same boat that is in the cambridge thread )

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Recently I read about the "quirks" with HP boat insurance. One thing said was insurance for a 496 easier to get and significantly scheaper then a HP500 or larger.

I have a '97 35 Lightening with 525SC's. Love it, but finding 91 octane can be a problen in some areas...and my insurance is about $2800 a year. Uch!

Consider calling Sy Goldberg at Total Dollar Insurance. I have found him VERY knowledgable about insuring HP boats. Rates seem competitive. I have no ties to them...just sharing where I have had good luck.

Joel

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

got to think ahead... you will take a big hit on resale with the 496 v 525 their is not much differance in the end. you will be alot happer with the 525s IMO.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Joe,

He had XR's on the back of his EX? That is great speed out of a bone stock 35EX.

I'm also getting 5 year warranties on my motors. Can't get that with the 525's. Insurance quotes seem to be at least double or more for 525's compared to 496's same boat for us.

It starts to add up.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

I disagree with your statement on resale. Those blue
motors are a 35k option. If he were to keep the boat
for 7 years,lets say he would have aprox 300 hrs
on it. About the time a 525 needs to be refreshed.
Do you really think that boat,at that time,would bring
him 35k more?? I doubt it.Its just another option
that will highly depriciate. That boat may bring an
extra 10k with 525's after 6 or 7 years.Thats an
extra 25k loss on top of actual deprication of the
boat itself. I think the 496's are a good move.That
boat will run in the low to mid 80's with reliable
power that will last 500 hrs or more. progressive
will write up to 900hp total. That puts him right in
their market. My insurance in N.Y. for a 35 Ex 496's
is 1700.00 per year.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

By the way,Congrats TECHMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Thanks epeek!

Looking forward to unwrapping her in the spring! There's nothing like the smell of fresh fiberglass in March. Mmmmmm!! :drink:

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

I find it hard to believe that a stock executioner runs 85 mph on GPS w/ 496's. I have a 2001 T/S w/ 500efi's and I have seen 87mph. I have also owned a 1998 lightning which is the executioner hull and the best I saw was 76 w/ 502's and labbed hydro's. Not trying to cause trouble just my opinion and I think others would testify that there is no way.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

We just built the same boat (06' 35 lighting with 496's) and we had all the same questions as Techman. Between the price difference and warranty how could you pass that up to gain 5 - 10 mph? On resale I think you would have better luck with the 496's after only a few years of owning it because you can sell a 2-3 year old boat still with warranty and buying a used boat that is a hug plus in my book. As far as top end we have seen 79 tops on fresh water which we are very happy with. If you add the CMI's to that then you will be right up there with the 525's.

Lee keep me posted on your progress....

Jason

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

There is something real nice about opening the hatch on the Blue motors, But $$$$ do come into it..

As far as insurance goes I saved about $900/yr by going to Progressive.....

Call Gina at: 631 728-0286

Good Luck with the boat

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

he did 85 on his way down to the cambridge races his gps tattle tales doesnt lie

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

i have seen them spike... do a search, the 525 will be way more fun... thats the main reason i sold my 35 not enough power. it depends on you budget, but you will get hosed on a new 35 with 496s on resale..... imo. (as with any brand)

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

05 ex,496's. 79mph gps,all day long. I think with the
twin step,it should run 2-3 mph faster!

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Resale is important with 525 but epeek isn't far off either. You've gone this far, do it right and spend the money.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

525's, 525's, 525's you should get at least 500 hours out of them if you maintain them. They are built better than the 496 and run stronger and never have a oil temerature problem. Try running 496 WOT for more than 20 - 30 minutes your oil will be 220+ degrees F and pressure drop to 35 PSI. 525 never gets hotter than 190 - 200 on a run like that after the thermostat opens and your oil pressure stays around 45 - 55 psi. just my .02.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Thanks everyone for the input.

Now back to the original question of sportmaster gearcases and Hering props.

It sounds like I will gain nothing or even possibly lose performance with sportmaster gearcases. How about Hering props? Would performance be better served by just getting the stock props labbed? Or are Hering props worth the $$?

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Herrings are worth every nickel...right up until the time you hit the bottom! Big bucks to buy, big bucks to repair...as always, the choice is yours!

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Forget the Sportmasters. whoever said the Sportmaster is 1-2 mph slower is correct. Stick with the regular Bravo XR and keep the extra 1-2 mph. Besides, you can get a pair of IMCO 1" or 2" shorties later and gain speed if you'd like. As for the Herrings, Great props, but a pair of Labbed Bravo or Hydromotives may be better money spent.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

i have now tired every prop... 4 blade labbed b1, 5 blade hydrop5-x, maximus 5 blade. & hering 5 blade this is easy spend the $$$ for the herings.

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

The 496's with XR drives are the better purchase. With the dollars saved you can easily add the extra 100HP+ with Raylar and CMI parts, add the polished billet pulley kits and our coil and harness remount kits and give the 496's the same "Blue Motor look a a lot less dollars. As for the heating issue an upgraded oil cooler kit costs about $500 installed and you can keep the hammer down with no oil overheat. Don't get me wrong, if you've got the disposeable dollars, the HP525's are an awesome package and run beautifully. The insurance issue can be a problem with some boats with HP525 power but it's a boat by boat and insurance company issue. When it comes time to resell, the 496 upgraded motors will bring back a dollar that will still have a better savings over the HP525 in most cases. Just my two cents, only time will tell! I will try and get some pictures posted here of our new Raylar 496's in full dress trim. I just have a problem getting the pictures up loaded on OSO because the file sizes are always to big for what they allow. I will get one of my computer experts to resize the picture files so fellow OSO'ers can see the new look in Raylar 496 equipped motors! Might turn a few heads and change the current outlook on 496's.

Ray @ Raylar

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

Ray

If you can't get the picture size small enough to post would you mind sending the pics to me in an email?

[email protected]

Thanks
Jason

Re: 35 Lightning Order questions
 

I have heard several folks complain that the Herrings are lossing blades. Simply put some of them are not staying together and then it takes weeks and or months to get them back "fixed". This is second hand info, so take it from that point. I would look into it further before I spent any $....