Now after I have spent all of this money on upgrading my single step 35', what is the speed difference between the Lightning and Exectioneer with the same power? I'm just wondering if I would have been better off trading in my Classic on a Lightning with 525s vs what I have spent upgrading my engine?

I believe its somewhere between 5-8 MPH

It's more like 3 to 4 mph.

add shorties & it will make up the difference.

I hear you Ran-Dom. And, that is my plan - just not this year! What props did you end up with since you added shorties?

I was thinking 3-4 mph. Ok, for about $6,000 I can have an equalizer.

its all coming down to hull efficiancy,
= better fuel mileage
more speed
i was told 4-7 mph diff depending on load
the more weight the bigger the spread,
who knows but that is what i was told.
i bought a ligtning as my non step 35 it was lookiing like 5k per added mile an hour,, to get to where my lightning is it would be much cheaper to buy new boat.

Had a friend bought a new 35 in 98. It had Carb. 500 hp's. The Fountain test report said the boat ran 83 mph. We had a 2000 35 Lightning with 500 hp's, EFI's Fountains report said the boat ran 88 mph, and it was right on for us.