38 Lightning set-ups and speeds?
 

wondering about speeds and set-ups on twin steps.what would be avg. speeds for 500efi bravo-1 28pitch bravos

Depending on year and set up you should expect around 85-88mph.

WILL:ernaehrung004:

85-88 with 500's?

year would be 2000,counter rotating out not in,wot speeds are 72-75 depending on water conditions.just wanting to know how much mph gain to expect if the rotation changed.

I have a friend with the same set up, he's turning in and I think the best he's seen is around 77-78.

I had a 2000 lightning with 500EFI's for five years. It is a great boat. Very predictive, fuel efficient, reliable and safe, but never ran more than 80 mph. The Imco 2" lowers really wake the boat up. I could plane over with full tanks and ten people in the boat without a problem. It turned 30" B1's 5,100 and cruised at 55mph at 3,500 or 60 at 4,000.

26" Hydro - 76mph
28" B1 - 77mph
2" Imco lower w/ 30" B1 - 80mph

were these speeds in fresh water or salt? trying to figure out if pulling 29p hydro's possible.and looking to try to attain 78 mph.

Fresh water ~675' elevation mid 80* temps with medium humidity. These were all standard finish props. I would ditch the Hydro's their mid-range efficiency is horrible. Go with 28" B1's or 30's if you have shorties. They picked up 5mph in the mid-range over the hydro's.

currently running 28p bravos,max rpm at wot trimmed up 5050.have you tried the 30p bravos with the standard merc b-1?

2000 Fountain Lightning w/ 500hp's (carbs) with headers and slightly hotter cam. Standard bravos. 80-82 GPS with 3/4 fuel and 4 people in fresh water on a normal summer day. 26 hydros spinning in on the rev limiter. Considering trying some 28 bravos. Have 29 hydros, but couldn't spin them on the top end; might be able to if they were labbed. I only see 50 at cruise (3500 rpm), so if people are seeing 55 w/ bravos, I'm definitely going to try a pair.