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.

WONDERING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TRY 28P BRAVOS?
I would definately like to try the 29p hydros.
maybe we can work out a temp trade i'm close to you loto mo.
:ernaehrung004::ernaehrung004:

Sounds like a possibility. However, I recently relocated to NJ, so may be a little challenging working out logistics. Boat is still in AR and so are the extra props (29 hydros). However, I will be at the lake in AR this coming weekend, so if you want to try and work something out PM me. Bought the props on OSO a couple years back and have only tried them once. What shape are the Bravos in?

bravo's like new,and i'm at loto every weekend.going to run in the poker run on friday and hit the races over the weekend.if you would like to try the bravos let me know because i definately would like to try the hydros!

No, I had not tried that, but would guess you will loose 200-300 rpms and bog the engine. You may want to consider labbing the props to gain an extra 200 rpms from your current set up.

I tried to add more cup to the blades on my 32" Bravo four-blades to avoid running into the rev limiter. That helped cruise speed alot also because the props lifted the bow a lot more. Well worth trying!

Switched the rotation and gained a couple mph,and some wot to 5150.

are you spinning in or out now?

:drink:turning inward,gained mph,bow lift,better topend ride,very little slow speed handling differences.


:drink:

Mine was turning in as well.

2001 38', 500 EFI's, Gulf O' Mexico-"0" sea level, 75 degree day, 100 gls fuel on board, Bravo I's, stock 29 Hydros, 6" chop (approx). Constant 87.4 MPH. It will run 3-4 MPH slower on a 85-95 degree day. All GPS-not fantasy #'s. Always get 82-86 out of the boat in most normal conditions and NO TAILWIND crap. I do not carry a ton of crap that I never use on the boat either so its relatively light-

That is the fastest 500EFI 38 I ever heard of. Salt water makes a difference, but the 2001 engines where hand built with Manley rods like the 2002 525's. so they may be making more power than advertised.