would i be smart to find and install a - 2 inch drive for my bravo 1 or would i be smarter to add some more n/a horsepower . i was going to do a heads , intake , cam and exhaust up grade this fall would it work well to do both .

H.p.

Both, depending on your currant X demension. (for the -2's)

a -2 lower is not hydrodynamicly necessary for most applications un til the boat is running 90+.1 recommend adding power to hit that 90 mark before investing in the lower. on fountains they can actually slow down the vessel due to th e airation of water under them.and thus increasing wetted surface and drag.
power to 90 than thw lower.you'll see an easy 5 after that.

so how fast would a 97 Staggerd 42 be with -2 shorties and 700HP?

i noticed a considerable difference with -2 shorties. But that was after I added power.

I'm looking to put some -2s on this winter...but I've got boxes and my boat was previously set up with -2s...hopefully I'll pick up some speed.

Anybody know someone with a pair for sale?

Mine are but the boat comes with them....
You'll get better speed results with more power.

Gonna get me some of that, too.
I did read that the only way the boxes are effective is with shorties...so that's what I'm going for. Figure my boat has been running inefficiently since I've owned it...might as well do it right!

dont need the shorties, probably wont run more than 90 or 92. you may lose speed. i did a 42 99 with single 4 brl 700"s she ran 88-90 and didnt prosper from shorties during testing.