hi all i have been getting way too many diffrent answers as for what is the red line for my engine i am looking for a exact number so i can get my prop labbed . the engine is a 502 mag carb and i come up with 97 as far as the year the engine was purchased new and installed .

I would shoot for 5100-5200 WOT light on fuel.

I agree, but I look at it this way. If you nomally run full of fuel and 4-5 persons on board or half tank and 2 persons. Then you want to prop it for the load you run. Service Manual says 4600-5000 WOT.

thanks guys , is there something that i am missing when i think that i would want to run 5k instead of 4600 or is it better to run the engine lower than 5k . right now i am all stock and run a 24 p rt hand bravo 1 that works great (for the most part ) . i run right at 4000 rpm with no trim and 4300 with all the trim it can handle which turns out a impressive 58 mph lol. anyway long story short i was gonna do heads ,intake exhaust and cam this winter do you guys think that i should hold on to this prop and see what happens after the mod's or should i ditch it and get myself a 22p bravo 1 ?

You do that engine work & your gonna need to go up in pitch, not down....

i understand that , i was wondering if people thought that for the time being if i stepped down to a 22 b 1 if that would cure my no top end / low rpm issues with my stock engine .

Yeah, try a 22 and see what happens.
That boat should do 65mph.

that would be sweet i will let you know , thanks for the help .

I am currently running a RH 23 mirage plus 3 blade in a 1993 carbed 502 and am seeing 66 mph at 5500rpm.

I ran a 22 4 blade bravo on my 92 27 with a stock 502 = 62mph at 5000.