Finally some WOT numbers!
 

First off, I'd like to introduce myself since this is my first post here on OSO. My name is Philip. I've been a member for awhile, but have just been creeping and reading up on various boat topics. This last May, we picked up our first go-fast boat, a 2001 35 lightning from Scott, up at Shogren's. It has stock 500 EFIs, XZ drives (might be XRs, but not for sure), and original 11 year old 30" 4b-bravos . Its white and has blueish purple/yellow lightning bolts on each side and is very very clean for its age.

Now to the good stuff. I've been getting a feel for the boat all summer and usually took it out about every other weekend. This last weekend I finally opened it up and did a few WOT blasts at LOTO. With about 3/4s full tanks, two friends and myself, a cooler with atleast two cases of beer, and all the other typical stuff (anchor, ropes, buoys, lifejackets, throw ring, etc.) it went 84.5 GPS at about 5250-5300rpm. This was in about 1' wind chop, with the drives at 4 and tabs nuetral at 3. I was stoked to say the least!!

Since I don't have the performance report for the boat yet, what speeds do you think I'd see with a "Reggie-type setup" (one person, low fuel) in similar conditions?

Thanks in advanced!!

stock motors and 30" props that about it maybe still have 1mph left. 32" would go about 1-2 mph faster. Labbed would be alittle better than that. cutting 1/2 " off the difuser ring would add a little more. 90 is possible Every day would be 86-87 shorties would and about 2-3 With difuser 1/2 cut off you will have some blow out getting on plan I have a stock 2001 If i can be any help give me a call 904-349-0859

Hot Rod Im looking at 35 Fountains as well. This weekend had alot of traffic on the lake. Are you happy with the ride when you're in the main channel?

When I had my straight bottom 35, I found that for a holiday weekend main channel run you just have to push the throttles forward and let it eat. I was very impressed to say the least. Now this summer I went for a 100+ mph ride during the shoot out weekend in a friends 43 Black Thunder and that was impressive to say the least.

All in all, 35 is a great boat and I may own another in the future!! :coolcowboy:

I'm thinking the 30 pitch bravos will take me to 87-88 with 1000 lbs less of gas in the tanks. With a little over 3/4s of a tank, that's over 1100 pounds of gas on board. I also think a little more trim would of netted me atleast 85-85.5 last weekend. I am thinking labbed 32" bravos would be about perfect. The 11 year old 30" bravos are definetly showing there age.

So I think labbed bravo 32s would be the hot ticket to get to about 90-92. I also might try some 5B or 6B herings. I'm thinking those might get me to 92-94. Or what do ya'll think about those sets of props and those speeds?

Well first I'd need to know if your talking about a 2-step, 1-step, or non-step hull. I've been reading that they handle a little different in the ruff stuff. The main channel definetly lives up to its name "the washing machine", especially during the summer.

Our twin-step hull definelty rides good in 1'-2' water, but once it gets into the 3 footers, you definelty want to give it more throttle and ride on the top of the waves instead of down in between them. But beyond that, our 35 twin-step rides like a dream. It flys flat and lands soft. For flat water, you don't even need to touch the wheel at all.

Main channel runs during the holidays definetly get ruff on LOTO. Giving it more throttle to ride on top of the waves is alot better than getting ruffed up cruising over them! That's until you get stuck behind a cruiser throwing 5-6 footers at ya. I always throttle way down for those! Haha

Most of been a blast in that black thunder. Did you snap any pics of it when you got to ride in it?

We can make it fly at RF Marine. Give me a call tomorrow & we can make your boat Real Fast.

Hey Reggie, I was hoping you'd chime in. With buying a second house down on LOTO this year and our 2001 35 lightning, I'm not sure how much spare spending money I'll have this winter for getting more speed out of our 35, but I figured a set of new props would be a start for a low dollar upgrade. Right now it has the stock 30" bravos on it that are starting to show their age. But with all the possibilities out there for props, I'm not sure what to start with. The XZ drives (possibly XR drives, I'm not sure yet) have stock length lowers for now, so the props would have to work with them instead of the shortie lowers. So from labbed bravos, maxs, hering 5B, 6B, or even 7B, to hydro 4B or 5B props, not sure what would be best yet.

did you try 5 1/2 on your drive trim thats what they like with that set up ,5 or 6 blades will not help you on top end with your curent drive set up. 2 or less on tabs.

I haven't tried 5.5 yet on the drive trims or 2 on the tabs. For the 84.5 speed, I had the drives at 4 and the tabs at 3. I will have to give that a go, hopefully this weekend. For the tabs though 3 is dead level with the bottom of the boat. Should I bring them up past neutral to make sure they aren't dragging at all??

As for 5 and 6 blades, do you think they only work better with short lowers, when the prop is more out of the water and surfaces more? If thats the case it looks like I'll have to try either hyrdo 4-blades, or labbed bravos.

How much will getting all that extra weight out of the boat including 1000 lbs less of gas in the tanks?

Thanks!

Hi there.. If your drives are low, I would not go with 5 or 6 blades. I tired Maximus 5 blades om my 29 Fever and it did NOT run good at all. It was porpoising and slow. If you have a 2 step hull, I would look for shorties. Abobe 80 mph, the drag becomes a critical factor.... I would lift the drives as high up as possible and run 6 blade herings with long hubs for max grip and steering. Then you will also get a nice rooster tail :-) Dont expect too much speed gain by replacing the props. They are usually the best and only 1-2 mph is possible to get with labbed props.

Nice numbers so far. I am looking at shorties for my boat and I would think that would get you the most gain. I would try it with some labbed 32's. My boat runs the same right now with my labbed 30s vs my un-labbed 32's. I am getting the 32's labbed this winter and hopefully I should see some gain from it.

[QUOTE=HOT_RODN99;3526662]I haven't tried 5.5 yet on the drive trims or 2 on the tabs. For the 84.5 speed, I had the drives at 4 and the tabs at 3. I will have to give that a go, hopefully this weekend. For the tabs though 3 is dead level with the bottom of the boat. Should I bring them up past neutral to make sure they aren't dragging at all??

As for 5 and 6 blades, do you think they only work better with short lowers, when the prop is more out of the water and surfaces more? If thats the case it looks like I'll have to try either hyrdo 4-blades, or labbed bravos.

How much will getting all that extra weight out of the boat including 1000 lbs less of gas in the tanks?

Thanks![/QUOT
my tabs don't do anything for me unless its rough out or to much weight on one side. triming up from 4 to 5 1/2 will gain you 300 to 400 rpm you will need labbed 32 or 31 which they make call teague.problem is youre props are worn and flex to much not thru pitch any more when you trim out you go no faster because you hit the rev limiter.

Not to burst your bubble here but those speeds with 500's are a stretch regardless of props, IMO. 525's in your hull, better / higher X dimension, and I have an average of 90 or a little better most days in good conditions. Had a best of 94 with a set of 5 blades before the all knowing prop wizzards majic touch sent them down the chitter.

My 2000 ran exactly the same with the stock set up. When your fuel guage reads 3/4 full you actually have less than half in the tank cause of the shape of them. Mine ran the same with one person and no fuel as it did full and 4 people. If I trimmed mine past 4.5 I would start slowing. Great numbers, sounds like your right where most of them in the early 2000's run.

Our 35 is indeed a 2-step hull. Looks like I'll have to get my hands on some imco -2 lowers. And then couple those with hering 6B or 7B props. But for now I think labbed bravos will have to do.

Thanks! For my first weekend of a couple WOT runs, I was impressed especially knowing the boat was loaded down and that i didn't go very aggressive with the trim settings. I have 30" bravos unlabbed on it now, I think the first set of props I'm going to try will be 32" labbed bravos.

Oh really? Must be all 47' of boat out in front of those tabs. Haha. When I do take her out next, I'll try trimming the drives up to around 5.5 and see what happens. It should put it damn near the limiters or even on the limiters.

I know I was kind of stretching those numbers...I was kind of hoping if I said those numbers, that they would magically appear on the ole GPS! Haha. With a set of labbed 32" bravos and lots of shedded weight, do you think 90-91 is a stretch?

Yea, I do remember hearing from one of the fountain mechanics that the bottoms of the tanks narrow up and that fuel level starts going down fast after 1/2 a tank. I haven't tried giving it more trim, so I guess time will tell. I think that when Reggie ran the 2001 twin step boats with 500 EFIs, they ran out at around 87-88.

Nice speeds tabs up play aroung mark your sweet spot on the drive indicators!:drink:

Thanks. Yep, its a gradual but fun learning curve with this boat! I hope to run it in the LOTO shootout next year. Except I'm not sure how they'd class the boat. Its stock, but I read on Capt Rons website that 500 hp isn't stock for some reason...WTF! Haha

I found the 5 blades made a difference on top end with Imco -2". Your 4 blade Bravos are probably good for your application if they are in the correct rpm range. Not sure where you should be propped with your power? Might want to have Bblades take a look at them.

Well we winterized the boat last weekend so no more numbers atleast until spring. But yea, I'll probably be shipping the current props to Brett @ bblades and see what he thinks about the condition of them. And when it gets closer to spring I'll probably take part in his test program he offers. But in the end, I'm thinking labbed 4b bravo 32s or 34s will be the best until I get shorter lowers on the boat. And then with shorties, 6b or the new 7b herings will probably produce the best speeds. I atleast want to have new props on the boat for the loto shootout next year!