Just bought an '07 35' Lightning with staggered 525 EFI's. Great boat, relatively easy to get on plane and seems to be easy on gas with 5 blade 32" Maximus props. The boat rides slightly bow up at 2500 RPM's and low 40's MPH but seems to plant the bow when speeds get over 55 or so with tabs up and drives at 3 on the indicators. Tabs have two 3/4" collar spacers on each trim cylinder that prevent them from going up any higher. Tabs are above the planing surface of the boat even with the spacers so may not matter. Does any one have any experience with these boats? My 47' twin step boat ran relatively flat but thus 35 really is flat. Any opinions? Thanks in advance.

Trim the drives out more leave the spacers

John what way are the props turning. JOHN SR

They turn in and are 1.35 XR shorty speedmasters.

John

Spin them out, spinning them in gives more stern lift.


John jr

The boat rides flat all the time and does almost feel bow down........your trimming sounds reasonable.
I had an 09, so do have experience.
Whatever you do......DO NOT spin props out, bad advise.
You will lose stern lift which in turn loses overall boat lift.

If you noticed he is running a 5 blade prop. 5 blades help stern lift. Also he has shorty drives and a stepped haul, again drives are already high, do not need tons of stern lift giving a stepped haul. It is a easy step vs trying new props. BTW thats alot of prop, gear for 525's LOL

John jr

Get some running video or pics of your boat at speed. You may be surprised of the boat's actual attitude, the top deck always appears to be running low or flat due to its shape. It looks very different than your 47 when viewed from the helm.

Keep the props spinning in. Take advice from those with experience with full staggered boats, the 'rules' are a bit different.

Thanks to all for the advice. Boat is considerably different than the 47. Single with Twins, I bought your buddy Eric's boat and it is everything he said it was. Lost his email, but he was a great guy and I hope all is well with him and his new family member. Congratulations and best of luck with the Nortech.

Correct but turning them out will kill the handling and drop the boat far too much.........5 blades?......ok but the 7 blades worked a lot better and SPIN in.