38 Express is too slow!!!
 

My dad has had his 38 Express Cruiser since new. It's a 2006 with the 496 HO 425 motors in it, and since its inception has only been able to go about 53-56 mph (GPS). This is quite disappointing to him, so I thought I would check with you guys. This seems to be way off according to the marketing stuff. Is this possibly the way everyone else's boats run, or should we investigate it a little more?

I have a 2006 38 EC with the same motors. First, make sure you have the mercuiser XR props. Four blades on leading prop and three blades on trailing props. Next, change out the plugs and more importantly the fuel filter in the fuel cooler mounted on the engines. Those filters should be changed every 100 hours. I let mine go and the boat slowed down significantly. I was able to get to 62 mph on my gps speedo at sea level in fresh water. Before I changed the plugs and fuel filters, I was don to about 56 or so. Interesting though, I did try some bravo 1's 1.5:1 ratio with 26" four blades and managed 65 mph and that was overtrimming to get the rpm's up. With the right props, I bet I could have gotten a few more mph. That's my $0.02. Good luck to him!!!

Very good info, thanks a ton!

Maybe he would like to move up to a 47 Lightning, 90 on GPS :flag:

Yes, then he could sell me his 38! Win win for everyone involved!

there is a youtube floating around of one of the EC's with triple 700 sci's. It looked to be moving out pretty good....

That 48 runs 90, it is for sale as well.

If you're interested, I'm sure he'd entertain an offer. Boat has somewhere in the 50 hour range.

Not exactly what I had in mind, :lolhit: I was thinking more on the lines of a trade.

Lol, I didn't think you we're ready to "slow down" just, yet!!
You could get the 48 with triple 700's and Arnieson's and still do 90!

That's pretty low hrs for the year. Probably out of my price range, but wouldn't mind seeing some pics of it.

Where is it listed ?

Finders fee??? Lol!

http://www.crates.com/Boats/viewBoats.aspx?id=1238

I don't know what the guy had but there is a 38 on Travis that walked by me going 72. He was probably going 75 or 76. Definitely surface drives though. Amazing boat.

Was it a red 38?? There is a red one out there that has Whippled 500's and runs over 80.

How many hours can you reliably put on 700's? In that environment? (mostly slow'ish)

At 50 -60 mph they probably would last forever I would think.
Having a rooster tail behind it would be awesome!

White one?? if so I forgot about that rig....he walked us in my buddy's Cig revolution a few years ago...my buddy chit his pants

That ad has to be wrong... it says bravo 1 drives. basic bravos hooked to 700's on that boat would be shedding pieces before it even came over on plane...

Agreed, it has Arnesons.

I want to say it is white and black. Was quite the ride crossing in to that wake at that speed.

Woolf, PM sent.

that boat look good with New York reg number