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

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....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX7tc3A57xc

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, I was thinking more on the lines of a trade.