My factory side by side '98 big step is 34" prop shaft to prop shaft , just measured it this morning.. I have tall decks squeezed in there with CMI split tube headers, I've rode on 3 other 42 Staggers (97 small steps, 99 & 2000 ) & in our Lake there's no noticeable difference in ride... I actually prefer the extra cockpit space our has

here is a transom shot of my twin side by side '98 & a triple '98 I found in the classifieds, notice the pad on the bottom is different , so there is some hull differences in the triple set up

My brother (tbone1993) sold his triple to a guy who converted it to a staggered. Turned out incredible! There is a thread here you can find if you look for it. We actually ran that boat without the center for a couple weekends while he was waiting on exhaust. Ran slower because it was dragging the drive but the CofG wasn't noticable. I'd have no problem running a side by side and looked at a couple before I bought my 05 staggered. Side by side having the extra cockpit and ease of docking sounded very good to me. Ended up with the staggered cause P57 took my 32 on trade.

The one I bought has the pad but has a little hump in the notch for clearance for the center engine drive shaft and hardware.

Comparison

Interesting .. What year is that boat? So seems like Reggie did change the bottom a bit depending in the original set up ordered

98 but it's a lightning. Looks like the ex had a different bottom.

There are a lot more changes to the hull then just steps. I certainly don't know them all but my brothers 98 hull is significantly different then my 05. For starters, the 05 is almost11" taller from the rub rail to beginning of the first chine or beginning of the bottom. not saying one is better then the other, just different.

Single steps, twin steps, big steps, small steps, step placement, notched transom, standard transom, keep pad, no pad, did Reggie ever sit back, relax and say "there's just nothing left to do now, I can't improve on perfection?"

It's almost enough to make me want a Cigarette. Just pick the size, get a twin step if I can afford it and then keep adding gauges!

RR

The 42 bottom has been discussed. A lot. The ex and lightning in the 42 had the same bottom.