Definitely when you have any fuel keep it in the saddle tanks, where were your Tabs set, Maybe over trimming and losing bite. are you spinning in or out?

I played with trim and tabs all over but gained couple mph by trimming way positive. My slip numbers are to high every where even when drives are trimmed in. No idea what has been done to the props I am running. They look like stock bravo 4 blades but obviously they have been cut down 1/4 inch and who knows what else have been done to them. Going to start with some new stock 32s and give it another try. I was also wounding on what fuel tanks to run on front or back. Thanks for input on running rear saddle tanks full and main empty.

Also spinning props in. Is that the best way on 42s?

props in stern lift props out bow lift

You need 2 in spacers. We went through this with a buddies 2006 42 EX. Hard to get on plane. Huge rooster tail. Went to 5 blades. No help. I added 2 in spacers and now it will run 86 if you give it enough room to get there.

Well I just talked with Brett at Bblades and Mercury bravo 1s are advertised at 15.25 diameter but really are only measure 15". He is sending me some new Bblade 4 speed props to test that are true 15.50 diameter and going to give them a shot. I also am going to try a set of 32 bravo 1s Brett labbed for my buddys Cigarette that have some more bit built into them and Brett says may work for me. Does any one know there X dimensions on 42 executioners so I can compare? Maybe will need to add spacers to get the boat to work?

Well I did some prop testing this past weekend with good results. Conditions where perfect. 69 degrees 1 to 2 foot chop front tanks low on fuel rear saddle tanks full fuel and 3 adults 1 teenager in boat. With Bblades lab finished 32 bravo 1s 83 mph at 5400rpm and 52mph cruise speed at 3500 rpm. With Bblades 4 speed propellers 84.7 at 5150 rpms and Cruise speed 55 mph at 3500 rpm but was tricky to get on plain with 4 speed props. The 4 speed props did have 1/4 vent plugs so think that may have caused the plaining issue. Waiting for Bblades response. All in all the 4 speed props seem to hook pretty hard and put some really good numbers for non lab finished propeller. Thinking Brett can lab them to bring rpm up to 5300ish and maybe gain little speed but all in all really happy with 84.7 with 525 powered 42 foot boat. The boat rides and handles so good. Glad I made the switch.

You can find your X on your factory performance report. Don't have it, call the factory with your serial number and they can send it to you. R3 should be able to tell you the range on the 42's with bravo set ups.

Hey I know who you are talking about...LOL

Update, Went out this past weekend with 5 people and 100 gallons fuel and really struggled to get boat on plane with 4 speed props. Really bad like 1 mile at 3k rpms trying to keep props from blowing out and when we got boat on plane only would run 76mph at 4950rpm. Conditions where not as good as last weekend but not that bad either. 70 degrees and calm water. How can I loose 8 mph in calm water with extra 400lbs on boat. I then ran fuel down and lost passenger so 4 adults and still 76 flashed 77mph once at about 5k rpm and planing was still really bad. I know may need to space drives down little but boat does plane pretty good with bravo props but why am I loosing so much speed in calm water. Think I could have hook in bottom? Hows the best way to check for hook and what is acceptable?