im wondering whats up. with my boat, is it off?

my buddy has a 25 out law, stock 454 385 hp boat is said to be 4600 pounds.
i have 26 checkmate, 496 375 hp said to be 4200 pounds.
he runs in the mid 60's all day long. 64-66

other checkmates im seeing close to mine seem to be in the 65-68 range with 385 hp 454 and 375 hp the 425 hp are said to be 68+
is somthing up with my boat? im lucky to go 60. it has to be perfect for me to run 60 mph thats with low fuel and one person. however with 7 people full fuel and full coolers i was still able to see 58+
whats up?

4 blade prop, and yes i know how to drive, trim, and tab. we put my prop on my buddys boat he lost 2 mph on the nose with the 4 blade, that still onlu puts me to 61-62 mph.

i was ok with it till i see others with same boats claming mid-upper 60 on gps. one was over 70 gps.

whats up?

Whate is your drive ratio compared to the other boats? It could be the prop, it could be how smooth the hull is, it could be a difference in drive ratio. When you are only talking a couple miles per hour, it could be a minor difference.

same 1.5 ratio, we put my prop on his boat and he was still 2-3 mph faster.

noyzee, I've got a buddy with a 24 convincer sport, he's got the 454mag efi and Stainless Marine exhaust. He's a little lighter than you, I think about 3900 dry, 1.5 ratio bravo one spinning a 23p mirage plus. He see's 68 regularly and has touched 70 twice or so in perfect conitions. I have found that his boat is very sensitive to weight.
I know checkmates have alot of bowlift maybe try a fourblade cleaver style hydromotive for a little sternlift and get the boat out of the water. Seems like yous hould be in the 65-66 range one the go-fast.com speed calculator. What rpm's are you turning at WOT?

i have the 4 blade now, it doesnt seem like it has aallot of bow lift, it rides real level seems like it rides good to me.
heres a pic this is not 100% wot or trimmed up, but close.




IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/Noyzee/P6280393.jpg[/IMG]

sounds like you have a deep X dimension... the 4 blade may be holding you in the water.
Consider trying a Mirage plus, 1 size bigger than your current 4 blade. If the X is deep, the 3 blades are better.
Carder

i would try the three blade. most of the time a three blade is a little faster. need to know what rpms you are running.

try a 3 blade , if it gets on plane pretty easy with a mirage plus then your drive is deep, find a 23 pitch, maybe a 25.

i'll have to throw my buddies 3 blade on it, but we put my 4 blade on his boat and only lost 2 mph. im still 4 mph or more off?

I'd be checking the bottom of your boat. First is it suported correctly on the trailer or lift? look down the hull from the back and look for anything that is not straight.
Second, I know Checkmates are cored, but I'm not aware that they are vacuum bagged. Which would mean that delamination is very possible. To check for this, use the butt end of a screw driver and simply tap on the hull bottom listening for any sounds that are not a solid 'crack' noise. There could be hollow sounds and there could be dead 'mushy' sounds which would be bad and would suck away your speed.