Turbo, you kinda read my mind. I have thought about spacers but not surface props. I'm going to do some testing with props first and go from there. But that a good thought. Who makes surface piercing props that would work? These are not the original drives to the boat. The originals best I can tell were just Alpha 1's.

jr, you have a worse problem than I do. Good luck!

That is a kind offer, Ken. But, when the labbed Bravos are on, that should pick up some speed. I hope your motors are first on the mechanics repair list!

The key question I have is how much faster are your boats on salt water rather than fresh at the same RPMs? That should get me a couple of miles I would think.

It was very good to know that an older Sonic 31SS with 475 HP motors is doing 74 MPH. Hence, with my 350 HP motors it seems I am at the right speed after all. Obviously a 1988 Sonic weighs much more than the 7,000 lbs for a new one. Anyone know how much?

Why did I pick small blocks? See my www.hyperfishing.com site and see all the aluminum stuff festooning the engine hatch and swim platform.

I guess supercharging is in the cards for next year, with IMCO shorty drives.

Thanks folks.

You might also try the land and sea drive extensions ... saw a test once were if the drives were raised they worked even better... three inches of prop is alot and might still need semi piercing cleavers ..... the combo might kick though

you need to run a scan tool on the motors and see if you have WOT alot of times you may not be running 100% and what the computer says the rpms are.

Good ideas turbo and 38.

It seems the most logical explaination is simply that I have an older and heavier constructed boat, hence it weighs much more than the new ones.

sound about right to me. The boat is older and weighs much more. There is not the high amounts of torque you are looking for.
I dont think 62 is all that bad. Seems like there are many suggestions of ways to keep squeeking mph out of her