I’m curious if anyone has any experience with these boats or any ideas I recently purchased an 1989 regal velocity 230 with a 330 454 big block and brovo drive the motor seems to run healthy in hitting 4500-5000 rpm at wot pushing a 23 pitch marage prop but I’m only getting 46-50 mph out of it and it doesn’t seem to be getting on the pad no matter how much I mess with the trim and the boat doesn’t seem to be extremely heavy or water logged hopefully some one may have a idea it seems like others with a similar or same set up are hitting high 60s to low 70s thanks in advance.

I had a 23 Regal Velocity. Good fast boat. Mine had the 454 magnum, so not apples to apples. With two people it was a 68/70 mph boat. On a good day with a light load I could do 72 . If I recall, correctly, I had a 25 mirage. Tried 4 blade hydromotive and lost speed. Even with 40/50 less HP, yours seems slow.

Padraig

4500 rpm 1.5 gear 23” prop 46mph = 30% slip

see: https://www.mercuryracing.com/propel...alculator.html

1st, I’d try/borrow another prop and see what happens.

As Padraig said, you're running pretty slow. If your tach is reading correctly(?) and your drive is a 1.5 ratio(?), the ~30% slip is way too high for a pad bottom Velocity hull. As SB suggested first try another prop to eliminate that potential problem. While I don't have seat time in a 230, my 220 and 280 naturally came up on the pad by themselves with higher speed as is the case with my twin engine Velocities. You'll sense the boat riding a little higher and you'll feel a slight vibration from the hull bottom when it's up on the pad. It's a subtle transition. If the different prop doesn't help and you are indeed slipping in the 30% range, unfortunately you may need to look at hull straightness and drive height (in case the transom was replaced and drive remounted).

Sorry for off topic;

At approximately what speed do you start to feel that you’re sliding by paad?

The 23 Regal is heavier in the bow than the Steve Stepp built models...A prop that works well on a Velocity or thoroughbred won't carry the bow well. The mirage should do fine but you don't know if yours has been changed.

Padraig

I appreciate the input I’ll have to borrow my buddies 23p mirage which should be identical that I’ll bolt up and give a whirl and see if that makes any difference. The prop on there now seems to be in pretty decent shape it’s got one nick but visually looks decent but you never know. I’m not sure if the tach is 100% accurate I could hook up a digital one to verify but assuming it’s pretty close from the sound of it. I also don’t know about the gear ratio in the out drive tried to get the serial number off of it but I couldn’t really make out most of the numbers. The transom appears to be original and is dry I drilled a hole for the transducer and was able to see the inside to verify. Just hoping it’s something silly and not that the hull is out of shape but knowing me it probably is 😂.

No personal experience here but I recall reading that the 23 Regal Velocity could be a handful to drive depending on the set-up. Take that with a grain of salt.

Good luck and please keep us in the loop. It's a nice fun boat and fast. Like all Velocity it likes trim. The 23 was my first Velocity..

Padraig

I’ll definitely let you guys know how I make out hopefully if the wether is nice I’ll be able to get it out within the next few days and put the other prop on to see if it makes a difference.