viol8or

565, how close is your step to the transom of the boat ? If your prop is running in aerated water which it sounds like it is, that might be the problem, and not the drive height as you are running high right now for a non race v hull. The higher you go with your x dimension your handling will suffer even in a straight line. I would try your existing set-up with either more blades on the prop- (maximus ?) to deal with the aerated water- or get the 2" spacer to get your existing prop to hook up- in cleaner (deeper) water.If you do decide on a standoff box- I would get a Stellings as you can fine tune the X dimension but I would say a neutral- 0 rise may benefit you with a single high hp 28' , again just cleaner water. I know it can be a pain but I have even resorted to hanging off the back of the boat to watch how thewater and how the drive is running to determine a fix, understand your weight all the way back there will affect the boats normal attitude. Or ride in a friends alongside, even video how your hull rides at the drives contact point with the water at different speeds and water conditions. If it's white, your in "dirty" water. On the subject of the oem xr gears, they seem to last around 60-70 hrs and then frag. As good as they seem to be designed with the larger square teeth and "backing" support under those teeth, the contact area is not as great as the "old" beveled gears. Mercury should go back to the drawing board on these to make them stronger, I would assume the "backing" of the gear teeth alone would make a huge difference to the old gears. "New" gentlemen, is not always better. What do I know though, I'm running 642h.p. w/ Blackhawk in a " true" air entrapment tunnel, with the old beveled gears. Good luck - Viol8or