I was looking at the location of the centerline of nose in relation to the bottom of the boat and It seems its about 5" below the bottom of the boat. I am thinking this is too low and am concidering a 1 or 2" IMCO shortie on the boat. I am running a stock 2000 454Mag MIP x Bravo 1 with regular side water pickups. Would this be a good application?

I called IMCO they said to call Eliminator and they said it was allready at the best location. The factory tech guy didn't seem to really grasp waht I was talking about though so I am still wondering. I am looking to break 70 currently I am at 68.5. I am planning bigger HP (500-550) in the engine later but for now this is what I am concidering. Any Help would be great!

Do you have cable drive indicators if so what # do you trim to for max speed? Are you running a 4 blade prop now? If not than does the prop blow out on take off or in the corners? If the trim # is 4 or less and you don't blow out with a 3 blade prop than a higher prop shaft will help. That 5 inch measurement was that from the bottom of the V or is your boat a pad bottom?

Tinkerboater:

I have a 4 Blade Bravo1 22P labbed and re[pitched up to a 23". This one bangs the rev limiter. I also have a 24P Bravo1 non labbed. This one maxes out at 4900. No Rev limiter Max speed was with the 24 @ 68.5. I have a standard trim indicator guage - no cable. I got max speed with it trimmed up just a little above what I call level (parrallel with bottom) The hull is a dual step an a V design I am thinking 20 degrees with a small pad bottom.

I have had no blowout problems at all it seems very hooked up. If I nail it off the line hard with a full load it will slip a little. but not what I would call a Blow out.

This is the best picture I have right now:

The 5" was approximate from the bottom of the pad to the centerline of the propshaft.

5 inches is about right. If you are slipping with a 4 blade on take off the boat is set up pretty close now. The fact that it doesn't take much possitive trim for max speed tells me that raising the drive more than 1 inch will hurt you. See if you can get hold of a 25 mirage plus. It will slip on take off but you should get more speed. keep this as your speed prop - (spare) for those days that you want that extra speed and have a light load in the boat. ( GAS + PEOPLE )

Good advice Tinkerboater, couldn't have said it better myself! Raypanic, I'll bet you break 70 with the Mirage Plus, but you will have fun getting on plane with any load. Good luck.

Thanks guys' I think I will get a marage 25 Plus first and try it. Cheaper than a IMCO shortie. especially if it would cause problems.

Here is a better picture when drive is in a nuetral position:

If you run a straight edge off the bottom of the pad to the drive it looks like it will be about 1 inch below the cavitation plate. ( The plate above the propeller ) If this is so then you should be able to use the 1 inch shorter IMCO drive.