Not fast enough, help!!
 

hi all, i have a 1997 thunderbird falcon 2500CD 7.4L bravo 3. boat is nice and runs great has about 400 hours. im dissappointed with the sped when i bought the salesman told boat would go 55-60, i was happy, then i tried it after i bought it and i was unhappy. seems to only go around 45 mph tops and thats wide open, how can i make it go faster? prop pitch, gear ratio? new boat? i cant afford a supercharger or an engine overhaul so let me know what you think. Bob

You aren't likely going to get much more speed than you have. The obvious choices are to ask them to take the boat back or hire an attorney to negotiate for you. Unless you have something in writing, it isn't likely an attorney can help you much. The low cost solution would be to keep what you bought or sell it and start over.
Ben

Which 454 is it? What props do you have? What is your drive ratio? What is your wide open throttle?

I think it should run low 50s. Is the bottom painted or dirty? Props in good shape? Are you Trimming it up properly? What is it taching wide open? Compression/leakdown test done?

A sea trial is always good to do before buying a boat.

Pretty much same as above. Rpm at wot? And are you trimming it up til the hull frees up. Also your trim sender might be out of adjustment not allowing to trim all the way. Just not sure how familiar you are with boats but you may need to hit the trailer lift switch to get a little more trim out of it. Tabs up all the way up or at least even if you even have them?

Should have about a 3 ft rooster full trim.

I've had 2 bravo 3 behind 496's. they don't like much of any trimming up. They don't have much slip and just a little up causes to much bow rise and loss of speed. Totally different animal than a bravo 1. If it helps my stock Chap 230ssi 496 bravo 3 1.81 ratio with 24 props runs right about 57 At 4750 rpm.

Find slower friends to boat with.

Hey I resemble that remark.

Im shocked that sales man lied to you