What are tricks to making a boat go faster (other than HP)
 

Looking for info on tricks to making a boat go faster (other than HP).

Looking for info or sources on the following;
1. a blueprinting (best method)
2. the right props (for speed and/or economy)
3. drive alignment (I read a lot on this but did not find the best way)
4. weight reduction- may be a calculator or info
5. Aero drag reduction-
6. turn props in or out - advantages vs disadvantages
7. ways to improve slip angle
8. anything else you can think of '

Thanks!

props and drive height
a better gear lube in drives can gain a mph or two
alignment is just doing, no shortcuts
weight- I took a hole saw made the fiberglass behind the interior on the sides of my boat look like Swiss cheese.
Do you have captains call? If so which exhaust bellows do you have?

horsepower is pretty effective though lol.

Every boat is different. All of the things you listed might provide some small gains and only testing will tell.

Balance

weight placement / displacement / ballast

set back boxes ?? depending --- this can also change balance. This also helps with using shorter length lower units.

sharping strakes and chines, A sharp bottom helps release water flow.

Sharping the transom / bottom hull edge. This helps release water past the transom hull bottom instead of water curling up the transom and clinging to the transom.

flush mount everything - all cleats - pop up lights - gas cap - fuel vent -- smaller profile rub rail or none to a one piece hull and the big one a lower profile windshield / wind screen and one that is not so straight up and down. Windshields add weight and drag.

super clean bottom and a straight bottom.

sometimes depending on speed and water flow to the prop a torque tab can help. Many fast outboards boats use them.

Props and number of blades

Skeg lengths and design and thickness

water flow to the prop. Clean solid water flow

incoming air to the engine and exhausting hot air out of the engine compartment --- reducing under hatch temps.

Did you ever get labbed props for that scarab yet? Pretty much boxes , labbed props are bolt on speed besides more hp for your AVS hull. Im still thinking of completely gutting the cabin on my 33 AVS since I have vowed to never spend another night in it but scared of screwing up the balance. What speed are you currently seeing, get it past 82 yet?

One word ..

Speedwax

:D

Outerlimits

i think the one biggest item would be props.
like the tires on a race car, props are your tires.
what is slippage on your props??

15 years ago, had scarab 111,i installed new crate 502 450hp,,boat ran 60-61.
i purchased new eddies marine exhaust setups, and i was very disappointed , i saw no increase in speed.
called eddies marine talked with owner, he said to see changes in a 8000-9000 boat , you needed to make 100hp changes to see an increase in speed.
my 2 cents.................

Yep, my scarab would barely run 79 when I bought it, on rev limiter w 28 bravos with unknown history. Saw 84.5 first time out w used 30 labbeds it liked, bumped rev ,imiter up on my 500 efis and broke 85 mph several times. Wrecked those and went to std 30s, boat would barely break 80 and crawled to around 82, props need to be perfect, Smitty

The ability to print money.