YUP broke down and got a IMCO 2" shorty lower drive unit and a Hardin-Marine Sea Strainer. Doller Offshore of Hollywood FL will be doing the work since it is down in FL. Also having a quick Perko Flush water inlet installed so its easier to flush the engine out. I can't wait to get down in FEB to test it out!!!!

Been thinking of doing that.What PQ do you have? Any idea where the X- deminsion was before? BOB

no idea, I have a 96 270 laser. I will give a report in Feb when I take it for a test drive.

Thanks,BOB

Bob, I have a 2000 280 Silencer, the previous owner actually installed a 1" spacer and picked up 2 mph or so. I am not sure if my boat had an un-usually high X or something but it works. The boat has seen 70.1 (gps) with a basically stock 502. It also has a labbed 26P Bravo. I have run side by side with a 2005 280 with a 496 HO and I blow him away, he is probably a 65 mph boat.

Going up 2 inches in the X dimension is huge. It will be interesting what kind of results you see. Keep us posted.

You are doing something right. I had a 1999 28' with the stock 502 with stock 26 bravo1i and could only get 65.

Just wondering how one determines whether your X dimension is set high or low? Or if it's simply a trial and error situation?

I was told that the regular bottom PQ's were set with a low X and the 280 with the step is a higher X That is why the 4 blade on the 280's. That is also the reason the 260 and 270's work with 3 blade props. It is basicly trial and error. Most Hi x demension boats are harder to get up on plane, but once on plane are faster on the top end. There is always a trade-off.
pkspx, if you aren't already you will probably need to go to a 4 blade prop with that shorty.

Mercury Marine has some guidelines for X dim. location, but every boat is different. The 4 and 5 blade props are more common on step bottom boats because the water coming off the bottom isn't as "clean" as the water coming off a standard vee bottom.