Launching tomorrow!!
 

The Avenger is ready to go. I ran it on the hose today and it idles like a champ. the new plugs helped alot. I have the 32P props on it with 1.50 gears. I dont know if I'll have a chance to open it up tomorrow but I will soon. Last year I was running 1.36 gears. I hope I get a little more speed out of this setup. I will report in with my results.

Good luck! It's always fun going for the first run with new equiptment.:D :D :D

Hi Ray,

Good to hear you will wet the hull!
What made you switch from 1.36 to 1.50 (advantages)?

FM

Well I didn't actually wet the hull yet, I got there and had to wait a good hour or so. Then they had me drop the trailer while they got time to get it off and rack store it. When I came back 2 hours later it was in storage ready to go but we ran out of time. Hopefully this weekend is not a wash out.

I switched drives at the advice of others, 1.50 is a better ratio for this size boat. All the experts kept saying I was "prop loading" the engine and thats why I could not get the rpms up.

I may be starting out with too big a prop (32P B1) but I do have a set of 30's too. I will test the 32's and see. I figure most people are getting 80's on 30" props with 500 HP's I have 700HP a side. 32's should be about right. My ultimate goal is to run the Hydromotive P5 or maybe the new merc 5 blade prop. It does tend to slip on getting out of the hole. I need to have some bottom work done before I spend the $$$ on new props though.

Ray,
I'm in Springfield Illinois at work ,8 hours away from home! I still may beat you in! I hope to make it by Friday evening.

Good luck

Ray, let me know if you find out you can not use your 30's. I need a pair!!

Everyone have a great holiday and enjoy your boats!

FYI- working on screen printed t-shirts should be done in a month. Designs were approved and ready to send to the press.

Mandi

Firts run was a sucess! I took it easy on the drives, only hit 70 once or twice. Engines ran beautifully. I have a 10 min idle out my canal not a stall or studder. Only problem is the oil leak I had last year is still there. It was supposed to be fixed. Nothing major but aggrivating. I officially hit the water at 1:15 PM. Maybe I beat Scott in this year...

8:00 PM Saturday :D :D

One Bad alternator that did not stop me from running! Everything seems good I really like the set of cruising props that Throttle-UP did for me I got close to 60 @ 4000rpm and dancing with 80 @5000 boat was full of fuel, water and gear! I hope to see higher speeds with the labbed props that I will use for Poker Runs.

Hey 80 mph people,

Please let me know what setup you are runnning so I can find out how to to go that fast in my machine when the moon and stars aren't alinged

Mig,
Tell us what year,power and size we can make suggestions that may get you there. You won't see it unless you have at least 500HP's. I'm running around 550 a side and now can hit 80 without a problem, before it would have to be perfect conditions.
Depending on what year it was made could also effect speed.

Even though everything was running fine It seems to struggle to get past 80. Even with twin 700hp engines! The hull is still a stock 1998 no mods done. I did not really push it all the way yet but I was running about 4,800 RPM @ 75 mph the speed was still climbing. I had kids aboard so I let off. The gear ratio does seem better than before.

I am starting be become disappointed with the ride. It seems to rock from side to side a little when at higher speeds when it comes down almost like a yawing motion. It's hard to explain but doesn't seem like the bow is lifting very much and it is plowing through the water and not riding on the V - pad.

It seems to pound quite a bit too when cruising. Maybe I'm too critical on the ride but it just doesn't seem like it's handling well. It's like I am always working at it too hard to keep it in shape.

I will use it this year but something has to change next. either a new boat or some serious bottom work to this one.

It took PQ 3 times to get mine straightened out. Was I happy? About 90%. Mine would only run 70-72 so I cant comment on the 80mph thing. On a typical day with anything but completly flat water was 67mph and took forever to get their. When the lake was like glass it would easily run 70-72??? Doesnt make sense but to me, but that was it. When they were done it handled and rode 110% better. I would like to ride in a new one to compare. I cut my losses and sold it because I new I would eventually want to go faster and was ready for something different. I also think that lake st. claire and erie have the short chop and slop that it didnt seem to like. On the bigger and deeper lakes they would perform much better.

I got a few picts of it running. here is one

another

Ray: Get use to it 38 avenger will not run smooth. Anything over 80 mph she will chime walk over the place. The boat is riding up on the pad like it was design for. Like i said before I had my hull rework by the factory back in 01. They cut 3 feet of the strakes off. The other day at the Lake we run 82mph on the gps. Remember I have 500 efi. Last Saturday we got 84 out of it but we were running down river with a 8mpn current. Give us a little boast. Got 5 blades 30 pitch lab finish ordered hope to get away from some of the slippage. Will see and let you guys know