Put the boat to water and test, you have the spacer installed and water pickup modified. Find stock condition bravo 1 prop to test, and then we have baseline.

Yes man
Must install my new EMI Thunder exhaust first.
Hope I can get it done soon

Heres some new numbers:

@4950-5000 rpm - 49-50 mph
@4650 rpm - 53 mph

At 4950-5000 rpm the drive was out a bit, frowing a rooster tail.
At 4650 rpm it was less out.

the slip is at 35% now

Maybe its the right way with lower drive/prop shaft.

Broke the shift cable on the way back home.. couldnt get the neutral or reverse in.. Maybe the shift cable have jumped out of its position in the drive...?

Going to the right direction, and this was with your 26" bravo? If so, try the stock 24" bravo next.

Exactly, I forgot to mention that. This was with my Bravo 26”.

See if I can borrow the 24” or buy one

Actual numbers with the 2” spacer, prop shaft height at 2,3” below bottom.

I have one guy that wants to trade his Bravo XR lower for my Sportmaster. The prop shaft height will be at 3,7” below bottom with the standard XR lower.


Mercury slip calculator:

When you trim up, the rpms goes up, but speed goes down and slip% goes up.
The drive still needs to go deeper.

Exactly, thank you.

I tried to trim up a little bit at a time till I got the highest mph numbers —> 52,7 mph @4650 rpm I think the gauge did say.
When I trimmed upp more, the speed went down and rpm went up along with the rooster tail at the back...


Thinking of trading my Sportmaster lower in for a Bravo XR lower. Im getting like $830 in between from the guy that wants to trade it. Don’t know if its a fair deal..
It will take me to 3,7” below bottom.

I would trade him as long as you can verify that it is as good of condition as yours. You will never see any added benefit from the SM lower at the speeds you will see.

go for it! I am afraid your slip numbers wont get much better if you dont go down 1-1.5 inch with you prop shaft. Even if it is 1.5 ratio i would buy it. There should be 10mph hidden somewhere, if the engine is working like it should.