For the record...what are you doing for power? I'm sure you either told me or posted it but I'm to lazy to find it.

As far as the paint goes I don't think you have to worry about learning anything from me And now that you mention 2 gallons of clear I think I still hace 1/2 gallon left from the transom and dash...plus a quart of base.

John, If you have a 1/2 gallon left you may be able to get another one & make that work.. As I said not farmiliar with the diamont & not sure how high solids it is but if its a 4:1:1 ratio clear then that would give you 2 gallons plus a quart of sprayable material & I really think that would do the sides... I really shoud be able to tell you allot closer but to be honest that can be kinda tricky b/c there are some variables there & it can be hard to tell untill you really get into it..

For power I will be running a 511 CID Tall deck with an intercooled Vortech V-4 Centrifical on it.. hopefully making in the 750 range.

I was at the shop today and looked at what I had and I think your right. Another gallon of clear and maybe a little more base should do it. When I get closer to a color decision I'll get ahold of Russ.

750hp should be nice. I would say it should put you in the high 80's. What are you thinking?

High 80's would be real nice !! However mid 80's is more my thinking but I like your thinking better..

Anything over 85 is in the highs

Very true... So what qualifies as mid 80's..?

Oh yeah, to most I would have to say 63-67..

85.1......gps

hey guys I think the single sutphens 30/31 would be close to you guys for speed and hp. 850hp will get the new 31/32 boat to 85gps and 92 plus with 1,000 hp. still not sure what I am putting my konrad ace and Dean Gellner blower motor1050hp in yet, I am thinking between the 28saber old / old sutphen 30 or if I go new a joker 28/ sutphen 277, for hulls. lil I bet that vortech without breathing hard would make you easy 800 to 850hp. my 509 got up to 670hp na with 9.5 to1 comp. I love the blower whine at 6000 rpm on the boats. so do you think by spring you will be in. I was hoping for this fall but have had set backs with my knee replacement so can't work.. if things stay bad for me I will install this package in my baja which after 19yrs I want to go bigger by a few feet. thanks for the thread keep us posted.

That Konrad would look sweet hanging off the back of this...hint hint

-Air Time- Wow sounds like you have a really sweet combo to say the least !!

As for me being in by spring..? I can only hope so.. I wanted & planned to be in the water a spring or 2 ago but as I'm sure you are well aware of plans often change.. Its funny b/c I just got on the computor to give a quick update & wasn't sure which site I would get on so I geuss its oso.. haha..

Anyways I have the bilge completly painted as seen a few posts back.. The fuel tanks are pretty much done with the exception of paint.. The transom assy is mounted up & inner plate tourqed in place & I have been patiently waiting (as poor people do) on an alignment tool & much to my surprise after chatting back & forth I had a fellow memeber graciously offer to ship me his yesterday !! So first chance I get after that arrives I am dropping in the power !! Tonight I have been working on stripping off the old powdercoat off of a pair of really nice Optima battery hold downs I bought from another member a good while back.. They were the wrong color..

So that being said yes its moving along but as I was telling somebody just recently that with my personal projects they have 2 speeds "wide open" & "no wake zone" mainly for two reasons.. (#1) I have to go as I can afford to and (#2) Customer work comes first.. Since I have had the Saber I have had a ton of side projects some minor & some major.. Ofcourse all that is on top of "regular shop load" So that being said I am sure I'm not alone on that one..

As for my power I wouldn't complain but I really don't see it making 800-850 due to cylnder head restrictions & the fact that I am conservitive on my compression.. However that being said I did hear from a good source that Dean Nickerson made right at 1000hp on a set of ported iron 990's with a V-4 centrifical.. So we time will tell.. My plan is to go ahead & drop the motor in so I can be doing all my rigging with the items I already have & then when I get a few more things & I can afford it I will take a couple hours to yank it back out, load it up & haul it west a few hours & do some pulls & tunning on it..