29 Speed
 

Looking at a 29 with twin 350mag's

What kind of speed can I expect from this boat?

You can expect between 69 and 73 on GPS from what I've heard.

My brother had on with 144 bolwers and it would run 90
He had blackhawks

29 SPEED
 

Put mine in the water for the first time Saturday and was running 69 to 70 on speedo @ 4900 with 23" Mirage Plus 3 blade props. Had a full load of fuel(100 gallons) and 5 people in the boat. Boat is a 2000 and had 8.5 hours with twin 350's. Talked to Julie @ Throttle Up and she said I could probably run 25's if they are labbed. I used to have my props done @ Mercury Racing, but my friend and prop magacian Brett Anderson is no longer there. Will post the results after I get my GPS hooked up and the new labbed 25's from Throttle Up installed. Fine boat, good handling, very responsive steering and flies and lands very nice.
TK.

Around 70 seems to be the number with 300hp efi 350 mag's. Understand the older carb models were in the low 60's.

Scarab, I like the blackhawk drives on stock power (under 500hp). High neat factor as well. I dont care for the prop prices though.

No Limits, I am very interested in what you do with props. Mine runs 69.4 on the GPS and 67 on the speedo with 23 Mirage plus props. I am not sure on the rpms yet, I have not had a chance to run it. I just got mine over the winter. Drove the boat last fall with the GPS prior to buying but did not pay attention to RPM's. Old owner said he thought 4800 but I want to make sure before doing prop work. Mine is a 98. You got any pics?

I have a hard time believing 73 with 23 pitch props, mathmatically it's not possible unless the motors are turning 5100 rpm and it has 0% slip rate which is not likely. Thye might be seeing 73 on the dream-o-meter.

29 SPEED
 

tssteph; At present time with stock 23's I was turning 4900 with full load. Julie @ Throttle Up said I can expect to turn the labbed 25's @ same RPM's as stock 23's. If this is the case, I should be running around 73 with 10% slip. Right now at 3800 I am trimmed all the way out with no porpoise, so I asked her to give me a little more bow lift also. Hopefully I will have my GPS installed (and figure out how to work it) by the time I get them back. I will post results then. By the way, I have gauges that have A M I on the face and AMP down on the bottom. Are these Autometer gauges, ( mine has hourmeters built into tachs) because I have never heard of them before. I have some pics, but not good, (in fact don't know how) on posting them
T.K.

Thanks, when you get more data let me know. I will call and order the exact same prop setup you end up with. Sounds like you have different gauges then I do. Here is a pic of mine. Mine also has no hour meter. We scanned the motors to determin the hours. I plaon on putting some meters on it for maintenance reasons.

Hi-Tech

Powerboat tested the 1996 limited editon Scarab P-29 with 350 MPI's (300hp) and got 76.7 on GPS. My P-29 runs 75 all day and in the right conditons you can get 76 to 77 with the blackhawk surface drives spinning 31's. Very nice handling boat that flys straight and lands flat and has no problems in 3-4 feet. One reason the 29 Scarab can 'slice through' the rough stuff is the narrow 7' 6 beam as apposed to the 31's wider 8' 6 beam. Have owned both single BB and twin SB, and would highly recommend the twin setup. Easier handling around the dock, and the twins keep the boat straight and level when running through the big stuff.
The price tag for a low hour P-29 (around 60K) is going to be more than a standard P-29, but it in my opinion, it is well worth the extra $$. There are a couple for sale in Wisconsin (including mine).

tssteph; tried the boat out this weekend and not very happy with results. Got the labbed 25's back from Julie and could only turn 4700 at 66.2 on GPS with 5 folks and full load of fuel. Talked to Julie and am sending them back for a little more rework. I'm thinking about going back to the 23's since I have my GPS set up and see what kind of speed I was getting with them and also see what advice I get from Julie. I'm not getting very much lift so maybe I will try to fool with the setting on the outdrives to raise them a little more, still searching. Will keep in touch.
T.K.