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.

I kinda thought 25's would be too much. The best I have seen with my 23 Mirage plus (stock) was 69.4 (gps), most of the time it is in the high 68's (gps).My boat was owned by a friend last year so I rode in it all the time but I really didn't pay attention to rpm's etc. I ended up buying the boat over the winter and have not had time to track sped and rpm.

From the post above I don't see how 31's could ever be used. Even with 25's 76 or 77 would be hard to believe. 25's at 4800 rpm with 0% slip (not likely) would be 75 mph.

tssteph,

The P-29 runs in those speeds because of the Blawkhawk surface drives. They are 7 inches shorter, and are spinning (2) 31 pitch props EACH in opposite directions. The first prop scoops the water and throws it into the second, which is a cleaver. The P-29 tested in Powerboat (1996) was running 4900 rpm at 76.7 MPH on GPS.

Fever Mike - FYI - measure the hull on a 29 Scarab and you will find that it is just a few inches shy of 29 feet, NOT INCLUDING the platform...

Thats impressive. Thanks for the info. I didn't realize there was that much difference in the Blackhawks.

Re: 29 Speed
 

There may be one available here with 550hp blown smallblocks and blackhawk drives.... mid 90's .... a wild ride.

Re: 29 Speed
 

I just bought a 29 with a new 540 ci engine w/Crane Rockers, and other racing parts producing 600 horses. I am anxious to get it out soon.

Re: 29 Speed
 

I just purchased a 1998 29ft with twin 350 mpi's and 23p mirage plus's counter rotating and with 3/4 tank of fuel and 2 of us max'd rpm was 4750 and non gps speedo showed 67-69 in about a 1-2 foot chop. thinkin about a 24p 4 blade labbed. any thoughts ? right now outta the whole is great and mid range is great fuel consumption seems a little strong though.

Re: 29 Speed
 

I tried some 4 blade Bravo 1 props, they did not work well at all. The boat really seems to like a lot of bow lift. My rpms are a little higer then yours but may be because of how much I trim compared to what you are doing. Your speed is about right and is probably pretty close. In some testing yesterday I ran 69.3 with half tank of fuel and loaded with gear. I just mailed my props to Houston Propeller for some work, I will post a new message when I get them back with the results.

Re: 29 Speed
 

i had her out yesterday...trimmed to the moon with ZERO tab and approx 60 gallons of fuel hit 71.2 on a handheld garmin...was a 1-2 ft chop and ran like the wind...still cant get rpm's over 4700...thinkin about havin my 23's labbed

Re: 29 Speed
 

If I trim way up mine starts to wobble real bad from right to left. If there is a cross wave it really gets out of control. 71.2 is not bad.

Re: 29 Speed
 

are you using any tab to stop the chine walking ? and which way are your props spinnin ?

Re: 29 Speed
 

No I am not, the props are being worked on by Darin this week. My nexts step is to try some tab and see if I can get it to calm down a little. Mine are spinning out, I tried them in for a while and it porpoised really bad.

Re: 29 Speed
 

How fast would a mid '90's 29'er be with a single, new HP500?

I've driven a 2004 Sunsation 288 with and HP500 and am curious how the Scarab would compare. I know a guy at LOTO w/ a 29 and he said it rides better in the rough than his brothers 33' Formula!

Re: 29 Speed
 

I bought mine with a 502 and it ran about 63 stock. I'm in the process of installing a 509 Whipple in it now. I'm looking for mid to upper 70's with the new engine.The boats are solid built and they hammer the rough stuff, but it does take some horses to get them going for speed.

I think a 500 would push the boat to 68 to 72. :D

Re: 29 Speed
 

ECeptor,

A stock 29 with an HP500 will run in the high 60's, maybe 71 with no gas and one person. The reason that it cuts through the waves better than the Formula is from the narrow 7' 2" beam with the 24" dead rise. It also has a small step in the keel to allow it to run on top better.

Re: 29 Speed
 

I'm absolutely in love with the looks of the Scarab 29'ers and have been dreaming about them ever since I was 18 and spent a summer w/ my aunt and uncle at LOTO.

The Sunsation is a little faster (we ran 74 on gps with 5 people) with the HP500, but I can get into a supercharged 502 powered Scarab for much less. I'm not looking to step up until next year at the earliest but it's fun to plan!

Thanks for the info!

Re: 29 Speed
 

Reviving an old thread here. I have a 94 29 w/ carb 350 mags and alphas. Runs 63 on gps all day long full of fuel. Turning 23p laser 2's. Have tried mirage + 21's , about the same. mirage+ 23's , need more hp! My bud has a 96 we just re-powered w/2005 350 mag mpi's and bravos. Runs like 68 on the gps w/ 23 mirage +. The stock lasers hit the revlimiters but the mirage + runs right at 5000. Both are bone stock mercury production. My carb mags are tired and getting replaced. The new blocks just came in today! I'll be wrenching for a while now. Winter work!