What top speed should i expect to see out of a 496 ho heat? What is the good and bad with a 28 heat?

Well, today I raced a new 28' Nordic Flame (I think) closed deck, w a 502.
He ran just below 70 in flat water.
(I was faster)

I would guess high sixties in that boat, most boats that size with stock 496's are just under 70. I know the Nordic is a well made boat. There are alot of them out here in the southwest. Never heard anything bad about any of them.

68 max and that's going downhill. Four full length glue-tech stringers, hand laminated, in-gel graphics. Quality stuff. Beautiful fit & finish that some (read "some") east coast builders can't approach. Well layed out helm, good gauge visibility, good ergonomics (if they moved up the bolsters in post '00 models). Everything made in house with high Nordic quality and styling. Great cockpit space and roomy cabin, in fact it's the roomiest cabin you can get in a 28' (I can't comment on a mid-cuddy though, never been in one). Big for a 28. Windscreen deflects wind right into your face which gets irritating after a while. Sun pad slopes a bit too much for comfortable hanging if that's what you do. Hull handles speed well, into the 90s with no issues. I ran mine on Long Island Sound and would have liked a sharper entry angle. Could ride a bit harsh in the rough due to entry angle and pad bottom. Mid-cabin I'd only use in small lake water. Trailers although well built will disintegrate if you even say the words "salt water". I'll never get near a steel trailer again for fresh or salt water! The boat will turn heads, I can't tell you how many comments I got over the years! Excellent boat no question.

Oh...one more thing, the carpeted models ran the carpet into the engine compartment for some idiotic reason. But I think they've gone to a fiberglass liner now. My comments are based on an '00 model and I'm sure some things have changed, maybe somebody can give some updates.

70-71 in salt water great baot !!!