What top speed with a 496 ho? what's the good and the bad?

No bad just good. I have an 03 and I love it. I love the way it sits in the water. There is a lot of room in the mid cabin. Speeds are probably around mid possibly high 60's. Ive been in some bad chop in it and it doesn't rattle like some of the boats ive been in. Nothing came loose

Great boat......we have seen 70-71 MPH with the 496 HO in salt water. Fast hull....on plane faster than anything in its class...handles the rough stuff like a champ stays planted all the time, flies straight and true and fun to drive with confidence.

Have not found any "BAD" issues at all

Very nice boat. The only issue I'd have is going over the windhield if you beach it often.

That's my wife's biggest compliant, trying to scramble over the windSCREEN on to the deck! We have a 35' Flame and just love it!!
Dean

yea , didn't like the windsheild always thought of how do you get to the bow without busting your legs! :

Through the hatch

i can hear the wife *****in now! :

Hey,
just wanna warm up an old thread....
A friend is looking for a good rough water boat round about 25 - 28ft. Engine prefered 496 ho. He saw a 2005 Nordic 28 Heat, what is your opinion? Does it realy run 70 in salt water?
Or other ideas what kind of boat could be the right? Should be a light weight boat. I have a 26 Hustler, the cabin is a little bit too small for him for sleeping a night in it....
Andre

Nordic is not a rough water boat. I had a '02 496HO in Long Island Sound for 3 years, it's NOT a rough water boat, trust me, it gets choppy in the Sound and it was not Nordic's element. Nice boat, well built, loved it...got rid of it for a boat better suited to our waters.

Ours ran 67 ONCE...with the wind, tide, & current, one person, low fuel. I tried a number of props but they were just a waste of money. Some have had better results with a 1 inch spacer in the drive but I could only consistently count on 62 all the time, 64 most times, 65 some times, above that was a crap shoot

Best cabin of any 28' I've ever been in, better than many bigger boats too. Beautiful boat, nice lines, windshield directs are right into your face, had to get wind deflectors. 28' is the outer limit for single engine boats, could be a bit clunky around the dock. Has carpet in the engine bay...what's up with that? Ripped it out and put in diamond plate. Must be a west coast thing. Trailer from Nordic is junk for salt water (unless they've changed things), turns to rust after the first year...scrap yards love 'em though.

Would still like to have it, I just learned when not to take it out which wasn't a ton of times, just when it got over 3' it was tough. There are better rough water 28' (or close) hulls, Activator, SuperBoat, Progression, Pantera, PowerPlay, Active Thunder, most won't have as good a cabin as the Nordic though.