I have a 2004 Nordic Rage open bow with the 496HO and 1.5:1 and a 26 pitch Bravo1. Total hours now is 70.

A 2002 published boat test on Lake Havasu (~ sea level) with this identical package posted a 75.6 mph @5000 rpm (radar) -77.2 mph (GPS) top end with a lab finished 26 pitch Bravo 1 prop. Test was with two adult men and full gas (54 gallons). Dry weight is 3700 pounds.

My boat with the same set up and loading except prop is a stock 26 pitch Bravo 1 runs only 68 mph @ 5000 rpm (gps) with ambient temperature of 60F and 70 relative humidity at 916 foot elevation. With a lab finished 27 pitch Bravo 1 (previously a 28 pitch stock Bravo 1) I still run 68 mph at 4800-4900 rpm (gps).

Not as reliable, obviously, but in the same vein I have seen several Nordic Rages with the same setup and with gps speedometers advertised for sale claiming 75 mph top end.

It would seem to me that with the same rpm's and prop there should not be a 10 mph difference regardless of water chop conditions or a little head or tail wind. My runs were made both directions.

I would sure like to hear from other Nordic Rage owners with 496HO as to what top end you see based on GPS or radar. Not surprisingly my speedo says 75 mph when the gps says 68 mph.

Thanks

I don't believe any of these magazine's WOT reports - reality is rarely do any of these boats perform as "tested" in the real world. I recently seen an identical boat as mine ('99 35 Fountain) w/415's claiming 87 on GPS - well I have HP500's tweaked to over 600hp on a dyno - & my boat goes 82

I know someone with a 2004 Rage as well, with a 496 and his does 65 and maybe 67-68 in perfect conditions so your speed with the HO sound about right.

For example, at Table Rock he hit 65 on radar while most everyone was running 2-3 MPH slow. I ran 62 and my best is 65 to 66.

Post this in the Nordic forum. There are several people that can give you good feedback.

I wouldn't take those speeds to heart, I also run a 496HO at Havasu with a labbed prop best I have seen is 70 mph in a 27 Fountain. What your running seems to be right in the ball park for these motors....

I don't know how they get those numbers in the tests. Maybe salt water and 30 degree temps and a tail wind...LOL Anyway, I would expect a little better performance under your test conditions than what you are getting, but nothing like the magazine tests. That boat requires a lot of trim to get maximum speed. I would expect right around 70 with the HO under most real world conditions. I just delievered a 25 with a 625+ HP 540 and it runs low 80's under most conditions. I have a customer with a 496 Mag that SeaRayJim was referring too. The best we ever got from that boat was 70 on GPS. Usually it runs about 67-68. The open bows are a couple of MPH slower than the closed bow. Running with a bow cover in place is worth 1-2 MPH.

I've got a 2002 Nordic Rage, with the closed bow. I'm running in Colorado at 5200 feet with a bravo1x with a 1:65 gearset (altitude) and a 24" bravo1. With a light load I've been able to hit 65 (gps) on a regular basis. Speedo read about 72. Now I've added the whipple supercharger kit. I swapped out all the gauges, kept the same ratio, had max machine worx beef up the drive and swapped out to a 30" bravo1. First runs on a small local lake had me in the low 80's on the speedo. Didn't have enough water to run it all the way out. If the weather holds I'll try it again and this time I'll bring the gps and hopefully have enough room to get trimmed out properly.

Sounds nice!

What rpms are you turning when you get the 65mph GPS. What HP are you expecting to get with the whipple?

Thanks for the info! Any tricks to improve bow lift in response to trim position for the purpose of improving top end?

Is the bow cover you mention made out of Naugahyde type material or other? Mine is the Naugahyde variety and stretches a ton at speed like it is full of water.

Yeh, the bow cover is vinyl. It stretches but still diverts the wind from inside the cabin. You can also stick a pole in it, but put something over the end so it doesn't poke a hole in it.

Remember this thread from a while back?

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...=fastest+496ho

There was claims that the 25 Nordic will do 82 with a 496HO. Sounds hard to believe. 75 sounds very possible though.

As far as the mag article, 77.2 with a 26P @5000 rpms equates to approx. 6% slip. I need to send my prop to whoever labbed that one!