Just purchased a 1999 353 Formula Fastec with factory installed stellings boxes, 502 mpi's, and bravo's. A few people have said there of no importance on this application. I've never owned a boat with boxes so any input would be appreciated. Is there any additional maintence that is required ? I was also told that they put more stress on the drives is this true ? Thanks for your assistence.

I have them on my F-2 Cig. They put your props in cleaner water.
There is a grease fitting you must keep greased inside the box, its ez to do
I was told that they do not stress the drive.

LS

From what I understand it depends if it has the torsional shaft or the solid shaft.. The solid shaft connects to the motor and doesn't have the rubber donut to absorb torque spikes.

With the power you have I don't think it'll be an issue though. I don't believe Jamie had any issues with it. Boat seemed to run pretty good.

353, 600's, arnesons.....sweet.

Bern: If we assume that the boat is similiar to the 383 then I think your friends are wrong. I have driven 383's with and with out them. There is a big difference. I also drove that boat with the ITS drives and thought that the Stelling boxes were a big improvement over those. You will get more speed and less slip was my findings with the boxes on there. The boat that I drove with them on was Norts (aka Phantom Caos). We had a snotty trailing sea and the boat drove through it like it was nothing. I actually was having a very fun time driving it.

They add about 3-4mphs to a 353 with 500efi's. My friends 353 with Factory Stellings and 500's will do 84gps. Formula does raise the X 1" also. I don't know about any negatives.

I put in what they call a Drive Saver.. It mounts on the flywheel & takes up the shock when you shift into gear & when you get air and land back in the water. When I bought my boat it just had a straight shaft into the drive.. Not good !

LS

The drive saver with Stellings shaft arrangement is an excellent idea. You must grease the two u joints and check for leaks. I found on my Black Thunder with boxes that they would seep water and the bottom of the box would hold water. Kept the bottom of the transom cut out wet. Also the powder coating was for chit. They should help your handling. Joe Murray

I have a set of stelling boxes for sale - this will take the guess work out of what the wife might buy you for Christmas

Today we repainted the boxes on Lucky Strike with Imron..

What ever they had on them started to flake off a little.