Will adding a nose cone on a Bravo X drive provide a measureable speed increase if running in the 80's?

It’s possible. I generally plan for 90mph as the requirement for nose cones. Below 80 defiantly not, but the 80's are a gray area. If you’re barely at 80 I wouldn't, but 85+ could be worth a try.

Just for a point of reference, if running 90mph w/o a nose cone what would be the speed increase you have experienced by adding a nose cone to a Bravo X drive (or what ever before/after speed reference you have witnessed)?

You can gain or lose speed with a cone in the 80's. It depends, that’s why it’s the gray area. It improves aerodynamics, but increases wetted area. It can also cause or fix handling issues.

Best case you gain a few mph, worst case you lose a few or suffer handling issues.

If you can try one that’s done first that’s best. Or you could glue one on for testing.

Very interesting. Always more involved than one imagines. What kind of "handling issues" can with or without a nose cone affect?

Chine walk, porpoising , blow out. To name a few.

Thanks for the information.

Bill

Rage,I have 2 drives for my boat,one has a well blended hydromotive nose cone and the spare is a dwp style lower that is un-modified externally. When my motor only had 945hp it ran 92 ish light,mid 89's with a good size load of pas and fuel and would not break 86-87mph even running light with spare drive w/o nose cone.
As far as handling,on a stock boat with cable operated steering the extra surface area on the drive can create chine-walking as drive position is touchy with extra surface,Smitty

Thanks Smitty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I gained 5 mph with nose cones. 87 to 91. What is your prop slip? I had 16 % after a repower at 87.. Nose cones dropped slip to 9.5 % to give the increased speed.