A friend just picked up a 1988 30' Scarab Panther with 454ci, 385hp. Completely stock except for Gil exhaust and 850cfm carbs which seem to fat. Boat is running bravo 1's spinning Mirage 23P 3 blades at 5,000 rpms 61 on the GPS, 4 peeps n w approx 100 gallons of fuel. Any suggestions on carbs and props ? Looking for some assistence...Thanks

My 1988 panther came with 365hpmags and 25p original mirages. They were the fastest props at -64mph and qjets. I got to 74mph with 800cfm, more cam and rpm performer intakes. My best now is 94mph but that is a long story.

I can attest to the fact that Blue Panthers boat is one bad mother. Sure suprised me. If anyone knows these boats, he is the guy.

850 should work fine. It just needs to be dialed in. Where is it fat..... idle? mid cruise? or top end WOT?


Darrell.

Take the carbs to Nickerson one of the best around. And your close.

carbs - holley marine 830's w/ annular discharge right out of the box
props - alphas or bravos??

Sorry - just read again. Bravo 1s - prop seems right. rpm right on but speed seems about 8 - 9 off??

Condition of props? Are they older, I have read and agree with that they can flatten out a little over time.Also have they been cleaned up by previous owner.I had mine done once lost two miles an hour.Got new ones the following year and got the MPH right back.

Also what drive ratio do you have 1.36 1.50 1.65? Did some one along the way pick up a set of used drives off of a Formula that are 1.65?
You are turning 5gs so don't think its a motor problem.

The motors in this boat are 330's with cast iron intakes and the small oval port heads. They turn 4900 rpm. The 850 will do nothing but waste fuel. Go with a 700cfm. If these motors were the 365 mag with the aluminum intake and rect port head you might be ok with the 800. The HP 500 Merc motor uses the 800cfm Holley which is optimal for the stock hp 500. It has more compression it is a 502 and not a 454 and juiced up more then the 330. Plus it turns 5300 not 4900.

Vic would save more fuel with a 66-72 jet verse a 82 jet trying to obtain the proper air fuel mix.