boat is a 1989 272 with original motors( Probably the issue lol) 700 hours 454's all factory...i believe from the factory the boat did low to mid 60's at 4800rpms...all i get it 4200 on my starboard and 4400 on my and port and about 55mph it has bravo ones...im not sure of the pitch but they are 3blade mirage...i think the pitch is correct because if i was seeing the rpms the speed would be there....is this just the case of tired engines? if thats the case im fine with it...if i have an issue i would like to resolve it... checked all linkage and seems to open carbs up fully...whats next boys?

Plugs, wires, cap, rotor,timing, fuel, fuel filters, carburetors.....check them all. Just cause the carbs open all the way doesnt mean they are functioning properly.

Contrary to what you may hear, 700 hrs on a motor is nothing. You are not running a strung out race motor, its a factory piece. I promise unless that boat was used, abused and neglected, if you pulled the heads the crosshatching would be clear as day. If you were to go 60mph for all 700hrs, thats only 42,000 miles. Even under the loads a boat motor sees that is still nothing, the 1950's are long gone....modern motors laugh at 100,000 miles.

I know of other agencies that dont get new rides like we do, that have well over 300,000 miles on the original motor, still run strong as all get out. These things idle for 24hrs a day, and if they aint at idle they are wideopen chasing down cars on the interstate. If I told you what the hour meters on some of the rides said, you wouldnt believe it.

235k on my 05 Crown Vic police pckg. Engine still goin strong, no oil burnin, smoke, etc.

Try another set of props, make sure the hull bottom is clean, fuel filters, and a tune up.

i had 1000 on my 330's and boat was driven hard a fair bit before i got it. boat motors don't wear as much as they get water in them and break. if well maintained, 700 is ok. it is probably tune, timing and possibly props.

I would get the mirage's cupped/cleaned up if they aren't the plus's, check timing...I think 4600 is the max rpm on that motor if not a Mag, according to specs -at least that is what mine is...and mid 60's on the wishameter i bet, 58 sounds about right.

Check compression on the weaker motor, may have ingested water and big blocks always seem to have valve seat/valve guide issues.

Yea 700 hours is nothing on stock 454's. If it is original gauges I would check those also. They may just be reading wrong. Tune ups do wonders for these motors as well.

thanks for all the responses guys...i will check the timing as well as do a tune-up
over the winter i will have the props looked at