I have a 2000 47 Lightning and am at the crossroads. I pulled the stock 500efi motors and am replacing them with fully rebuild, low hour, 525efi motors. I have the center motor ready to drop in and should have the other two back from the shop in Jan. Here is the dilemma... I also have a brand new set of 600sci motors in my garage.... which is tempting. Should I stagger this thing and use my 600sci motors???... or just continue down the path... and install the trip 525efi motors? Either way, we're dealing with freshly rebuilt motors that are basically new so, all things being equal, which route should I go?

For comparison: The 525efi motors would have either Bmax drives or XR drives and the 600sci motors would have a pair of Merc #6 drives behind them...

Another question... In a staggered set up, how much HP would I need to break the 90 and / or 100mph mark? A stage III Whipple kit gets me very close to 800hp per motor... but what can I expect from the stock 600sci motors?

Resale is also a concern... just wondering if I am taking a hit by going one way or the other??....

Thanks in advance guys for the help!!

Poor mans opinion that doesn't have to pay for it.......

Sell the 600's and Whipple the (3) 525's with Bmax's!!!

Stage III Whipple 600SCi with 6's is more reliable and probably more desirable.

XR's behind good 525's on a 47 - LOL Good thing theres 3 of them!

Weight savings and balance of staggered 600's w/sixes would be the faster more reliable setup in my most humble opinion .

Thanks guys... If i kept the 600sci motors stock... then what kind of speed am I looking at? Stock, it came with trip 500efi Bravo motors and ran 86 upon testing according to the build report. Would stag stock 600sci motors at least hit the 86 mark? Also have to consider weight of the third motor.. however... 6's aren't exactly feather weights either.

My thinking would be that the sixes are superior because of their efficient surface running capabilities and all the extra blade surface you can carry . Turn up those 600's and you will have a beast with drives that can handle the extra torque and hp . As far as what speed you would carry I could only guess that with everything set up properly you would be a very happy camper .

Id sell off the 3 fresh 525s, the 2 600SCIs, and the 3 bravo drive setups. Take that money, and build a pair of 1100 EFI whipple'd 598's. Stagger them and use the 6's.

Ha , what him said !! ^^^^^^^^^^

tough call on speed!!! no idea!

Not sure how comparable a 38 and 47 Fountain are, a friend of mine has a 38 with twin 600 staggered that have been tuned up to around 800 hp with 6 drives and the boat runs close to 120. Best person to ask is probably Reggie he isn't hard to get in touch with and I am sure he knows the facts.