So I have a 28 nordic heat that I've been working on for longer than I'd like to admit....engine issues, rotten wood issues, tuning issues...the list goes on...anyway was finally able to get it on the water and give her the business a couple weeks ago up at Hardy Dam for hot boat. Up until this point I had seen a best of 82-83 with the way wrong prop and only for a few seconds at a time due to making sure everything is as it should be. That being said...my last run of the weekend I was by myself and had ran some of the fuel out and I said to myself you know what...I'm kicking this thing to see what she's got and if it breaks it breaks....got to 82-83 as usual and then out of nowhere this fat non-stepped girl actually jumped up on her pad and it was like shifting into overdrive!! the boat instantly jumped to 86 and then followed the most violent chine walking I have ever experienced and i got out of it. Was incredible how much the boat finally lifting on the pad makes a difference!! Was awesome to know that she still has quite a bit of speed left in her if I can combat the chine walk which I think will easily be resolved with a little tab. Just had to share my first oh sh!t moment in this boat after driving it in just about any condition you could imagine for the last 4-5 years. It was awesome yet terrifying hahaha.

Anyone else want to share a similar story from your boating past??

If you have hydraulic steering you should be able to balance the boat on the pad with steering input. Tabs will scrub speed and if relied on too much may cause other handling issues. At most, have them neutral to extend the length of the hull. Flying a boat on the pad is a learning process, once you get there you'll love it. Step by step.

I do have full hydraulic steering...I think the best thing will be getting the 5 blade I really need to carry the front of this fat girl and I think it will be a lot better. Also my tabs are 280's that I installed and are PLENTY big enough for the boat and when all the way up they are an inch or so above the bottom at the tips...that's what I meant by a little tab is bringing them down even with the bottom. I think I have a pic that you can see the tab setup.

Thanks for the advice!! It will for sure be a learning curve once I get her to sit on the pad regularly....was just my first time experiencing it in my boat and it was freaky yet awesome hahahaha

Her you can see my tab and steering setup

What do you think of the SCX so far and do you feel it robbed much power? Curious. Always wondered about the parasitic loss as compared to an XR or SC upper. Happy to see you out enjoying the fruits of your labor. Sam

Nice. Suprised it takes that amount of speed to get on the pad, maybe that is a function of poor bow lift.

Honestly as far as power goes I havent noticed a difference. However the only baseline with the current power was last year at hot boat when the XR upper ate itself due to improper installation from the last "motor shop" that did the first god awful tune hahaha. I absolutely love it!! It's so nice being able to be going 50 and stab it and not have to worry about it exploding hahaha. I am seeing an issue with the oil in the drive bottle disappearing but I think its expanding more than I think and blowing it out of the cap. I did see oil residue around the cap area but running without a hatch currently it just flys out of the back of the boat hahaha. I made my own drive bottle that is I would say at least a quart but I think I'm going to order the IMCO bottle that belongs with the upper because it's all clear and I will be able to monitor the fluid level better. The one I made is powder coated black with a clear tube site glass on the outside.

I think it absolutely is. Hoping to get in the ballpark with the prop a little better and remedy that. Plus I have the "flat bottom" non stepped heat which takes a lot of power to get them moving regardless lol

yes you need the larger reservoir, I run them