Hey guys.... (and gals if applicable)

Looking for successful drive heights on 28 with single.

Im just wondering what the best experiences are before I start messing with mine.

whats your HP/ at rpms/speed.

Im pretty sure Im still too high. I havent had a chance to drop it down yet. so im looking for input.

Hey Jo, we looked good from the helicopter in New Orleans.

thats a start

I've talked to Jo quite a bit about this, as mine seems too high also. I have a notched transom/full pleasure setup 1996 with 525sc. Runs about 65mph with a 26" Bravo prop at 4900-5000 rpms. This = 25% slip.
My X is set at 20 1/2" with a 2" spacer for an overall of 18 1/2"
Jo said his black race boat with notch was set at 19" overall and ran 78-80mph. Its a lot lighter than mine though and had no cabin. I just can't get enough bow lift with mine and am running too much boat in the water.
Jo said that pleasure versions w/o a notch are set at 17"
He told me he set Vonbongo's boat at 17 1/2"(no notch). It has the 7" setback of the ITS system.

Just to confirm the X. Measured from the bottom of the boat to the centerline of the drive sahft? is that correct??

I would think you should definately be runnin faster with the 525. Im not sure about my HP or torque yet, because we havent dynoed the motor, But its gotta be in the 600 plus area.

the best weve seen , so far was 73 with a 28 pitch turning 5400

we have a imco extension box 3" offset, imco 2" shortie dropped down with a 1 1/2 spacer". I think the next step is to change the shortie to a standard length lower and leave the spacer in. This will offset th 3" raised box. Im just waiting for a break in the weather to try this. Stay in touch.

Jo says that the ITS helps carry the bow.

I haven't ridden in Griff's boat yet so I don't have a basis, but the bow on my boat rides higher than the beak boat. It sees to be a good angle from what I can tell.

Griff I only have 60 HP on ya and I have 10 mph so something isn't quite right. Also there was a lot of discusstion on the Fountian thread that the nose cone someone installed cost them 2-3 mph. I know your boat has a cone on it. I don't know if this may be contrubiting to some of your slip or not. Would be nice to slap another lower on there with no cone and see what happens

Von Bongo..

what power are you running? and what kind of speeds are you seeing?

Von, I took the nose cone off. Actually, got a complete like new lower DWP case at the end of last year. Jo thought the same thing about the nose cone costing me some speed, maybe due to a poor install, so got rid of it.
I only got the boat out once, on real windy day after the switch, but didn't see any big difference. I did also get a new really trick set up on my drive shower. Tapped the water jacket on the side of the drive upper and ran braided line to the shower top to get rid of any possible problems caused by the shower p/u next to the prop. My water p/u for the engine is mounted on the hull.
I'm going to get the prop tweaked. I get a lot of stern lift as my rpms and speed increase. If I can get the stern lift reduced and add some bow lift, I think that will help a lot. I hope it works cause I've already got a standard length drive with a 2" spacer.

The ITS will help carry the bow more due to the 7" set back. It moves weight farther back and with the angle of the transom will put the prop a little deeper in the water. Thats why Jo said he raised your X 1/2" over standard.

Bruce, yep thats the X measurement I'm talking about. An easy way to measure it is to measure from the bottom of the boat centerline to the bottom of the gimbal and then add 9 1/4 inches. You probably can't do it this way with the box though.
Von's boat has the new 575sc running a labbed 28 Bravo. I don't think he's even hitting 5000rpms and running 75mph. I don't know for sure since he never gave me a ride last year

How much rooster tail do you get???? I get quite a bit. It starts just past a nuetral drive trim(2 1/2) and is at 20' plus at 5 on the mech trim guage.

Has anyone tried leaving the drive height high and running a 5 blade Hydromotive or Herring to get the slip numbers down? I am in the 24' and with the bravo1 26"prop I see about 11 percent slip on fresh water. I have not tried the 5 blades because my drive is too low.

I have thought about trying the 5 blades and might try one in the Spring. From what I remember reading at one time though, Hering didn't make small enough pitch props. Only like 28" +.

Just checked Hydromotives website. Thr 5 blades are also only available in 28"+. I would need about a 24" with increased blade area.