26 Prowler performance
 

Hello,

I've owned a Scarab 22 for 5 seasons, thinking about upgrading to 26 Prowler with a 496 HO / XR-drive. Does anyone here own one? If so, what are your likes and dislikes? What kind of speed are you getting out of it?

There's an 02 in the claissifeds that looks pretty nice... Not sure what drive it is though. Someone told me the 425hp, 496 HO can break a Bravo-1 drive pretty easy, and to find one with an XR-drive.

Thanks,

Tom

p.s. love the lines of the Sonic

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

I had a 1999 with a 500EFI and a plain old 1999 Bravo drive. The whole package was bulletproof for the 3 seasons that I put on it. I am fairly confident that the B1 drives of the late 90s were stronger than todays XZ/XRs.

You should get 65ish out of a 496HO in the right 1-3 foot slop that is enough to air out that hull. Any DRIVER can break any DRIVE. Its not the motor; its how you baby/punish the drive with your driving throttling technique. Besides, its not if the drive breaks; its when. Don't worry about what drive is on the boat. Run whatever is on there, and when it lets go, upgrade it to XR gears/shafts or better.

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

my 26 with a 502 runs 61 on GPS with a full tank of gas and water with 3 people. Needs a little more HP in my opinion but other than that i love the boat. My drive let go with about 80 hours on it but I did not buy the boat new so i have no idea how the previous owner treated it. I only put about 5 hours on it and poof new drive. Rebuilt one has lasted over 120 hours with no problems.

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

I just bought an 02 with a 496 HO and you have to wring it out to go 65, but I went down (or up?) from a Baja 302 and it rides more confidently - ie no boom-shake-rattle.

The thing that was surprising is how bad it is out of the hole, but I'm getting better at it. The Baja jumped right out with the twin 502s I had in it.

A whipple would make it perfect, but the wife says cool the jets and we'll get a 31ss in the future :)

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

If your looking for a 26 I have a 1998 w/Merc 525sc w/Bravo Performace Drive 208hr I love it its been Great to me and the family I just put it on the market. Its time to go bigger..By the way I have owned it since new....Cruise @ 40 Top 75 (light load)

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

02 500efi its/xr 74gps w/perfect cond. ie:2-3' footers slight headwind w/da current 1/4 tank solo!

my old ride!!!

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

Blaze nice prowler! :drink:

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

thanx----sold it for a fast cat!!!!!!!!!

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

Blaze How do you like outboard power,I am starting to think that way....Reason I ask you went from BB to eggbeater..

Re: 26 Prowler performance
 

great boat with the ITS setup... but I'd rather hear the everyday numbers - my boat did 85 behind my Jeep a couple times. :drink: