I need more speed

You may never achieve the performance you wish as your combo might not have the same potential. Engine height is all about torque and if you have steering torque then dropping it slightly will increase your bite. If you are free of steering wheel pressure when on top end then maybe you need to come up 1/4″. There are a lot of variables with every rig and their equipment. The propellers, engines, boats and weight ratios are all variables none of us have control over. Your hull my be lighter and just not perform as well as the one 50 pounds more. The driver weight may vary 25 pounds and those numbers all change the way everything connects. Trying your partners propeller would be a start, and see if Ronnie Gilbert can connect your prop to the water better. Then again maybe his rig is not connecting as well as it could and that propeller on your boat operates the same, and you figure out his propeller in a good benders hands adds 1 MPH more. In reality we have a hot rig every year at dealer meeting that every dealer tries to crank a great number. There are two people we always ask what their numbers are an they are always the top two numbers on that annual rig. Those numbers match up well to those of our best drivers and set up people every year. Then we have staff that cant get within 2 MPH, and even 3 MPH, of peak in that same distance. It may be your rig, it may be you… and it may be him. Swap drivers and see what each of you thinks after comparing notes. BCB

Have you tried driving your buddies boat to see if you can get it to 81? Sometimes a very little input difference can make the mph difference.4 mph is just a fast walk speed.

Here is what I have seen too many times to count. People see, hear about a number that is exceptional for a boat/motor combo and expect every combo to be able to do that. So you are running 78 and hes running 81. Thats only 3 mph and can easily be explained in a couple of area. You have said that he is in an FTD and you are in a Regular puma. That may be worth a little right there. Then you have to look at equipment. Each and every option adds a little weight even if its just a couple of pounds. A couple of pounds here and there can add up. You may have a little more tackle than he does and it may be distributed poorly and that can easily scrub a couple of MPH. Batteries can be a big difference. If you are running 4 batteries and hes running 3 or if you have bigger batteries than he does that can alter performance. The list can go on and on. Props, one motor might just be a little hotter than the other. One hull might be just a little hotter than the other. The only true way to compare is to have the EXACT load (batteries, fuel, tackle, options, driver, passenger) in each boat down to the ounce. Then make sure the load is distributed in the exact same place. Then run each boat with the exact same propellor at several different engine heights to ensure each gets its optimal performance. Then make sure you are doing this on the exact same day with the exact same weather conditions. You see, its almost impossible to get an accurate comparison without going about it this way. I say 78 is very respectable and if you are doing that on most days you will not be passed by many. I am one that loves to chase the rabbit for my setups. I enjoy tinkering and playing with props and doing things a little different than most. I have settled down some and am very happy with my Eyra running 80 mph on a good day and most days its a 78 mph rig. There are Eyras out there that are faster but I have every option you can think of, its heavily loaded with tackle, and I have it setup more for hole shot than top end. Let us know how your quest for 80 mph turns out. Enjoy the fun of getting there. Im certain there is 2 mph in there somewhere its just a matter of how much time and money you want to spend to get there.Chris CoupelPaulina, La.Chris CoupelPaulina, La.