Last weekend I got the fastest speed to date on my 08 Sabre w/ 150efi – 66 @5700gps. When I bought the boat it had a 24 Tempest +, jackplate 1/8th below flush and had seen 65 once with a lot of chine walk, torque steer, and marginal water pressure. Most times 63 was tops. Switched out to a 23 Tempest this last summer and came up on the plate to 1/4 above flush and hit 64gps. Its been great to drive – no chine, no torque steer, and only half the trim needed to run. A month ago – when the temps started dropping I hit the rev limiter and knew it wasnt going to work in the winter. Last weekend I bolted on a brand new 24 tempest to see how it would run. Didnt take time to drop the plate back down – just ramped in and ran the boat.Heres where things got interesting. Hole shot with the new prop was great – jumped out of the hole. Like the 23 – only took half the trim the lower plate setting required. No wheel torque or rooster tail and carried the boat well. Before I knew it – gps was reading 66 and tach was setting on 5700. I was by myself w/ all my gear and only had 1/4 tank of gas – so I know it was light. There was a real stiff cross wind gusting – so I didnt feel it was safe to completely air it out. Water pressure was setting on 15 – 16psi. With no torque, tail, and solid wp – I believe I can go up another 1/8″ or so on the plate. It just shocked me that the higher I went on the plate – the less trim I need to make it run. I dont have LU scoops or blocked water inlets. Checked on prop slip calculator – best to date 8%.
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