ACME 540 or 542 for show skiing?

OldSchoolBlue84 wrote: You guys are killing me about all the benefits and performance out of the 540 It's going to be a long couple of months before I try my new 540 out At least I could stare at it on the trailer

you're gonna find that the trailer performance on the 540 is incredible. my dad put one on his '75 and it'll go 80 on the trailer now, I never remember it doing over 70 before.

IAughtNaut wrote: OldSchoolBlue84 wrote: You guys are killing me about all the benefits and performance out of the 540 It's going to be a long couple of months before I try my new 540 out At least I could stare at it on the trailer you're gonna find that the trailer performance on the 540 is incredible. my dad put one on his '75 and it'll go 80 on the trailer now, I never remember it doing over 70 before.

If my wife's behind the V8 Jeep it will see 90!

2 things-

Please post an update after the first time you drive it. If possible, have one of the boys video the maiden voyage, and don't be afraid to get after it. Wake is not so important, your reaction is what I'm looking for.

Take a couple laps around the lake to get used to it before you try to pull a skier. Trust me.

542 shouldn't be a consideration on a 2gen unless you run exclusively with a lot of weight or are only pulling big loads (show skiing). Even then, the 540 will perform admirably. Wake shape won't be different between the 2.

They're trying but nobody has tested more props on these boats than right here on CCF.

That's my decision made, it's defo a 540 for me then.
Any advice I've received on this forum has always been spot on.

I'll see if I can find a UK supplier. Cheapest I could find imported from the US is costing $665 !

Thanks again

IAughtNaut wrote: 2 things- Please post an update after the first time you drive it. If possible, have one of the boys video the maiden voyage, and don't be afraid to get after it. Wake is not so important, your reaction is what I'm looking for. Take a couple laps around the lake to get used to it before you try to pull a skier. Trust me.

Well it was kind of like this:


And this:

All wrapped into one.

Really,"Wow" is all I have to say. I went with the 542, and I have to tell you it really performed. It really increased hole shot, speed control, "traction" (it just seemed like the tail did not get pulled around as easy) and I really like the fact it stops the boat easier. I did not notice reverse being different yet, but I pulled kids on it for about an hour or so, and I would say that it improved the effectiveness/usability of this narrow body boat by about 25 to 30%. I really did not check the top end speed because by the time I was satisfied the installation was ok and replaced my shaft packing, kids were all over the place looking for a run, and there were no high speed acts. One of the Bonifays was there, and took it out while I took a break and put it through a few runs and he came back pretty excited as well. Unlike me, he grew up around the 2nd generation boats, and had moved on to modern equipment, so he had not really had a chance to experience the difference new prop technology could have on an old boat.
I will say that I used to use the tach to back up the speedos, with the 1:1 ratio, so 1500 was 15 mph for the slower acts, yesterday 1600-1700 was 22ish for the wake boarders.
It was used last night as the pick up boat for a night show at the Water Ski Hall of Fame, where the lake is very narrow and there are buoys all over the place, and I really felt like the "just above idle" traction or close in dock maneuvering was much easier.
Thanks guys for all the info. I will try and post some real pics or video as I get it.
Tom

my dad's quote after his first run- I had to reach over the side and pull the stripes back up about about two feet. haha. glad you like it

Way too much pitch. You'd be better off with the stock propeller.

Awesome! When you run it, let us know what you think!!!