New owner here - 1984 Ski Nautique 454

Hollywood wrote: What it comes down to is that the hull was designed for going up to 36mph in a straight line over generally calm water.

55 mph, motor spinning the wrong way, over powered hull, rough water...........
Yep "Super Beast" sounds about right....

The danger is when the front of the boat gets low in the water and the sharp chine grabs steering control away from the rudder. Boat wakes are going to be a much bigger danger than wind chop. Especially wakes traveling away from you, at anything other than a perpendicular angle. Slowing down as you enter them will exacerbate the issue. This can happen at relatively sane speeds on a flat bottom ski boat, especially one with strong leaning tendencies (such as a LH Prop 2001).

I have heard as mentioned from trusted friends that this happens in the 2001 hull design.
I never experienced anything like this in the 1978 I owned or the 1995 NWZ hull.

Am I wrong, can this happen in other Correct Craft hulls?

KENO wrote: Why is it that the usual suspects haven't come up with any warnings about how the boat is gonna list terribly to the drivers side and handle terribly because it's a normal rotation engine in a hull designed? for a reverse rotation engine? I figure it's survived all these years, it's just fine especially with a passenger and/or some counterweight

I see the "usual suspects" have shown up after all

The manuals with the charts are also in the reference section here.

PXLN would indicate closed cooling and since you have a PLN and lack the normal stuff that comes with a closed system, at least that part seems original-ish.

I’ve never seen 425hp referenced anywhere but on this site, 390 is what all the manuals state. Since the auto/crate version (LS6) that used the same 990/088 rectangle heads was rated at 425hp and had a bit more compression (10-10.5:1 vs 8.6:1), I suspect the 390hp might be closer to reality. The roller cam, depending on the specs, might offset the CR difference though. Wish we had some info on that piece.

Ok, confirmed we are speaking of the same boat, no doubts.

PM sent to Chis with contact info to owner prior to the its stint in CT,
I wasn't aware my friend is also responsible for its current scheme as well, I must have missed those seasons.

GottaSki wrote: Oh yes! Super Beast. Ivory and three stripe rust/brown. Tall pylon. No mufflers last we knew. Hopefully its not too badly molested. I spent lots of mornings in and behind super beast thanks to a great set of men gracious enough to teach me barefoot for years, and long after they moved onto other boats. good times. Unless its been replaced, that's not your father's 454. Not as stout at Tim's BNF but it was a 55+/- mph machine i recall, Its probably been passed around like a pool toy since being meticulously maintained for a good spell. Who knows how many owners by now but hopefully its under good new stewardship That engine should still be the LH Rotation rectangle port 425+HP. Don't shoot your eye out! The boat should be respected and can spank you if your try going 40+ in mixed up water and wakes, or many aboard. That boat's original build was not for the general public to purchase but for select people in the club of responsible enthusiasts And recall it didn't like champion plugs, best give it AC.

Wow! 55?!! Cool!
I'm jealous