MM Brand: GatorTail
Horsepower: Stock 35
Boat Brand: Excel
Boat Size: 1860
Model: 1860SWV86OFP
Boat Layout: Shallow Water V front Open Floor Plan, Single Box. 4 seat bases, high deck.
Speeds | Shallow Water: (2.2 feet) 24.6 MPH @ ~3650 RPMs
Speeds | Deep Water: (4.5 feet) 24 Mph @ ~3650 RPMs (Max RPM at end of day flashing on tach was 3710)
Total Boat Load With Gear Etc: 3 ppl, Myself (170lbs), buddy ( 240lbs) buddy's gf maybe
( 130lbs). 5 gallons of gas. 1 anchor, 1 battery, 15 pounds of this and that. Conditions Tested In: 7 mph tail wind, on a regular old lake.
Comments:
Boat was purchased 2 months ago new, but as a 2012 model year. The motor arrived saturday at Wisconsin's GT dealer. Was finally hoisted and affixed to the transom this morning. Motor is a new 2015 GTR 35 completely stock. To make a long problematic story short, I contacted the boat factory for something, provided the serial number on the hull. Well according to their computer records this boat is a F86 style but without the .125 5086 aluminum hull. Well researching the model number before purchase, then the assurance of the sales folk, and receiving paperwork and a title that states F86, I had no reason to believe it wasn't a F86 with .125 5086.
Can't imagine how a boat can have 1860swv86 on a title and plated to the boat but not contain 5086 aluminum.. 
Can't imagine how .125 is an upgrade. So I'm anticipating a pissing match but have been told the dealer and manufacturer have a plan to work this out. Lots of those can't imagine's here but I knew who I was dealing with, so imagine that to me with a nice kick in the pants so far 
Back to the numbers: For conservative purposes, let's say it is .100 5052 aluminum. Website states 825 pounds for the exact rig with OFP. (the .125 is 860 lbs btw) then add the 260+ lbs of GT on the back and it sits well over a half ton. For the maiden voyage I decided I would TRY to abide by the 5-10 hour Briggs break in rules. Well I only cracked her 3/4 open for maybe a total of a minute thirty for my tests. Couldn't help but Punch WOT then back off 5 seconds later. As a result I didn't get to play with the trim to find exact sweet spot. Probably could run her harder but would rather follow that 5 hour rule. Wound up putting 2 hrs on the motor via the tach. Seems like it counts time a little faster then those Swiss folks but I won't complain as I await 5 hours
Boat handled well, drafted water very well and idled effortlessly through a stretch of 6 inch silt bottomed water. Overall two hours in, I am impressed with the setup, hull material fiasco asisde. This is my Second surface drive mud motor and proudly my first GT. Customer service at both GT and Johnson's boats and motors in Montello, WI were top notch. The Motor is a monster. Get's on plane with half throttle and very quick, deep and shallow. Love the 30 inch outdrive and 3 blade prob. She is smooth. Looking forward to updating the progress with it all as the weeks go by. I have a Mikuni setup all ready to go in the garage when the time is right. Likely to eventually mod it up a bit too. May wait for around 50 hours, especially once I really see how it handles the different loads.