I just got a beavertail 24hp LT. I put it on the 14' flatbottom I already have. Runs about 14mph with 2 people. Will it run faster on a 16' flatbottom? Also, would it help to add the extra pods in the rear to lift it a little. First day to run it today and wind was brutal.. needless to say I have to get used to this thing! Any help appreciated

These motors will always run better on a longer hull (say, 16-18'), and obviously on a true mud hull. I assume the 24 is a Honda? My friend had one for several years and there was an issue with the fuel pump flow rate (this was a widespread issue) and he had to find the right electronic pump. Proper weight distribution is critical, not all hulls are the same, this will be trial and error- for example I put my battery up front, some put both the gas tank and battery up front, it depends. The prop should be just under the surface when planed out, adjustment of the cavitation plate may be required, do only a 1/4" adjustment at a time. The 14' hull is a case where the rear pods will actually be a help not so true with the longer hulls- this is from testimony here and elsewhere. You can tweak the throttle advance to realize another 400-500 rpm gain. I think a "ballpark" figure for efficient rpm's under load in the water is around 3600 rpm, meaning to tweak the throttle to 4100 rpm out of the water. This should not harm the motor at all. I have a 1648 grizzly, not the ideal hull for my 27 LT, but it gets the job done- I added steelflex to the hull bottom to aid in the mud and veggies, I found this a great investment. Even though a 9x7 prop is recommended by the mfg. for my 27 motor, I found the 9x6 size was faster and better all around. This will also be a trial and error and testing curve. I do recommend a spare prop asap. Beavertail should be able to suggest the best fit for your needs and of course there are very good props from other mfg.'s that will fit, like Hopkins, Ron Hill, Backwater, GD, Etc. After the first 40-50 hour break in I recommend changing the oil and going with synthetic as well as synthetic grease in the housing. If there is a foam precleaner around your air filter I would take it off to improve air flow. Because the LT cannot use gear reduction you reach a "plateau of diminishing returns" as far as the added rpms go. Hope this helps!

I'd like to hear from someone regarding this subject, if you have bolted on a stainless high flow muffler on you LT motor and what was the effect? I would think a minimal increase in rpms after spending $400?