Hey Guys, here's a topic I know a little about.
I have a 14' Diamondback with a 425hp 454 crate motor, Stinger "soft drive" 2.09-1 gear box, and a 78" 3B Powershift prop.
Overall I am satisfied with the performance, I go where the 2 seater 520/540 boats go it just takes more effort to do it. I can carry 5 or 6 passengers plus gear and don't have to worry much in deep water. I can
run dry with 4 or 5 people and with just me on it it will
climb the hill.
It is kind of heavy and doesn't move on dry until you rev up to about 4000, then you can ease off.
When I
"get on it" it will spin up to 5000, but usually don't stay there very long because stuff starts to happen real quick.
top speed is 54.9 MPH , and it is very stable. Cruise (25-30 MPH) is about 3000 in deep water and 26-2800 in skinny water.
As far as reliability, the motor has been great. I bought the boat used and have put about 420 hours on it over the past 5 years with only minor problems (motor mounts, starter, alternator, batteries, nature-blocked radiator, and a small issue with a broken exhaust valve)
After several years with this package I would only change a couple of things,
I believe in the future I would like to add a MSD ignition and aluminum cylinder heads with a different intake (if 425hp is good then 500+ would be even better-right)
also I would go with a higher ratio gear box so I could put more pitch in the prop.
I am very happy with this boat, it has taken me everywhere I needed to go and some places I probably shouldn't have been. It doesn't slide or handle as well as some boats, but I think that has more to do with the hull.
The only thing I don't like is if you want performance out of a big-block you are going to have to
FEED THE HORSES, and that takes FUEL. If I am playing HARD it can suck up 8-9 gallons an hour.