Laveycraft 2750 or 29

[jailbird141]

I am looking for input or experiences with either of these boats. The Laveycraft 29' or 2750. I have a 26' NuEra now and am thinking about upgrading. Finding information and test results on the 29 is proving to be difficult. I know the 2750 is pretty popular but I would like to compare the two. I am really leaning towards the new 600sci for power, or maybe more. I want something that will run well into the 80's and maybe even 90's. I have already been to Laveycraft, so I have general information, I just want to hear others experiences. Thanks in advance for anyones help. :cool:

[Creator]

We have the 2750 and love it. We run in the mid 700's for HP (blown HP500) and run in the low 80's on a warm day, mid 80's on a cool doay and slightly choppy water with the tabs up. At those speeds with the tabs up we get a little porpoising which can be anoying. The 29 is really the same boat and bottom just a bigger version. It of course is heavier than the 2750 so with the same power it will run slower. To hit the 90's in either boat your going to need to be in the high 800's to low 900's in HP. For years Lavey's F1 boat was a 29 but as soon as they finished the 2750 they began to run it instead. That should say something!
Both great boats, if your going to be running in the ocean I would go with the 29 but for rivers and lakes the 2750 works great.
The people at Lavey are great but they always seem to think their boats will run faster than they do. We were told the 2750 would run 80's no problem with an HP500 but not the case. More like the mid 70's.
Hope that helps.
By the way ours is for sale
2750 For Sale (http://www2.***boat.com/forums/showthread.php?t=85816)

[jailbird141]

When I was in there they told me that the 2750 would run 82 or so with the 525. So I was thinking with the 600 maybe I could knock 90. Especially if it's a vacuum bagged hull. They said the 29 would run around 75 with a 525. That's not fast enough for me, I want at least mid 80's, maybe close to 90. I think with the 2750 it is possible, but the 29 may need a lot more power. It is almost a thousand lbs heavier. :frown:

[Creator]

Ours is balsa cored and vacuum bagged and with the 700 plus horses we have, 3-4 people and a half tank of gas the low 80's are consistant. I really don't know if any other lavey 2750 owners with a 525 are seeing 80's. All the mph I'm putting up are from gps. When we first got the boat we didn't have a gps speedo or a blower. The water pressure style of speedo was putting up just over 80 so we were happy until we got the GPS and were surprised to find out it was only running 75-76 with 2 people in the boat and a half tank (50 gal.) of gas. If there is someone with a 2750 and a 525 that's seeing 80+ on gps I wish they would chime in. We have tried different props, Lab finished props and props tuned by Bronson Hill and most recently a 5 blade (sucked, needs more tuning).
What ever they're telling you, knock off about 5mph and you'll be in the ball park.

[Mandelon]

Why not that new 32 w/ a pair of 600's...... :D

[hotlavey]

I think 82 may be close with the 525. Alot depends on the prop, the stuff you have in the boat(stereo, fuel, gear, etc.). All I can tell you is that our boat was in the mid to upper 70's with the HP500EFI and a 28 Bravo. I'm thinking mid 80's now with the Whipple and the proper prop(We are still testing).

[hotlavey]

Why not that new 32 w/ a pair of 600's...... :D
Hey, you reading my wish list?

[WILD LAVEY]

that 32 with twin 600 is an awesome set up. we had it up to 93 mph and it was way under propped. that boat should run in the 100's easy. as far as 2750 vs the 29 i would go with 29 with twin 525's. that should get you in the 90's.

[eljefe]

Ours is balsa cored and vacuum bagged and with the 700 plus horses we have, 3-4 people and a half tank of gas the low 80's are consistant. I really don't know if any other lavey 2750 owners with a 525 are seeing 80's. All the mph I'm putting up are from gps. When we first got the boat we didn't have a gps speedo or a blower. The water pressure style of speedo was putting up just over 80 so we were happy until we got the GPS and were surprised to find out it was only running 75-76 with 2 people in the boat and a half tank (50 gal.) of gas. If there is someone with a 2750 and a 525 that's seeing 80+ on gps I wish they would chime in. We have tried different props, Lab finished props and props tuned by Bronson Hill and most recently a 5 blade (sucked, needs more tuning).
What ever they're telling you, knock off about 5mph and you'll be in the ball park.
Our 2750 with 575 has run 85 on GPS under ideal conditions - runs 80 in the summer. It's not a 525 but could give you an idea.

[Creator]

Our 2750 with 575 has run 85 on GPS under ideal conditions - runs 80 in the summer. It's not a 525 but could give you an idea.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
Last year I saw 86 with just me in the boat and about 100* outside temp.
In my opinion a boat that just touches 80 in Ideal conditions isn't really an 80 mph boat, It needs to hit 80 in normal conditions and mid 80's in ideal to really fit the bill. Just my .02

[hotlavey]

Our 2750 with 575 has run 85 on GPS under ideal conditions - runs 80 in the summer. It's not a 525 but could give you an idea.
eljefe,
Have any chine walking or porpoising problems at that speed?

[FASTERDAMITT]

What ever the speed, they are nice boats. I wanted the 29, but decided to go east coast. It looks as Lavey is winning races with the 2750 like Superboat has with thier 30+ hull. Superboats have been with stock and big horsepower classes, as they handle well at any speed. Lavey's winning in the stock class at lesser speeds. I'm concerned about the handling of the 2750 when running fast in pleasure boats. I havn't heard much of the handling on the 29 though. What is the difference on the bottoms of the two? Is the 29 bottom longer.

[Creator]

yep that's about it, just longer.

[WILD LAVEY]

i think the trick set up for the 2750 would be 1000 plus hp with imcos drive splitter. the dual drive would be a plus at high speeds

[Essex29]

what's the deal with the splitter's in respect to insurance? If you put 1k hp, but split it to 2 drives do they take that into consideration?

[WILD LAVEY]

thats a good point, ill have to check on that.

[Essex29]

thats a good point, ill have to check on that.
Did you sell your 2750?

[WILD LAVEY]

yes, its sold

[jailbird141]

The 2750 is basically just a shorter hull than the 29. My concern though is the weight. I am pretty sure I will be happy with the speed of the 2750 and the 600sci. I like the 29 a little more because it is bigger, but that extra 1000 lbs will really slow it down, plus 50 more gallons of fuel. That means I would have to add some serious power to get to the speed I want, which concerns me a little because reliability is important, I don't want it in the shop every couple weeks. I have only been able to find 1 write up on the 29 and that was in powerboat. I had to back order the issue so I am waiting. I will be at the regatta next month and I know I can get a ride in the 2750 but I don't recall to many 29's at the regattas the last couple years, that's the one I want a ride in. Thanks for everyones input, it's helping.

[FASTERDAMITT]

Do you know the 600 is only two to three mph faster than the 525? In a Superboat anyway. 80-82 with a 525, 83-84 with the 600. Alot of money for the speed of 25 gals of gas.

[jailbird141]

Anyone else?

[boater72]

Anyone else?
You get my pm?

[Creator]

There is an article in Family and Performance boating mag about 2 years ago. They did a review of the 26, 2750 and the 29. I have a few copies laying around because I was driving our 2750 in it. I will have to find them, We move not to long ago so their in a box around here somewhere. I will post the article when I find it.

[jailbird141]

Creator,
If you can find those articles please do post them, that would be a great help. The more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards the 29 with the 600 sci. I am hoping that will at least get me into the 80's consistently. They said the 29 will do 75mph with the 525. If I could run 80 - 85 mph I would be happy. I want to be in the 90's but reliability is a big issue and I worry about a custom engine with lots of hp. At least with the merc I know if will last. :idea:

[Creator]

Hope these come out ok, They are kinda large files.
That's me driving our 2750 with the "Dirty Duck" gel coat
http://www.jumbocreations.com/lavey.jpg
http://www.jumbocreations.com/lavey001.jpg
http://www.jumbocreations.com/lavey002.jpg
http://www.jumbocreations.com/lavey003.jpg
http://www.jumbocreations.com/lavey004.jpg

[jailbird141]

Creator,
Thanks, articles came out fine, very helpful.

[hotlavey]

I think you're going to need a bit more then the 600 to hit 80 in the 29. With the HP500 it ran 71. Using the common formula of 1 mph per 20 hp would put you about 76 mph. I don't think you would be happy with that.

[eljefe]

eljefe,
Have any chine walking or porpoising problems at that speed?
Not once I learned how to drive it and set it up with the right prop and weight distribution. The boat is quick but it has a fairly small sweet spot.
Hey creator - I drove your boat at Elsinore. Chris took me out in late '02 to get me to buy one - guess it worked. Whoever buys your boat is gonna be very happy.

[Creator]

It's actually Hotlavey's boat, I'm His son...Wish it were mine though, I'd be keepin it. I think you'd get a whole new respect for the boat now that it has the whipple on it.
I think I have a picture of you,
http://www.jumbocreations.com/***boat.jpg
I'm always watching! :wink:

[jailbird141]

hotlavey,
I thought the common formula was 1 mph for every 10 hp? Either way, that would still barely get me to 80. I like the merc power packages because of reliability, reputation and smart craft. I know I can get more for my money with another builder like teague or someone. Anyone had any experience with teague? Drive and engine wise. I looked at their EFI engines and they seemed really nice. I just don't know how well they last. I don't beat the hell out of my stuff or run it into the ground at all. I do however like to have the power and ability to really run the boat if I want to.

[hotlavey]

hotlavey,
I thought the common formula was 1 mph for every 10 hp? Either way, that would still barely get me to 80. I like the merc power packages because of reliability, reputation and smart craft. I know I can get more for my money with another builder like teague or someone. Anyone had any experience with teague? Drive and engine wise. I looked at their EFI engines and they seemed really nice. I just don't know how well they last. I don't beat the hell out of my stuff or run it into the ground at all. I do however like to have the power and ability to really run the boat if I want to.
Jailbird,
If that was true my boat would be running around 95-100 mph. We started at 76, added approx 200 hp, should be 20 mph faster, according to your formula. Unfortunately, no where near that, sorry. I honestly feel that 1mph/20 hp is really very close. We will be in the mid to upper 80's when we find the right prop. We only run 6# of boost max on a blue engine and don't hammer it so it should live quite a while. It cruises at 65 completely off boost, sweet.

[eljefe]

It's actually Hotlavey's boat, I'm His son...Wish it were mine though, I'd be keepin it. I think you'd get a whole new respect for the boat now that it has the whipple on it.
I think I have a picture of you,
http://www.jumbocreations.com/***boat.jpg
I'm always watching! :wink:
I'm sure I would. I may be getting a pulley and a reflashed ECM for the 575 this winter.
It kinda looks like me, but I think I'm a little taller than Chris - the guy in the pic looks too short.