TOPIC: I love this boat! Who knows more about it?

It has just been a few weeks since I grabbed this beauty off of Craigslist here in Las Vegas. The motor and jackplate swap went pretty well. The 1961 16' Bristol seems to be really rare. This site shows that it was made in Long Beach. I can't find another one like it on the web! I wasn't sure about another flatbottom at Lake Mead, but this hull takes the water even when it is a little on the rough side. It must be because of the full-length keel.
With new laws in 2012, I have to run a direct injected 2-cycle or a four-cycle. Time will tell how much this is enforced and whether they will be mainly picking on jetskis.
I'll be putting a 25 pitch stainless prop to replace the 17" aluminum that currently pushes it to 45mph.
Any info would be great. This site is addictive just like boats have been to me since I made my first MiniMax at age 12.

Can't help you on info...but WOW! What a beauty. Welcome to the group.

I just put the 25" pitch stainless steel prop on. Speed went from 44 to 50 mph. Still comes up on plane great. Gets a little squirrelly when trimmed up. Yesterday the wind came up while I was in a protected cove. When I found out the whitecaps were 2 1/2 feet. Got wet but the bow never buried. It was slow going. A ten minute trip turned into an hour.

Lookin' good there Phil, and glad you made it home safely. That's a heck of a jump in prop pitch, did you get a chance to check your WOT RPM's on the way out before it got rough?

The tach needs to be hooked up still. I gotta get better at the fine details. The prop was on the motor when I got it and was off a 24-foot center console. It seemed to hit the rev limiter with the 17 pitch. I won't be pulling skiers so don't care much about being quick out of the hole. On smooth water, 40 mph is a nice easy cruise speed. I'll get the tach hooked up soon and let you know.

Just wondering where you came up with a 25" without having a tach to gauge your top end.Not saying it is right or wrong just curious.I understand the 17" for a 24' vs the 25" for your boat,as long as it's near the redline @ WOT.

A friend had it and said "give it a try". That's all it took.

Mini max's rule

I have a feeling that you are over pitched.44 to 50 mph and going from 17 to 25" seems like you might be lugging it now,not that anything is wrong with 50,tach will tell all.