Ed, thanks for the info. Those speeds are ever more impressive considering that your boat and the associated technology was 80's vintage. I can't imagine 100mph in a 16 Classic
Here is where I am coming out on the hull bottom choices. There seems to be a lot of information out there and it has been kind of fun to dig around for it. Put it together in no particular order and here is what we have.
1. Two 16 Classic I/O's have broken the 80mph mark
a. both went 80 with 100% factory stock hull bottoms
b. both had the benefit of SS drives
c. one had 400hp and one 500hp
2. One of the 16 Classic's got to 100
a. lengthened the inner strakes to the transom
b. installed a notch AND a pad
c. had over 900hp
I am thinking that if you have a pad then you probably do not need the strake exntensions. Strakes primarily give you lift and help with a transom heavy boat. If I go with a pad, that will generate lift on its own, thereby no need for the extended strakes. When you add the fact that Parnell and Rootsy both broke through 80mph, it tells you that the bottom CAN get there with enough horsepower. Then consider Ed's rough pad dimensions and compare to "The Scientist" who had run his data assuming a 12" wide pad and was calling for 11' long! I am thinking more to the 6' length and less to the 11'.