[RS]

Rick,
I have the same motor, a 2002. Are you sure it's propped right? I get 42 MPH at 5800 RPM with a 15" pitch SS prop. Also, FWIW, you don't have to worry about pushing the motor since those 4 strokes actually only redline something like 12000 or 14000 RPMs (I forgot which, just knew that it was very high). The rev limiter is set at about 6500. Basically, you can't run it much past half of its capacity. That's the benefit of that heavy motor.