Engine Questions

[silver surfer]

I purchased a 25 Commander Mil., 496HO w/Bravo 1X Drive, and took her out the first ride yesterday. I was hoping for some advise on the following:
1. The owners manual states you can run on the lower octane. Any thoughts on running the low octane?
2. Are fuel additives necessary?
3. I was told the computer on this model engine will not allow the boat to run over 70% of its WOT. Does this seem true?
4. Will it take a while before the boat will even reach its top speed? About how many hours?
5. Does anyone know about the rattling sound from stainless steel baffles in the exhaust?
I know these are basic questions to some of you, but I hope you can help.

[Havasu Hangin']

silver surfer:
Does anyone know about the rattling sound from stainless steel baffles in the exhaust?If you have internal flappers, that's probabaly what you're hearing.

[silver surfer]

They are internal flappers and I only heat the sound at idle speed, low RPM. The sound trips me out a bit.

[Havasu Hangin']

Yeah...it sounds like the engines coming apart. At idle, the flaps are opening and closing, but at higher RPMs, they are held open by the exhaust.
Very normal.