How fast should i be going?

[evinrude bayliner]

I have a 76 evinrude Starflight 85 hp outboard on a 86 Bayliner Capri bowrider fiberglass boat that is 17ft long with a 6 foot beam. The motor is freshly tuned with rebuilt carbs, and all new ignition components with 125psi on all cylinders and runs great. I just installed a brand new speedo with new hose and pitot tube. The speedo shows us running at about 30mph at full throttle with 3 people weighing in at about 445pounds between the 3 of us. We also had about 20 pounds worth of gear. It feels like we are cruising faster than 30mph on the water but the speedo says we are going only 30mph at wot. Does this speed sound about right for us with that much weight on the boat? I will also mention that we were on calm waters. What should be the max speed for a engine of this era on a boat my size?

 

[kynolan2183]

Re: How fast should i be going?

You are off by about 6 to 7 mph. I would think that you should be running 36 to 37. Those tube things are not worth the manufacturing process used to make them. The chinese companies making them need to retool and make gps units.

I run 36 to 34 depending on load with about the same size boat and about the same hp.

kyle

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How fast should i be going?

get or borrow a gps, also you need to know what RPM's you are turning, that's far more important than speed. you should be turning 5,000-5500. the speedos are very inaccurate.