How much boat power/speed is enough?

[EZLoader]

I grew up in the 60's and 70's when outboards over 100 hp were rare and most inboard/outboards were 120 hp or less. In high school, I got 9 water skiers up (deep water start) with my folks 16' Larson and 80 hp Merc. Granted, 7 of the skiers were small kids but 2 were in high school. The boat shooked and shuddered but eventually all 9 got up and skied for over a mile. It was quite a site to see. <br /><br />Recently I went to two separate dealers to demo a new boat and both times the salesman thought it was important to show me how powerful and fast the boat was by scaring the crap out me and my wife. Neither of us enjoyed or felt safe flying down the river past other boaters at over 50 mph. I thought they were absolutely nuts. <br /><br />Today I am reading that new outboards like the 300 hp Mercury Verado can push new bass boats over 73 mph. What the heck for? Is that even safe on most waters? Will the typical boat structure even support that kind of power? <br /><br />Am I the only one on the water who still enjoys relaxing and watching the scenery go by at 25-30 mph?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

There will always be those who can never seem to go fast enough -- whether in a car, boat, snowmobile, airplane, truck, tractor, motorcycle or bicycle. There are few people who can justify owning a recreational boat that goes 73 MPH but there are also those with the excess cash that don't have to justify it. They simply live in excess no matter what they do. Its a fact of life.

 

[KCook]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

I enjoy going fast in a boat that was built for speed. But most boats do not fit in that category, just have a expensive motor stuffed into them. So I do not fall into the "always order the biggest motor" crowd. Different design boats are happy at different speeds.<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

I'm with you that 30 to 40 MPH is plenty fast for me. I think it is a by product of getting older. I grew up in Montana when there was no speed limit during the day and every road trip was a contest to see how fast you could get from point A to point B. I used to drive in excess of 100MPH on back roads with lots of deer and stuff. I figured I used up all of my luck back then.

 

[cart7]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Actually, with a 300, I'd better be going faster than 73mph.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

I am happiest when cruising at around 25-30 mph on my lake. There is just enough debris and other boats and water chop to make any faster unpleasant. On occasion I see a bass boat ripping to the next hole, but for the most part most people cruise about the same speed as I do here. For me, the whole point of being out on the water is to be away from the daily grind and the rat race. No need to recreate the rat race out on the water.

 

[steelespike]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

As a kid a friends father had a boat he ran in the Albany-New York marathon.It had a post war Big Four 50 hp Evinrude modified for racing.It was on a big 16 ft Reveau.I still remember the thrill when he started it and it took off at 8 or 10 mph.(No neutral)It cruised easily at 35 or 40 when a fast runabout might manage 35.Even with us 4 kids and himself when he opened it up around 50 was easy what a thrill!I remember He once ran about dead even with a 100 hp Merc on a smaller Reveau.What was my point??? Oh yeh.Speed is a thrill but There is a need to be very careful.I'm in the old fogy stage now I cruise my 50 hp tiller utility at about 25 most of the time but once in a while I still get that thrill when I open it up from dead slow and let it fly.<br />And Its probably only a little over 40 mph.

 

[JamNJ1955]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

I enjoy cruising around 35-40, but every now and then when the conditions are just right, I feel the need... the need for s p e e d.....<br /><br /> http://mysite.verizon.net/vzenyisu/id6.html <br /><br />John

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

You know your limit, when you feel your hair start to stiffen or your skin get bumpy. Stop the engine hp, 1 step before that. Those salesmen were making hamburgers 3 days before they took you out.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

This is how you know when you are going fast enough!<br /><br />

 

[Dave Abrahamson]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Hey Lubedude, I think a set of Smart tabs should help with that bow rise problem. Maybe the motor is trimmed up too much?

 

[HollaGeo]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

I looked into Baja and Donzi. They are FAST boats but all you do is go fast. There is no room to anchor and hang out with friends - Light up a bbq or whatever. <br />To fast is over 50 and to much boat is when you are afraid to take it out because of wind.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

EZ Loader, Most production I/O boats have a choice of motors which limit their speed to about 45MPH, or less. This is a good thing for safety, since most people do not have the necessary skill to drive faster than that. The same goes for the outboard boats which are powered at or below their max HP. When you are driving a high speed boat (55MPH+)you have to anticipate what reaction the boat will have to an approaching wave or wake. Some boats will fly in the air, some will break up and others will flip over.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

It's all relative. A flashback in history: Back when the "horseless carriage" was invented, old farts all over the country were shaking their fists and those dumb young punks who were blazing through residential streets at speeds "exceeding 20 mph." These people could see absolutely NO REASON to ever go at those ridiculous and death-defying speeds.<br /><br />I remember when drag cars first topped 200mph. Everyone thought they were NUTS. Now they're exceeding 330+.<br /><br />I remember the early 70's when a fast snowmobile was considered a fan cooled 440cc with a single carb cranking out 40 hp. Now production sleds are 1000cc liquid cooled rockets exceeding 170 hp right out of the box.<br /><br />New production cars are attainable for the average Joe now with 400+ horsepower...got some more jingle to lay down? Get yourself one of the new "supercars" in the 700 hp range.<br /><br />So how fast is fast enough? It's NEVER fast enough. As technology keeps pushing, they'll keep getting faster.<br /><br />Just wait 'till the internal combustion engine becomes a relic and we're harnessing the power of fuel cells, atoms, and/or electricity...are you ready for a motor with 1,000+ ft lbs of torque at 2 RPM? It's just around the corner! No wait...that spec was from 100 years ago...remember the Stanley Steamer?<br /><br />Many don't seem to realize this yet, but we're fortunate enough to be right smack in the middle of the last blast of the internal combustion engine, and it's going out in a beautiful blaze of the most awesome horsepower race ever seen in history, far eclipsing the famed musclecar horsepower wars of the 60's and early 70's. And I'm happy to see that all this technology is overflowing into boats, too. <br /><br />So I say it's the American way. Enjoy it while it's here, and HAMMER IT!

 

[gonefishie]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

If you put a Verado 300 on a 20ft Stratos and with a little chop on the water and that baby will do at least 85mph. I've seen the GPS showing 78mph with a 225 Evinrude.

 

[Baldguy]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

We like to cruise at 35 mph...but like someone else said above, the need for speed. My Baja has a 350 in it and I like it like that. I can pull any skier out of the water with no problem.<br /><br />Sure wish I could feel my hair blowing back while doing 60 mph...

 

[AJ168]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Hey, I've got an 18 foot center console with only a 28 hp outboard. Open the thing up, it sounds like you should be flying (Those old omcs can be loud) but with only me in the boat I move along at a nice 14 mph. I really don't care. I'm only 16 so I can't get into any trouble with the thing, and it gets me to where the fish are. Only problem is if a storm blows up and I have to get back in fast. <br />My Dad's boat, a 22 ft walk around, tops out a only 30, but is so jittery at that speed that we cruise at about 20 mph. There's just no need to go fast unless you're out in the ocean making a 100 mile trip to the tuna grounds.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

I find that WOT for 30 to 60 sec @ 56 gps cleans the engine and relieves any pressure in me.

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

300 hp Mercury Verado can push new bass boats over 73 mph<br />Ah the verado is a HEAVY engine and 73mph with a 300 is slow. Ive seen specs of an allison with a suzuki 140 on it goin 72 and with a merc racin 250 they will push in the 100s

 

[koolerb]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Well, somewhere around 30 MPH my four year old crawls up under the console and sits on my feet. That's fast enough for me. (Boat will only do 35 anyway)