How much boat power/speed is enough?

[Josh9685]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

how fast do the old jet boats go from the 70s? the ones with the Olds. 455 motors with Berkeley Jet drives? stock Olds 455 marine was supposedly 390 HP.

 

[cart7]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Why do automobiles have speedometers that go up to 100 or 120 mph? Why do cars have V8 engines capable of pushing them that fast? It's called the need for speed. <br />My last boat was a 16 1/2 Champion SuperV with a Yammy 150hp ProV on the back. Propped right it easily ran in the low 70's and was a hair-raising ride to say the least. I usually just ran a nice 21p prop that allowed it to cruise in the mid-upper 50's at WOT. Normally when I'm cruising from fishing spot to spot I run at around 3800-4000rpm to save on gas. I love punching it every once in awhile just for the feel of speed. <br /><br />Manufacturers always recommend putting the max hp engine on the back of any boat. You'll actually experience greater efficiency if you do since the larger motor has to work less than a smaller motor on the same boat.

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

I must be getting old. But with the price of fuel 2/3 throttle & 35 KPH will do me nicely. Why is it that boats "have" to be driven at full throttle???

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

They dont have to be, but when im at a Tourny I want to get there as fast as i can before other people do. Although since i have a small motor it doesnt really matter haha. When you buy a new boat you have to break it in with a varity of rpm changes.

 

[Richard Petersen]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Skeeter. Fish are like woman. All the easy ones have been caught by the guys before you. ABILITY is what counts. All the equipment is just to make excuses with when no one is catching beans. Except, a few people. YEAH. They are always lucky.

 

[saumon]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Hi, <br /><br />i had an old(???) 1993 Tracker Pro Deep-V 17 rigged with a Merc 60 hp 3 cyl. I can do 32-33 mph and that's enough for me. <br /><br />Maybe i can't reach the fishing spot as fast as others, but, it's the biggest point, i can troll with my motor down to 1 mph. This is due to the fact that the boat is rated to a max of 90 hp. <br /><br />That's the advantage of been underpowered, no need of these encumbering drift bags nor that unfuntional happy troller to slow you down.

 

[barnell]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Trying to decide between between the carburated and fuel injected versions of the Merc or Volvo 6 cylinder on a 19' bowrider. Any thoughts?

 

[AguaSki]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Trying to decide between between the carburated and fuel injected versions of the Merc or Volvo 6 cylinder on a 19' bowrider. Any thoughts?

You may get more information on your question if you start a new thread.

 

[KCook]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

Originally posted by Newbie1:<br /> Trying to decide between between the carburated and fuel injected versions of the Merc or Volvo 6 cylinder on a 19' bowrider. Any thoughts?

Merc vs Volvo often comes down to personal preference. With a 19 footer the extra ponies from the fuel injection will be welcome, especially for skiing. Here is another thread on the Merc/Volvo deal - MerCruiser vs. Volvo Penta <br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[walleyehed]

Re: How much boat power/speed is enough?

From the other thread;<br /> "Volvo or Mercruiser? It's almost an "apples to apples" compairison... Both Merc and Volvo use General motors based marine engines... Like compairing chevy too chevy.. <br /><br />The volvo is probably the "better" of the two outdrives... The Merc outdrive has better parts availabilty..."<br /><br />-The Volvo drive was introduced in 1963 with the cone clutch, the duo-prop in 1982-22yr old technology at the newest in this class.<br />Mercruiser has 10 introduced in the last 5 years..<br /><br /><br />"Which one will be in the shop more often? Service intervals for regular maintinence are going to be about the same..."<br /><br />-service intervals for Mercruiser in this class are 300hrs, Volvo is 30 hours.<br /><br />"My advice, find the service department you feel will be honest with you, and the one you're most comfortable with... That's the brand to choose.."<br /> <br />-If parts are needed that are not in stock, Volvo ships from 1 location, Mercruiser ships from 5 using the closest-to-the-dealer and same-day shipping.<br /><br />Mercruiser also uses permalube u-joints and greasable drive couplers, Volvo has neither.<br />Mercruiser uses the FULL-enclosed cooling system, Volvo is half/half.<br /><br />And, how much speed is enough???? there is no such thing....when the boat flips, it was simply a bad bounce.