Should my boat go faster?

[BigJ08]

Tested out the top speed of my boat the other day with a buddies hand-held garmin gps and I got it up to about 28-29 mph with 2 guys and fishing gear. Tried to shift the weight around a little bit, but thats all I could squeeze out of it. The boat is a 15.5 ft fiberglass center console and the motor is a 1973 65 hp Evinrude. I just kinda thought it might go a little faster. Any opinions?

Here's a pic for reference:

 

[45Auto]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Sounds about right to me.

 

[JB]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

28-29mph in that boat with an old 65?? That is really good.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Yeah, that sounds pretty good.

I had a very light 15' tri-hull with a 70hp Evinrude that would go pitot indicated 36...it was probably less than that in reality.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

"She canna go any faster, Captain."

 

[P 0 P E Y E]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Did I just hear Scotty?

Could the GPS have been set to KNOTS?

 

[Nandy]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Ditto, I think that is really good.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

I have a 16' aluminum with a 50 and get 26-30 and hav eseen test on new boats of the same length and power and that is what they run too so you are right in there.

The search for speed on water never ends, maybe if I try this....

Maybe throw on a set of tabs.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

I have a 16' aluminum with a 50 and get 26-30 and hav eseen test on new boats of the same length and power and that is what they run too so you are right in there.

The search for speed on water never ends, maybe if I try this....

Maybe throw on a set of tabs.

Nope, that will only increase drag, if the outboard has trim/tilt raise the drive some..bringing bow up..reducing drag, or a different pitch prop..friend tried everything to get more speed out of a similar boat..by the time he was done throwing $$$ at it..may as well bought a larger outboard..

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

My 14' tri hull with a 50 merc pulls 27-30...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

that is good for the combo, what is the boat rated for.

 

[QC]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Nope, that will only increase drag, if the outboard has trim/tilt raise the drive some..bringing bow up..reducing drag,

Conventional wisdom would suggest that anything more in the wawa will increase drag. But the reason that this is not always true (probably is with the OP's setup) is that with tabs the boat balance can be setup with more weight aft. The potentially resulting porpoise is controlled by the tabs, but the bow can be trimmed higher which can result in higher top speed. Like the other posters though I do think this rig is not going to eek out much no matter what is done.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

The search for speed on water never ends, maybe if I try this....

Can I get an AMEN! from the choir!?!

<as I buy another bottle of snake oil errrr.... a miracle prop off ebay. This one will get me the big 60 I just know it!>:redface:

 

[BigJ08]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Thanks for all the opinions guys I was just checking . The motor doesn't have a power tilt and trim but does have the bar that can be set in half a dozen different holes to change the angle of motor, maybe I'll experiment with that. I don't know what the boat is rated for, because the plate is missing. Have also been eyeing those smart tabs for a while. $99 is tempting .

 

[roll_tide]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Didnt want to start a new thread on the same topic. Should my 18ft Bowrider (1995 Sunbird 115 johnson) go faster? Right now she tops out a 25mph according to the speedo on the boat.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

You would have been ok to start a new thread on this. However, since I'm here.....heck yes yours should be faster. You should be seeing 35-40+ out of that set up. Do you have a tach? If so what are you RPMs at WOT?

 

[MikDee]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

IMO, If the motor was running strong with no issues, and it was propped right, I would say 35mph at least

 

[Nandy]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Roll_tide, you should start your own thread.

 

[Capt'n Chris]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

If you know that your motor is at zero trim angle or +, and you are running at the mfgr's. max rpms with the load that you carry, then you're running as well as can be expected and the motor is performing at it's pique. If not, then we need to correct your prop. Make sure the trailer is adjusted properly too. I have seen too many hulls take a hook set from an improperly adjusted trailer.

Captain Chris
www.sternmate.com

 

[QC]

Re: Should my boat go faster?

Roll_tide, you should start your own thread.

Yes . . . We can't tell whose speed is being commented on by whom now