What maximum speed can I expect?

[paulie0735]

I must be missing something, I have been involved with high performance boats for near on 30 years and I still don't understand the obsession with top speed. Now I can understand if you happen to be talking about a race boat and you’re ‘actually’ racing the thing. I did compete in ski-racing for a few years so I can understand the thirst for max speed in certain circumstances. So far I have read what seems like 1000’s of threads posted on this site and the one common topic is “I picked up x or y in top speed” My question is “what’s the obsession with max speed”? Especially when the vast majority of threads are talking about speeds that is in reality quite slow. 40 – 50 is the norm with the odd boat here seeing the high side of 60 mph. I even read with some amusement the odd thread that makes claims on top speed for fishing boats (bass boats not included) of around 30 mph and the owners get all chubby about a 2 or 3 mph speed increase. I would be more concerned with how well the boat performs it intended purpose, which is not racing, so why the emphasis on top speed in any boat unless you are racing the thing every Sunday? The same thing happens with threads about day cruisers, surely the family pride and joy is not designed for high speed so why the focus on it. better to spend time and hard earned on getting it setup for a day on the water, keeping the family dry and comfortable would be a better past time than running flat out across the bay burning gas at an insane rate than complaining about the mileage!! <br />Is it because there are no speed limits on the vast majority of water that we use? <br />And why is it that all the young bucks in their eliminator style boats find it irresistible to run out onto the lake when ever a big HP ski-boat hits the water? They are happy to sit on the bank and watch there sparkly boats, until some ‘competition’ comes along, than it’s off into the horizon to burn another days wages in gas! For what? <br /><br />Yep, I must be missing something………..

 

[roscoe]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

???<br /><br />kind of like cruising the boulevard with a 57 Chevy, then parking at the drive-in till..... some guy shows up in a 56 Thunderbird. Then they have to fire them up and take a cruise around the block.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

Are these questions for real? Your wondering why some people love racing and speed? C'mon. <br /><br />Cause some think it's fun. Different strokes for different folks. If it's done responsibly, so what?

 

[mattttt25]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

i'm not a speed freak and i don't dwell on finding the magic needed to squeak out another 2 mph. but i can understand other's desire for it. for me, it's real life issues. i boat on a pretty large body of water- the chesapeake bay. it's not uncommon for me to run 45 minutes to fish, another 30 minutes to another location, and then an hour back to the dock. and it's not uncommon for me to head out on a friday evening and run 2 hours to a marina up or down the bay. i currently cruise at 28-30mph depending on fuel load. if i could increase that to 35mph, it would translate to real time gained- either fishing or having a beer at the marina.

 

[QC]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

There are lots of reasons for pursuit of speed, matttt's is a good one; the oldest reason, time. What about the fact that 60 MPH on a boat is a totally different experience than 40? It is particularly cool when you truly feel the hull up and all of the way out of the water.<br /><br />There is also the love of efficiency . . . while that might sound like a contradiction, the fact is they are close to the same thing. Wringing another two MPH out of a boat by playing with trim and propellers, is the same as seeking out some more fuel mileage. Go faster or further on the same amount of fuel . . . that actually gets me cranked up.<br /><br />Many, if not most, sailors are similarly obsessed. Getting a half a knot out of a new sail, or better trim or whatever is IMHO the same thing yet again.<br /><br />BTW, I love to throttle back to 25 MPH and simply cruise too

 

[jtexas]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

We're not just boaters, we're do-it-yourselfers. It's satisfying to complete a successful modification. Going faster is just a means to an end - the ultimate goal is self-actualization.<br /><br />

 

[paulie0735]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

Fair and relevant points by all, no issue with any of them. And no body loves the rush of a well set up boat riding high on the prop more than I do, like I said, I did ski-race a Carbon fiber / Kevlar composite boat of 17.5’ with 275hp on its bum so I know what 100mph+ feels like. My point is simply that the first question should be, how good does the boat perform its intended duties, not how fast it can burn gas, because when you think about it, burning gas is all that you have achieved by running at 35 at 75% throttle compared to 38 at WOT. The hunt for an extra 2 or 3 mph in a fishing boat or day cruiser is something I guess I’ll never understand. With the price of fuel going through the roof it’s (in my opinion) just totally irrelevant as a measure on how the boat performs. The same quest with a purpose built high performance bost is within my capabilities to grasp, but the owner of the 20’ day cruiser or the 15’ half cab fishing boat. nup! Just don’t get it!

 

[tommays]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

i can go 42 MPH but its allways to rough to go much faster than 16 to 18 MPH 95% fo the time <br /><br /><br />And nobody makes fun of my gas sipping 3.0 LX anymore <br /><br />tommays

 

[KCLOST]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

2-3 mph is not going to cost you any more money in gas... None whatsoever! <br /><br />What normally happens to get that 2-3 mph is something in the setup. Either the engine is raised to reduce drag, the prop is changed to improve slip, bite or lift, rpms might go up a little or even drop some as a result. Hull drag is lowered. Whatever the case, the motor hasn't changed, the hull hasn't changed you are just changing the set-up so both run more efficient together. <br /><br />I started playing with my bass boat a few years back when I only got 50-52 mph of of her. After a switchbox change, head gasket replacements, raising the motor, a change in prop pitch, I'm running 62-63 mph max speed. No increase in gas usage as occured...

 

[steelespike]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

You may have a point but keep in mind that a little bit of speed achieved with careful trim and prop selection probably has a by product of better mileage.And a properly trimmed and balanced boat is probably safer.<br />I had my own boat when I was six.(1949)1.5 hp 10 ft.I didn't get my taste for speed there.We had a neighbor on the island that ran the Albany to NY.Marathon in a 50hp Reveau running a modified circa 1949 Evinrude Big 4 50 hp.He could run 50+ mph when 50 meant something.<br /> And the boat wasn't all over the place like some.I saw him run a dead heat with a 100 hp Merc on a very similar boat.What a thrill for us kids when he would take us out and give us a short spurt of WOT.<br /> I still get a kick with my 18 ft Crestliner utility with a tiller 50 evinrude.I slide all the way back against the transom and open her up for a big hole shot.She rears up a scoots.<br /> Probably happens twice a year the rest of the time I run about 3/4 throttle.

 

[lakelover]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

Just cuz it's fun!

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

As soon as I crest 50 mph, girls start removing their bikini tops... I figure at 60 the bottoms will come off.<br />We have to set goals in life.

 

[rottenray6402]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

The need for speed is different in all of us. When I was growing up in Montana there was no posted speed limit during daylight hours so we raced everywhere we went. It's a wonder more of us didn't die in the process. Anyhow I quit most of my vices so instead of buying cigarettes I put a few extra gallons of gas in the boat and take her out to see how fast she'll go. Different strokes my friend.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

A faster top speed without modifying the motor means it's more efficient. At wot or at 50% compared to what it was.<br /><br />Efficiency. That's the name of the game.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

Originally posted by Dhadley:<br /> A faster top speed without modifying the motor means it's more efficient. At wot or at 50% compared to what it was.<br /><br />Efficiency. That's the name of the game.

Now that makes a fair amount of sense, but I’m also sure you will agree with me when I say that 90% of boat owners here don't actually understand that, and their only goal is that extra 2 or 3mph. If you don't think that’s true than just do a search for 'speed'. oh well, I will simply continue to be amused by that quest for speed over the quest to have their boat perform its designed task better (and more efficiently).

 

[LubeDude]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

For me, its always just been to see what I could squeeze out of what I have. Even though I have a prop that will net me more WOT speed, I choose to run my High Five because of the holeshot and just plain better overall performance. I normally just run about 35-40 when going from fishing hole to fishing hole.<br /><br />When people ask you about your boat, whats the first thing they ask you? "Whats the overall performance of that beauty"? Or is it, "Nice boat, how fast is it"?

 

[paulie0735]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

maybe its 89%

 

[ramster]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

I personally am trying for max speed by doing everything I can but touch the motor, that will tell me that I have achieved my most efficent set-up. I have tried several different props, going from 53mph to 57mph, while keeping good holeshot and proper WOT RPM's. next is Smart-Tabs which should be good for 2-3 more, and better cruise economy. Then maybe I'll try 1.6 rockers and a four barrel which will put me well into 60 MPH, that's pretty good bragging rights for a 19ft bowrider with a 305. Plus I can cruise around at 40MPH at only 3200 RPM's. Why? you might ask, first check your pulse to see if you are indeed alive, then grow a pair and hit that throttle! I dont run wide open all the time, but there is nothing wrong with a little friendly competition, not to mention it's fun.

 

[blouderback]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

Smart tabs will DECREASE your top end speed, if anything.

 

[Captianloud]

Re: What maximum speed can I expect?

Oh, Ramster, You'll have to mount em up and find out. I'll know if you slowed any..........<br />Ha, Ha, I now need to order my velocity stack, and prop up.