Re: Which Engine For My Tritoon?
Without strakes there probably won't be a lot of difference between the 150 and 175. If you do the 150 and in a year or two decide to add the strakes and re-prop it you could expect high 30's to low to mid 40's mph. As is with the 150 probably an easy 30 mph and up to 35 or so pushing it.
The 175 over the 150 will only give you a worth while benefit with strakes. If there's a slim chance that you will ever add strakes then the 150 is all you need. If... you might add strakes in the future, or... you get a deal on the 175 then I would probably go with it. If you don't run it wide open you shouldn’t have, if any, additional fuel cost compared to the 150.
I've never owned a big 4 stroke motor so I don't have any input on that part. I've got a mid 90's 150 2 stroke on the party barge and a mid 90's 175 2 stroke on a Javelin fish and ski boat and they both run like a scalded dog and they both use gas if you run them hard.
Fuel saving tips:
I cruise from 4,000 - 4,500 rpm with the trim set right and that seems to be a good spot for fuel vs. speed on both boats. When we tube or ski I pick the speed based on the person I'm pulling and don't worry about the fuel. If I am teaching someone how to ski then we go out with just a couple of people not a boat load. If I've got a teenaged cowboy that wants a rough ride on a tube then I wouldn't pack 6 people in the boat if I didn't have to. Plan trips across the lake wisely without being a scrooge. Top down is better on fuel but not worth a sun burn. Balance the boat as much as possible without offending, they all want to ride in the front, and the big ones seem to sit on the same side. I'll either: balance the boat in a positive way or just pick a speed that works with an unbalanced boat. We're there to have fun, not be told where to sit. Most passengers (including the wife) don't care if you are running 28 or 32 mph or if the boat is plowing on one side but we're thinking we could get another 2 mph if they would move to another seat. I've learned to chill out on running wide open all the time but have it when you want it. These tips will save you more money in fuel than 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke.
Without strakes there probably won't be a lot of difference between the 150 and 175. If you do the 150 and in a year or two decide to add the strakes and re-prop it you could expect high 30's to low to mid 40's mph. As is with the 150 probably an easy 30 mph and up to 35 or so pushing it.
The 175 over the 150 will only give you a worth while benefit with strakes. If there's a slim chance that you will ever add strakes then the 150 is all you need. If... you might add strakes in the future, or... you get a deal on the 175 then I would probably go with it. If you don't run it wide open you shouldn’t have, if any, additional fuel cost compared to the 150.
I've never owned a big 4 stroke motor so I don't have any input on that part. I've got a mid 90's 150 2 stroke on the party barge and a mid 90's 175 2 stroke on a Javelin fish and ski boat and they both run like a scalded dog and they both use gas if you run them hard.
Fuel saving tips:
I cruise from 4,000 - 4,500 rpm with the trim set right and that seems to be a good spot for fuel vs. speed on both boats. When we tube or ski I pick the speed based on the person I'm pulling and don't worry about the fuel. If I am teaching someone how to ski then we go out with just a couple of people not a boat load. If I've got a teenaged cowboy that wants a rough ride on a tube then I wouldn't pack 6 people in the boat if I didn't have to. Plan trips across the lake wisely without being a scrooge. Top down is better on fuel but not worth a sun burn. Balance the boat as much as possible without offending, they all want to ride in the front, and the big ones seem to sit on the same side. I'll either: balance the boat in a positive way or just pick a speed that works with an unbalanced boat. We're there to have fun, not be told where to sit. Most passengers (including the wife) don't care if you are running 28 or 32 mph or if the boat is plowing on one side but we're thinking we could get another 2 mph if they would move to another seat. I've learned to chill out on running wide open all the time but have it when you want it. These tips will save you more money in fuel than 2 stroke vs. 4 stroke.