Cruising speed

[SeanN]

I'm relatively new to boating and just bought a 1996 Stingray 586 zp bowrider last year. So far I'm having an absolute blast. The only thing I wish the boat could do is just cruise through the water @ 1200-1500 rpm's without feeling like your pushing water to get up on plane. A friend of mine just bought a new Cobalt 200 and his boat cruises very nicely @ 1500 rpms without being on plane. Is it the weight of the boat? User error on my part? Are there 19-20' bowriders that I should be looking at if I want this ability (without the $40,000 price tag of the Cobalt). No, I don't wan't a pontoon...

Thanks!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Cruising speed

The weight of his boat and hull design are contributing to the planing speed. Your boat is trying to plan out at a lower speed. I guess my question is why do you want to "cruise" at 1500rpm? It's not likely the best speed for fuel mileage, but if you want to put around at 10mph I suppose you can.

 

[RMasters]

Re: Cruising speed

Did you "play" with your trim to see any difference? It makes a HUGE difference in ours. Even though the law says that you have to go the "..minimum speed at which directional control can be maintained..." in a "No Wake Zone", I can go twice as fast as my buddy if I trim the motor just a little further down (which then might become an issue with low depth). And no visible wakes are seen.

If I go further down, I experience what you described, kind of "pushing the water".

Ahoy!

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Cruising speed

Is it the weight of the boat?

It's the weight distribution (including motor, fuel, gear and passengers). It's the hull design. It's the trim of your outdrive. Some things you can adjust, others ... not so much. Every boat is different. I'm sure your boat has something positive about it.

 

[Mischief Managed]

Re: Cruising speed

You'd be better off trying to lower you minimum planing speed rather than increase your maximum displacement speed.

If you wish to lower your planing speed, install a prop with more blades, and trim tabs or smart tabs. I have trim tabs on my boat and they drop the minimum planing speed from 22 to 17 MPH.