Need For Speed

[BigPoppaG]

I was wondering is there another way of getting more speed out of your boat, other then getting a different prop or a bigger motor? Is there some tweaking that can be done to increase overall speed? My boat specs are listed below.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Need For Speed

Are you currently propped to reach Max RPM at WOT?<br />If not, reprop w/ the correct SS prop.<br />Otherwise......<br /><br />It takes a LOT of HP (12-18 or more) to gain 1 MPH in a boat, so the short answer in your situation is no.<br />There really isn't anything you can do to the engine on yours that would make any measurable difference.<br /> <br />Speed = Cubic Inches = $$$$

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Need For Speed

Install a turbo.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need For Speed

Ayuh............<br />Ya got a Nice Boat...........<br />Enjoy It........................<br /><br />When you're ready, Trade Up.........

 

[sloopy]

Re: Need For Speed

Well you could get rid of dead weight, clean and wax the bottom, and lower the Bimini top. Other then that you will have to spend $$$$.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: Need For Speed

Thanks guys. I will be getting the prop for next season. Just wanted to pick some brains on anything else I could do.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Need For Speed

Ignore any advice to wax the bottom for speed.<br />Waxing the bottom will DECREASE speed.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: Need For Speed

How will it slow your boat?

 

[rwidman]

Re: Need For Speed

Is there some tweaking that can be done to increase overall speed?

SS prop optimized for the boat, no extra weight, minimum amount of fuel to get through the day. Some people have claimed better performance with an aftermarket flame arrestor (air cleaner). K&N has been mentioned.<br /><br />Also, go with the wind and/or current. <br /><br /><br />

How will it slow your boat?

Something about a rough surface creating air bubbles which create less friction than water. Probably doesn't matter on a boat such as this with a top speed of 45 - 50 mph.

 

[wvit100]

Re: Need For Speed

On your boat with that motor the difference between the stock aluminum prop and a high dollars stainless steel prop isn't going make much difference, maybe a couple of mph. Take the $400+ and buy a better stereo or a nice bimini top.

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Need For Speed

You can always add some lightening holes.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Need For Speed

Performance boaters actually sand the running surface of the hull.

Interesting, that.<br />Maybe that's why they reckon the fastest fish have rough skin.<br />Looks like the fish got there before we did.

 

[bomar76]

Re: Need For Speed

The wax increases the surface tension (that's why water beads on it).<br /><br />What happens is surface tension actually causes the water to grip the hull surface directly and then it's ripped away. The friction surfaces are the hull and the water. <br /><br /><br />The more running surface that is wet (as in slower boats), the higher the resistance.<br /><br />Performance boaters actually sand the running surface of the hull.

 

[KCook]

Re: Need For Speed

Rent a PWC

 

[xikxak]

Re: Need For Speed

only go downhill.

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: Need For Speed

Thanks for the advice. Some good, Some funny, Some....we won't talk about. I am very happy with the boats overall performance. I was just looking to see if I have maxed it's potential. Looks like a prop may be the way to go. Thanks again.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need For Speed

Performance boaters actually sand the running surface of the hull.

So all this time that have been dragging the bottom of my boat across the beach I am actually engaging in a high performance modification and didn't even know it. <br /><br />

 

[lakelivin]

Re: Need For Speed

Not sure, but I think I bought some type of 'teflon' type finish for boat bottoms a while back. Never used it, will have to dig it out to see what the claims were. But I assume that the principle would be the same as using wax? Wow, fascinating stuff I'm learning from this board.<br /><br />Does anyone have a link to a site with more info on this principle? I believe it, but have a feeling that I might need back up when I tell some of my boating friends since this is kind of counterintuitive.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Need For Speed

Read an account years ago about a guy who installed a compressor in his boat and ran - I think - a pipe across the hull just after the 'dry' point when it was on plane, and pumped air through hundreds of tiny holes in the pipe, so that the boat ran on a cushion of air. Hovercraft-type principle, but the boat was steerable in the normal way.<br /><br />Supposedly went faster on less fuel. Wonder if it worked? I think the pipe was inside the hull, and the holes were somehow drilled through it and sealed.<br /><br />Isn't that what stepped hulls try and achieve?

 

[waterone1@aol.com]

Re: Need For Speed

I do not have any expertise when it comes to performance hull bottoms. With that said, I have to question the idea about a rough hull bottom performing better than a smooth one. Anytime I have put a new boat (with fresh waxed gellcoat) in the water for a test run, it always runs faster than the same boat after we have applied bottom paint. In that situation, we are talking about 30 ft cabin cruisers with twin 5.7 or 7.4 engines. As another example, all of the guys around here that have "go fast" boats ($200K-500K Fountains, Sonic's, etc.) always have their hulls waxed before a race, and wouldn't think of sanding their bottoms.....Just wondering?