Re: Speed of 14' Aluminum boat with various outboards
My buddy and I both had 14' Lunds.
Loaded with beers, extra gas, fishing gear, etc.
He ran a 25 hp,,, I ran a 20 hp, same make & (basic) model, 2 strokes.
Originally, he'd pull away from me slowly, Maybe 200 yds. in a couple miles.
I changed props, he never pulled away again. Usually I'd double the difference.
HOWEVER
Caution! Not for the faint of heart!
They both flew. Was told by someone running along side that we were doing 32 mph. and that was loaded (I'm not too sure of that,, but he insisted). It would take us about 20 minutes to make a 10 mile run to Block Island early in the morning when things were flat. 1 hr. plus when it wasn't flat coming home.
I will say, without any gear and just taking a ride with an empty boat,,, It was more airborn than waterborn!
You get booking along and a head breeze gets under you it gets real exciting, real fast!
It wants to go up & over.
Trim is VERY important. Trimmed right we were almost flat on the water,, and only about 10 inches of boat stern was wet in the water.
It doesn't turn,,, it slides a very big corner.
On a turn, if you catch a breeze on the inside, it could make you catch water on the off side, and a roll is very possible.
You'll be going 1/2 throttle on all but the calmest days.
I used to race O/B Hydroplanes,,, that Lund with the 20 and prop was scary at times,,, but a whole lotta fun!
