6 replies to this topic

[Robmoo]

I was wondering what is the cruising speed of our Speedster. Is there a speed or RPM where our engines opperate at their best efficiency? I sometimes go to lake Texoma. It is a big lake especially when you have friends with a slip at one end and friends who like to camp at the opposite end. My father and I made the trip once and it took a little over a tank of gas to get from one end to the other, but I had just got the boat and I ran it full throttle a large part of the way.

With my trim tab I ought to be able to plane at around 19mph. The Skat Trak's I bought will add more power in the low to mid range, but I'm not sure if they will add efficiency. Most boats I've seen have a cruising speed of around 30mph, but most boats I've seen need 25-30 mph to stay up on plane. Hhhmmm, so many variables!

[tiggerman]

I have found that the best cruising speed for my 97 is around 35MPH @ 4200 RPM. Give or take a few RPM. That's where the sweet spot for fuel consumption is. I have the same impellers as you just bought. I think you will find a quicker time to plane, now that you've added all the goodies. And I think you will find that it doesn't take much to stay on plane now- even without the tabs. I am able to stay on plane at around 20 MPH, even pulling the kneeboard. Your pumps are certainly more efficient in the low to mid range now- thats why they add performance in those areas. Take the GPS with you first time out and do some measurements, like speed @plane, minimum speed to maintain, etc.

[Doooer]

I was wondering what is the cruising speed of our Speedster. Is there a speed or RPM where our engines opperate at their best efficiency? I sometimes go to lake Texoma. It is a big lake especially when you have friends with a slip at one end and friends who like to camp at the opposite end. My father and I made the trip once and it took a little over a tank of gas to get from one end to the other, but I had just got the boat and I ran it full throttle a large part of the way.

With my trim tab I ought to be able to plane at around 19mph. The Skat Trak's I bought will add more power in the low to mid range, but I'm not sure if they will add efficiency. Most boats I've seen have a cruising speed of around 30mph, but most boats I've seen need 25-30 mph to stay up on plane. Hhhmmm, so many variables!

I've been told that the most efficient (gas economy) speed for any boat is the slowest speed on which you can maintain a plane. If you continually come off plane, you have to give it more throttle to get back on, and any speed above minimum planing speed is simply burning more gas than necessary.

[Aussie]

the most effective fuel consumption is with the throttle to the forward stop, the most fun, the quickest way to where your going and hopefully dragging a tube behind..........
Why try to spend less on fuel it only lessons the enjoyment of your day..... forget it and go have fun, start saving a little money for the next trip.... My baby is in storage, all oiled and lubed up waiting for summer to come back

[Robmoo]

the most effective fuel consumption is with the throttle to the forward stop, the most fun, the quickest way to where your going and hopefully dragging a tube behind..........
Why try to spend less on fuel it only lessons the enjoyment of your day..... forget it and go have fun, start saving a little money for the next trip.... My baby is in storage, all oiled and lubed up waiting for summer to come back

Because sometimes one is traveling from point A to point B. Best to have as much gas as possible when you get to point B so you can screw around and have enough gas to get back to the dock. :-)

[tiggerman]

the most effective fuel consumption is with the throttle to the forward stop, the most fun, the quickest way to where your going and hopefully dragging a tube behind..........
Why try to spend less on fuel it only lessons the enjoyment of your day..... forget it and go have fun, start saving a little money for the next trip.... My baby is in storage, all oiled and lubed up waiting for summer to come back

Because sometimes one is traveling from point A to point B. Best to have as much gas as possible when you get to point B so you can screw around and have enough gas to get back to the dock. :-)

Exactly- a general rule for us is : a third there, a third to screw around on, and a third back. And Doooer: you are right about the most fuel efficient speed. Hopefully, not everyone has the WOT-everywhere-you-go mentality- that would make for a certainly unsafe boating season. I'm all for fun and I'm not saying I don't play hard when I play, I just try to be safe doing it. Maybe I'm just a geezer......

Aussie: You don't really pull tubes at WOT, do you?

[Robmoo]

BTW I haven't been hitting 35mph until my engines get to 5000 rpm. I have the tab, a keel guard, and a bimini top that you might ot have on your boat. I haven't been out on clam water to confirm that this many rpm are necessary. This is by Dream-o-meter. My speedo doesn't want to give a speed unless the boat is dooing 20mph or more. I'll have to see how the boat rides at 4200rpm. My speedo may be dying. If I can pick up a Fishfinder with GPS cheap I'll doo it. I talked to a guy at WalMart. They recently clearanced there fishfinders. He said $200 units were going for $35. Wish I'd been there!

Cruising speed being the lowest speed needed to plane? I'd assume this is right except all engines seem to have a speed where they work most efficiently. Seadoo really doesn't say anything about cruising speed on these boats. The only time I'll really worry about it is on our trips to lake Texoma where we are going from one end of the lake to the other.