Most efficient single and twin boats?
 

Are 496s the most efficient motors frequently in sport boats? What kind of mileage do folks get with them in single and twin applications?

Curious because I just ran 400mi this weekend at 1.6-1.84mpg.

1350s running race fuel. Avg 11 mpg at 173 mph in 21 ft bayliner. Slightly better mpg figures if runnung twins in it

I get about 2.5 mpg in my checkmate 270 with 496. Cruise around 3700-3800rpm. Some top end bursts here and there.

Hull efficiency, engine efficiency and water conditions play a major factor in MPG.

I get totally different mpg in 0-1 footers vs 2-4's.

All joking aside, my friend gets 2mpg in his 42x Cigarette with 1100's and that's cruising at 75/80 with a few hits of 100+. (and it accelerates like a rocket)

The new turbo motors are scary both in their performance and efficiency.

Wow that's great. I wonder if top gun unlimiteds are getting similar with OBs.

Don't think I have ever seen a Cig Top Gun with OB's? Are talking about the 39 Top FISH?

Typo I meant top gun open. Did I get it right that time?

Ah nooo... Top phish

Whos turbo 1100 tommys at chief?
It takes an azzload of gas and hp to spin a big blower...
But its almost worth the extra fuel to have blower surge at the docks... Blower surge makes Hot skanks in tiny bikinis all kinds a wet...

There's so many variables in this question, it's almost impossible to answer. I can cruise "sensibly" at around 2800rpms and get decent gallons per hour. However, if I take em up to 5000rpms, I'm thinking I get almost 30 FEET per gallon!! Not sure if the 496 is "efficient", but sure beats rowing......

Max mpg plained off. Aka most efficient cruise speed. Like how boating mag reports.

Merc 1100s. They are turned down 1350s that come with 6s. Cig is only building new boats with merc power.

My 28 Velocity with a 496 gets 3-3+mpg cruising at 3500rpm and about 2mpg at wot.

According to all the information on the 496 I could find it is most fuel efficient at 3500 (if you call it efficient :) )

Mine is pretty good, for a performance boat. 33 Eliminator with box stock 500 EFI. Light boat and fuel injection!

Hogie is correct on the Merc 1100's but my friend's boat has the #8 drives.
It was originally the Ducati boat that was bought at the show by its first owner who didn't like the plain paint and he changed the whole boat to a blue, silver and pearl white.

Sounds like my previous boat, 24 Superboat w/496HO. According to the Diacom scans I ran, I was burning 12-14 GPH @3500 RPM. At 3500RPM I was running about 55 MPH. So, that averages roughly 4 MPG.

That's what my research showed, 14gph at 3500. My boat runs 48mph at 3500 with a 26 bravo prop.

What prop were you running to get 55mph at 3500, a 28 bravo?

Nice. Those fast singles are where it's at.

Yup, 28P Bravo

Doesn't it just boil down to hull efficiency, weight, and water conditions? The horsepower needed to move these factors at your desired speed determines the mileage. For basic discussion a 350hp outboard, 496, 454, 502, whatever will burn the same amount of fuel when producing 300hp. So isn't it just a mathematic calculation?

Small cat 28'-32' with mild efi power would probably be best.

Not exactly. You're implying that all of those engines would have the same bsfc while producing 300hp, which is not the case. Pumping losses can be a problem at part throttle. The most effecient scenario would be to have an engine at wot but lugged down to its peak torque rpm and therefore at max bsfc. This isn't exactly possible due to prop sizing etc. The later generation suzukis have wideband O2 sensors implemented into the engine controls so they can lean out at cruise speed, this would be the optimal scenario for a gas engine. Other than that hull efficiency, weight and waves are the major contributors.

Nice of cig to give their clients so many options= fail

Is Suzuki the only manufacturer doing this? Thx rm

I don't know. There seems to be strong competition in the OB space right now and the guys on THT talk about efficiency as much of more than power and speed.