The absolute limit of outboard power?
 

Renowned and venerable Dutch shipyard, Van der Valk, is building a series of 65 foot "day yachts" which, according to them is the result of customer demands for specific characteristics and capabilities that can only be achieved with outboard power. At 30 tons, the all-aluminum Van der Valk Edge 65 is what the shipyard claims that their engineers have determined is the absolute limit of displacement for outboard power. With quad 600HP Verados and sporting a revolutionary "Petestep" hull design, it can hit 40 knots and cruise at 30.
https://vandervalkshipyard.com/news/...-valk-edge-65/
https://vandervalkshipyard.com/wp-co...animated_5.gif

there's no limit really they already have many large diesel engines with a large outdrive power units often pushing barges around you set it on anchor it down and gooood to go

They'll always have limitations that keep them from having the same performance as inboards - it's just physics. Not very impressive that a brand-new, state-of-the-art 65' outboard yacht can only hit a max of 40 knots when there are 20+ year old 80' inboard yachts that run 45+ knots.

60+mph; and that's only the first boat he's built.

https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...IQ&oe=65486768

DSK Marine Kraken 52 Luxury Sport Fish Outboard Yacht Super Catamaran (deepseakraken.com)

You're comparing this to speed-oriented boats like AB's, Baias and Pershings, etc. that have two (or three) huge 2000+ HP diesels under the sole and surface drives or water jets. This is a high internal volume design that is more cruising, living and entertaining oriented. Very few similar sized flybridge yachts with inboards can run 45+ knots, have shallow draft and that big internal living/utility space below decks. The 40 knot speed is not the main selling point - it's a bonus. If you want to compare based on speed, maybe something like the upcoming 52 knot, outboard powered Scout 670 is a better candidate.

An outboard powered 65’ yacht. For that DIYer millionaire who’s sick of walking down into an engine room and now wants to walk up a ladder.

Get those things off my swim deck and out of my way!

As a life long OB guy, you definitely get to the point of diminishing returns before long.

Even before the new, huge 4 strokes you could see multiple examples of it.

When 300 HP 2 strokes were as big as we had, you could see it in the twins Vs trips debate on the +28’ Vees.

A good running twin might run 70 and trips would only get it to 80.

So you increase power by 50% for a 12% increase in speed?

Also increasing maint, etc by 50+ %?

Remember we’re adding the fluid dynamic drag of each additional motor too.

A single 400 should always outrun twin 200’s.

I stopped laughing at the new 4, 5 and 6 motor OBs a while ago.

I have enough gray hair from keeping twins running!

That being said, a new, 40’ + cruiser w/twin 900’s could be cool!