What is cruising speed?
 

I know this question sounds pretty elementary, but all I have ever strived for in boating is to go faster than everyone else. (Don't try it -- it isn't possible.)

I see people posting their "cruising speed" on here, and I was wondering how that speed is determined. Is this the most effecient speed at which you can still pick up chicks, or the lowest speed at which they can still hear the pick up lines over the motors... WHAT IS IT!?!?!:drool:

For me depends on the water, load, mood etc. as this changes the tab and trim settings. I would interpret it as the sweet spot where you can feel the hull just coming up on top and the engine is not really working that hard. Should be close to optimal fuel economy as well. In my case somewhere between 2900 and 3200. I know some that just run em all day at 4300 and call that cruise. The fat boats seem to run along at 2200 and don't have a clue that they are not on plane as they throw a wake that totally hoses the river for a mile.

Good question, probably also depends on the budget for the year!

anything over 70 :)

too slow.......

i've been cruising my engine where the supercharger isn't making much boost 1-2psi, but i'm still moving at a pretty good clip.

if you haev dyno sheet i woudl think ith would teh rpms where your VE#s are best.

WFO? that is were I cruise :D Rag's

Puder, I missed that last part :)

I would say that cruising speed is 3000 to 4000 RPMs.

Not sure if you're looking for a serious answer here but, for me 3500 rpm and 42 mph is just before the secondaries start to open. Otherwise, 6 mph when cruising the Grand Haven channel next to the pier on a hot day. You West Michigan guys know what I mean. :D :D :D

cruising SPEED
 

3300 rpms = 50 gps mph on a 45 sonic with trip 540/500 Merc's and 4 sale in the classifieds.

Cruising speed for me is the most effecient..1.5 mpg
Looks just like this...

3500 RPM / 47 MPH around 1.15 MPG

Well on land anything below the posted speed limit is cruising :D

I cruse 3500 @ 58 MPH an I have found that to be the most fuel efficient RPM.

Yes, I am looking for serious answers. How do you determine the cruising speed of a particular boat?

Crusie speed is around 2/3 throttle. On an outboard seems to be about 4000rpm -5000rpm

Just before the secondaries open...
 

I marked my throttle lever where the secondaries just start to open (mechanical secondaries). This usually translates to about 3000 - 3200 RPM @ about 35-38 MPH indicated by the speedo.

Mopower - glad to see I'm not the only one who uses my cupholders for tool storage! :D

I did the same thing Budman did and did that ever make a difference in fuel consumption for a weekend. If we are out messing around or just going from point A to point B where I don't care how long it takes to get there. Then I have alot more for when it's play time. :D

don't know never cruised

I think it depends on how fast the boat will go. I usually try to cruise as close to top speed as possible. Unless you are in a channel and surrounded by people on the banks. Cruising speed then becomes as close to idle as possible and every once in a while it is taken out of gear and revved up just to get some more attention. I have tried to find the most fuel inefficient way to cruise, but it seems to work. The noise impresses most females and the speed makes the guys want to be you.

A real answer ? Most guys have it . I consider cruise where the boat runs efficient , is probably not in the secondaries, and is not screaming the motor and killing it . Ready all the boat tests in magazines. Almost every boat there runs best around 3000-3200 rpm's .

I don't realy watch fuel burn . I just cruise about 3000-3500 for an easy cruise, A fast cruise of 4000 if you realy want to get there , and if the storm is brewing , 5,000 ! :D

I dont' consider "cruising "any "SPEED". I consider it an "RPM" that is comfortable .

Just my .02 , Joe

Example of speed doesn't count: In my ski boat I cruise at about 35, in my big boat I cruise 60-70, and when I was in Jet Set , we cruised 140-150 !:D :D It's all about the rpm's .......

Or if the boat rides like crap then you need to run slower . Joe

Re: Just before the secondaries open...
 

Just be careful. I can see on my dyno sheet that the motor goes lean the moment BEFORE the secondaries open. Now I don't have a primary powervalve, so that is the reason for the lean condition, but it certainly is something to think about.

Optimum cruise speed, would be the maximum speed in which your boat will travel while your motor is getting the highest fuel economy possiable, while not overlaboring. Every boat has a crusie speed mine is at about 80-85 mph. Personaly I feel crusing is for the long trips in big ocean yachts, there trying to get the most distance out of there fuel as possiable. Alot of people also difine crusie speed as the point in which they feel there boat gives the most comfortable ride characteristics.

3000 rpm....motor just seems to like it there.

Mad Cow....fuel efficiency AND 3 big azz big blocks...oxymoron? :) :) :)

3000 rpm....motor just seems to like it there.

Mad Cow....fuel efficiency AND 3 big azz big blocks...oxymoron? :) :) :)

For me as of now, my "road cruising" is limited to roughly 3mph walking speed ;)

3500 RPM's at about 100 MPH. Otto

Otto :D :D NIce !

Hyperbaja, I feel for ya !:(

What the picture says

Cruise ??? Who in the hell has time to cruise ??

I boat all year and every time I get on the water, I'm ready to ROCK :D

I'm into go-fast boats because I like to go as fast as I can :D

All you guys with the short boating seasons ... why are you wasting precious boating hours cruising in your go-fast ????

Hammer that MoFo :cool:

Cig1 ...you hit the nail on the head!!!!

Fuel efficiency is for trawlers and ragflappers!

Re: Just before the secondaries open...
 

Only because the water was like glass that day ,which was a week day in April and virtually no other traffic.

i would say somewhere between 3000 rpm and 3500 rpm ...

Don

Ragflappers! LMAO!!!

Judging by the differing opinions and lack of a precise definition, I guess this question wasn't as elementary as I thought.:rolleyes:

Its all in how you run it. I can go from Monroe Micigan to Mentor Ohio (About 130 miles) on 80 gallons of gas at 3500. Of course I can blow through 250 gallons on a 100 mile poker run too.

Cruising for conversations is around 3000 to 3500 rpm. Dont know speed because the speedo doesnt work. If I dont need to talk to anybody... WFOT