How hard do you normaly run your engine
 

I was curious on what rpm evryone runs there boats most time. Do you run 3000, 3200,3500,3800,4000 for cruise rpms.
If you like, list a general idea of your boat and how you run it.
I have a
30 cig mystique
496 ho
cruise 3500 @50 mph normally
fast cruise 3800 to 4000.

the 38 ocean yacht
3208 diesel
2300-2400 @22knts normally
full out at 2800 @27 knts

Scarab Panther
Cruise: 3700 RPM 58mph that is right before my 4barrels kick open.
WFO: Almost 80 around 6000RPM
600HP 454's Still trying props
:)

29' Kryptonite
598ci N/A 750hp

Cruise usually at between 3500-4000rpm, 52-60mph
WOT 6000rpm at 97mph

Single 496 HO with Raylar, 26 Bravo 1 4300rpm @ 52 mph.

5300 rpm wo @ 74 mph gps

Fixx
 

donzi x18
24p prop
half throttle just before the secondarys
5000 rpm's 60 mph
max rpms 6200
in the 70's

26p prop heavy cup
3800 rpms 50 mph

I normally run 3200 to 3400
it starts to hit boost about 3900-4000
38 Hustler 868hp at 6000rpm

When I am not idling I spend about 95% of the time in the 33-3600 RPM range.

27ft Carrera, 509" around 525-550hp ,
Bravo drive with nosecone, 26p Powertech,
fully loaded weight around 6000lbs
cruise 4000rpm 45-47 mph
WOT 5200rpm 69-70mph
due to high x dimension ,
single engine,no tabs,
25deg V and heavy boat it wont even stay on plane below 3400rpm..
for me its idle or 35mph..
Hopefully I can fix that with a 5 blader.

Formula 292 twin 6.2s cruise 4100 wot 5150.But the last 300 rpm only gets me 2 mph so my fast cruise is about 4500 rpm.

Donzi Classic 18, 3650 rpm's is the sweet spot on my set up, MX6.2 single engine boat 1.65 gears heavily labbed 28p 3 blade on a -2 shorty, 51-53 mph gps, WFO 5150 @ 73-74 gps. Steve

2000 Formula 382 with Innovation 540/600's: 3800 to 4000 @ 50 to 55 mph.

Cruise is between 4000 and 4500 which nets 75 to 85mph. More often somewhere around 5000 for extended periods ( fast cruise ) :) which nets 95 to 98mph.
25 Daytona with a single 900 sc/efi.

My throttle has often been compared to a toggle switch. Dock and drive :)

I spend 95% of my time at 3400 rpms. That's 50mph on the dot, and makes for a nice comfortable cruise.

I run a little slower cruising speed than some.
2500-2600 rpm at 35-40 mph
wot 6400 at 117.

1994 Cigarette TOP GUN
I spend most of my time at 3200rpm, somtimes 3500rpm.
I only run it at WOT (5500rpm) 2 or 3 times a year towards the end of the season, for 10 seconds. Can't afford to break them, it's not worth the risk in my opinion. I want my boat to operate trouble free all summer.

Thats your cruise speed :eek: Run it like you stole it !!! Funny thats the same speed and RPM I run at WOT.

Ya, that's pretty much my philosophy, too. I like to boat, not wrench.

1980 OLD school 20' FORMULA with 500 HP BBC custom built alpha drive 25p 4 blade
cruise speed 45 to 50 mph @ 3,000 to 3,500 rpm 75% of the time.
WOT 74mph GPS @ 5,500 rpm with raised X dimension

I like the way they sound at 3400 for a lazy cruise. Then again at 4200 movin it along. Has alot to do with my mood the wife tells me.

I run at 2 speeds idle or 5800 rpms most of the time but when my daughters are on board 4300 rpms gets me about 70 mph. I deal with the boredom and say "yes honey I am having a good time".

Between 3500 - 3700 rpm cruise at 45 - 48 mph. about 2x per year I stretch her out for about 20 seconds.

Hi Chuck S. I was at the chesepeke inn talking to you a little last weekend. i Had the 30 cig. Whats your normal cruise rpm with the new motor in the bat boat.

I typically cruise between 3000 rpm =43mph to 4000 rpm=66mph.

Chris

Cruise speed??? Is there such a thing??

I will have to check some pics that I took of the gages while under way.
I think 4200rpm is roughly 50 mph.

I cruise about 3000 -3000, which is about 30-35 MPH. Every now and then I go WO and runs about 4850 and that is 49-50 MPH, don't do very often because honestly not much more fun to go 50 vs 35. and don't want to break it. It is a bowrider with 5.0 SBC setup for wake-boarding. (Do I win the slowest boat award?. :-) )

No boat is to slow,small,or whatever. They are all fun no matter what. the one that is not is the one not running.


Sounds like the average rpm that is normally run is abot 38-4000 rpm for extended periods of time.

I actually fell uneasy about running 4000 rpm for 1hr or 2 at a time with my 496 ho,s. I feell it is to many r,s. I fell 3300 - 3500 is perfect. My boat really likes 3800 to 4000 the best.

It seems like alot of you are runnig bigger motors higher than i would have expected.

So a motor can be reliable running to 4000 all the time or is 3500 the ideal for logevity, any engine builders want to voice an opinion.

I like the reponse of running it like a switch

idle or wide open:cool-smiley-011:

26 to 2800 for cruise, crank it up occasionally at the shootouts.

Depends on the motor really. If you have an engine built and designed with a redline of 6500rpm or so, running it at 4000rpm is just loping along and wont hurt anything. However if you have one that is limited to 4800rpm, turning it 4000rpm all the time isnt so healthy.

I run mine right around 65% of max revs for cruise. Seems like most others do similar. I really cant cruise much slower, it doesnt like running 3000rpm for too long (maybe its me that doesnt like it):party-smiley-004:

Cruise at 3.5k which is a fun 50 mph, but always have to see the needle hit 80 one quick time before ending the day.

I m talking about motors running up to 5200 to 5500 rated by the manufacture. I mainly interested in the way people run 496-600 motors

WOT til someone else lifts!!! But it is a 2 stroke outboard, no valves:drink:

454 Mag--I cruise at 4000 rpm and 50 mph most of the day....5000 rpm and 63 mph usually coming back home.

4200 rpm to 4800 rpm 50 to 58 mph gps. My motor is a ported v-8 Johnson outboard.

You want reliable or you want longevity.
4000 reliable = yes. Does it shorten overall life span compared to 3000? yes.

Yes more longevity is the goal. How many hours can be expected for a 496ho anyoone.

22'Velocity 406sbc w/Alpha drive and Hydro cone 27p Hydro Quad IV
Cruise between 3500-4200rpm ~52-65mph depending on conditions.
Very rarely run it out. Don't know top speed. Hit 85mph gps last week at 5600rpm. Hit 6200rpm this spring racing a jet ski but no gps on board. Rarely do this, don't like fixing broken parts...