Running Hard: RPM + Distance
 

So what is "Running Hard"...

Everyone boats differently and that’s what makes it fun. Some love overnighting (we did for years and eventually bought a cruiser), some just cruise to enjoy the scenery, throw anchor and swim (I jump in no matter how cold the water!), everyone likes a good raft up party, restaurant/bar destinations, and of course there’s nothing better than some wide open throttle running!

Kristy and I enjoy running hard! When we take Unleashed out it’s usually with a group of other boats for a Poker Run or Fun run. Our favorite is to start in the back and have the challenge of driving through the slop to get to the front. That’s just our thrill, but we love it ALL as long as we are on the water with friends! Everyone’s definition of running hard is different, But that doesn’t mean anyone is right or wrong, as long as we are on the water it really doesn’t matter. So how many miles do you run hard at what RPM and speed before slowing back down to a cruise?

We have run up to 240miles in a day, normally between 4500-6000RPM, 85-110mph, 90% of the time we are out. We pretty much run hard after the oil warms up until we are back to the dock. Unleashed has a pair of 78 Gallon ATL fuel Bladders, 156 Gallons total (overpriced nightmare that we installed!). She’s pretty efficient averaging 1.21-1.28mpg, which we hand calculate each time out. Kristy’s currently working on editing the video from that American Custom Marine Wednesday Fall Fun 2015, Port Huron, Lake St Clair, Put In Bay, and Back to Port Huron 240miles. 13 Boats ran (but 10 started in Lake St Clair) ranging from 97mph Ilmor 382 Fastech, 117mph 43SV outerlimits, to 150+mph Skaters all cruising 90+mph the entire way! What a Blast!

Here’s some of our main runs last summer, plus the obvious test and tune days. We normally take a couple extra laps around Power island when we go out adding 10-15 miles.

110 miles Traverse City to Charlevoix
70 miles Boyne City, Charlevoix, Bay Harbor
145 miles Traverse City, Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, Bay Harbor
70 miles Traverse City to Northport
115 miles Sault Saint Marie Poker Run
40 miles Traverse City to Omena
75 miles Traverse City to the Tip of the Leelanu Peninsula
135 miles Traverse City, Charlevoix, Boyne City
130 miles LOTO Poker Run
50 miles Condo to LOTO Shootout, Race, Boat ramp
40 miles Traverse City to Suttons Bay

How do you calculate your miles? Your gps gives you this data?

My Chartplotter does.

I've never really did an official mpg test on mine. I know that when its calm water, I get much better fuel consumption, than when its rough. I've done some trips from chicago to michigan city/new buffalo michigan area, about 70-90 miles round trip. When its calm, you can set the boat up for optimal efficiency , and get a nice cruise speed going. When its rough, the drives are usually tucked in, tabs dragging, and lots of on/off the throttle. With 4 carburetors, and 8 accelerator pumps constantly closing, and re-opening often, the accelerator pumps squirt tons of fuel in the engines, and the efficiency goes right out the window .

WOW I am jealous - all this travel

In regards to approximate miles traveled - about how many hours do you typically put on the boat (engine running) during a season. Last year we did about 50 hours - which was pretty good in my book (of course never enough) and most of that was just going relatively slow- enjoying everything.

thanks in advance

3pointstar

Poker runs usually 100 Miles or so, rpm 5000+ I run the boat hard hard every where I go, I don't really keep track but just want to have fun, many guys spend the weekend at 4000 rpm or calm waters, I can assure one thing when it's rough out I am one of the few boats having a blast... most guys sit at docks...

i don,t use my fountain a lot but when i do i could care less what my gas mileage is.with whipple charged 588,s it sucks fuel like a monster.at 100 mph i am at 5100 rpm and not leaning on the sticks very much,just crusing.if i was worried about fuel consumption i would not go boating.

you are the most awesome boater in the world.thanks for the tech information!

How many of those Miles in actual rough water conditions? I wanna see that... that's where you get the trophy! Lol

So how many miles, or minutes, or seconds does everyone run hard at what RPM and speed before slowing back down to a cruise?

Not really asking about fuel consumption, or how many hours you put on a year, but how LONG do you run HARD for? Every boat, budget, and conditions will make it different, there is no right or wrong answer, just fun discussion.

I would say my average completely wide-open run lasts 3 to 5 miles or more it really all depends on what the situation is Obviously if it's a poker run I am in it a lot longer than that..

Sorry my comment was so long, but unfortunately I have been "called out" a couple times to explain how hard I run, and how large my fuel tanks are to support running that hard for so long.

When I respond on other threads I simply am explaining that "x y z" does this or that and that is worked or did not work during MY type of RUNNING HARD. That is per tenant tech info in my book, explaining how you actually run your boat makes a big difference. My oil isnt even up to temp until I pass Power Island, about 6 miles out. If all I did was go anchor there, like many locals do which is fine, than my tech experience would have a different bearing in this section.

Unleashed does not have hour meters, nor FUEL GAUGES. We track the miles so we know how much fuel we have

Offshore what are your oil temps running like that?

We run 4 or 5 poker runs per year and a couple fun runs with Kevin and Kristy. Typically on those events we are running from 4400 to 5300 or sometimes bouncing the rev limiter. On a typical "off" weekend , we would run shorter distances at 3500 to 4500. Our poker runs are usually in the 100 to 140 miles range .

Certain bodies of water do not allow for extended periods of hard running. That said, 30 miles at around 5K RPM give or take during the SOTPR on LOTO. That is plenty long and hard enough for me.

They stay around 220 until I slow down
Water temp gauge never moves, crossover, merc cast iron housing single stage pump, thru hull water pickups with channels grooved into hull bottom, 12psi

Mercury Racing 210deg oil thermostat filter housings with large diesel 30 micron filters
Port engine has dual flywheel coolers (either 8 or 13 plate) both cooling the engine
Stb engine has a Mr. Cool MRC CPH-555 24" long 3" Dia tube cooler rated at 1000hp
Driven 5w50
80psi oil pressure
Oberg 600 return line filters
14 Quart dry sump tanks
3 stage dry sumps

i will just say that if you and i take off at the same time going to the same place i will burn a lot more gas than you will and i will get their way before you do.i can cruse faster than your top speed but i don,t feel the need to talk about it like you do,it,s all good.id like to keep up but i have to go,got work to do.

In all honestly, I don't run hard for very long. Maybe a few miles at the end of the day or for 5 minutes in a poker run. I also don't do many poker runs any more. After doing them for over 15 years straight, I got it out of my system. Also, having kids changed my style of boating as well.

Boating for me now is more about enjoying the ride with my kids, the good times at the raft ups, fun-runs and every so often a weekend without the kids to lean on the sticks. I've also seen a lot of my friends hurt and/or killed in pleasure boats and race boats. In the last 20 or so years I've owned a boat, I had the pleasure of witnessing my friends accidents and even saving their lives, so it's just not worth it to me any more.

Also, when you get to a certain power level, you either need to have really deep pockets or be willing to wrench on the boat a lot, so choose your poison! I got tired of the deep pockets and wrenching all the time, so that's another factor. However, these days I boat every weekend, 2-3 days per week, 6-8 months out of the year and my boating is usually measured in the 2600+ mile range and between 50-60 hrs a year on the big boat. Not sure about the little boat.

WOW-- now I really appreciate why it seems everyone have engines in a constant state of "fix-em-up". To me (and I don't have a performance boat) this was really a great thread and an eye opener.

Keep em coming

3pointstar

[QUOTE=offshorexcursion;4529968]They stay around 220 until I slow down
Water temp gauge never moves, crossover, merc cast iron housing single stage pump, thru hull water pickups with channels grooved into hull bottom, 12psi

Mercury Racing 210deg oil thermostat filter housings with large diesel 30 micron filters
Port engine has dual flywheel coolers (either 8 or 13 plate) both cooling the engine
Stb engine has a Mr. Cool MRC CPH

Where are your oil temp sending units tapped in?

We typically do 4 West Michigan Offshore Runs a Year - typically 80 miles or less, all on Lake Michigan... and then the Traverse City Fun Run and Omena Run. The rest of the season we're more family oriented and mostly running 3500-4500 with occasional WOT passes for a minute or so (not with our young kids).

In my 32 with custom built N/A engines, if the conditions allow, I tend to average 4000-4500 rpm. If it's rough, I will deal with the conditions as appropriate for the best ride quality for passengers. Fortunately, after switching to Arnesons from XZ's on boxes and SCX's, using tabs is no longer necessary besides just minor tweaks. This made a big difference at the pump. The bow still carries well, but the boat acts more naturally balanced and causes me to save a lot of fuel in midrange. I also don't feel the need to run the engines nearly as hard trying to overcome dragging tabs.

I switched to Holley EFI (full multiport with coil packs) in 2013 and have never looked back. I don't have exact fuel consumption numbers, but I do know that I do almost all my running in Lake Michigan and don't mind some slop, I am paying significantly less fuel year over year than when I had carbs. I like being efficient, but fuel consumption isn't as important to me as washing down cylinder walls, keeping oil pristine, and keeping the soot off the transom.

If it's flat calm and I'm bored, I have run port to port over 5000 rpm, but never all the way near 6000. I'll get into the throttle, but even though everything in my engines and oil cooling is theoretically up to the task of running for long periods wide open - I believe running at 5800-6000 for an extended period would directly correlate in me having to adjust my top end/bottom end maintenance intervals. I'd like to continue my trend of running my engines for 9-10 years (@~50 hours/yr), then do top ends... and choose what needs to be done on the bottoms. My engines are now 12 years old... so far so good.

damn yall run your boat a lot harder than I run mine. I usually just cruise around in the sub 4k rpm range. Now I'm not saying I don't ever open mine out and let her eat, but I don't spend hours above 4k. I know plenty of guys that run them laid flat out all the time, and their boats are usually in a constant state of repair. No reason to run around at mach speed. I know how fast my boat is, and don't have to prove that every time we go out.

If your getting called out for not running hard then people have no clue. This is of course the internet so "everybody" runs hard. But real life is most dont run even close to hard and if they do, its for a few minutes at best then back it down. As for me, I run hard and by hard I run 90-100% of my power every single time Im out for miles and miles. Usually 120-135mph for 15-30 minutes. Why? because its fun as hell and thats what the boat was built for. I can vouch that every time that Cig of offshorexcursion has is out its to the wood for just as long. The rougher water the better. Last year we both ran side by side with a average of 95mph in some nasty conditions for 45 miles. Both are boats were out of the water almost as much as they were in it was so rough.

I run my boat hard until the engines blow up, which is quite frequent, like every 10 hours. Soooo, suffice to say, I really have no valuable information or banter to contribute to this thread. There ya go!

Tim is gay, and the fastest boat ever (J/K buddy, it's too easy!)

Lol dik
In may not be fast, but I run the f out of it... you know that haha

Kinda like the trip to Fort Pierce...

I like to run hard also.. I have run from Grand Haven to Holland wot, but that is nothing compared to what a lot of people run. After adding power to my combination I am still sorting out the weak links and have not run wot. Hoping to resolve that this summer! I generally cruise for a while and then bump it up to faster pace, what ever is comfortable in the water I am in. Until I know my combination is going to live, I don't intend to put it on the wood for extended periods. I enjoy wrenching but it does get old, the older I get!!
It is interesting as to what mind set people carry with them as they boat. Blow boaters just want to get from point A to point B and back if the wind is blowing. Offshore guys with "pinned throttle" mind set enjoy the thrill. I believe I am somewhere in between!! :)

just like it. That was a little more spirited than most times I have it out, but far from running it hard. I like my equipment to last and try to take the best care of it as possible. That way I can be super pissy when things break.

sitting here thinking you sure take a wandering course to these places then realized those are round trip mileage
ed

Wait, that was spirited? I thought it was painfully slow at times. Well except on the way back when the pontoon decided to cut across in front of me.

I'm just a easy cruiser...3500rpm .....always watching fuel consumption..

Sorry for you're troubles , but thats pretty funny ! Glad to see you still have a sense of humor. :)

80 mile run, 1 hour 7 minutes burns a full 60 gallon tank, trying to keep it wide open. only off and right back on

Actually I drive my boats more by RPM's then speed, which is usually dictated by water conditions... :)

You wish! Here's video to prove you're running like you were chasin down some Awesome Puzzy! :lolhit:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...erboating.html

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...esome-cat.html

I've got mild engines (5.7 vortecs) in the Sonic and have run 1hr plus at wfo 1 gal/min -heavy with 260 gallons on board 160 in built in tanks and 100 in aux tanks mounted in cabin.
Many runs to Newport RI from Saybrook ct @ 4500 for 1:15 min
About 280ish hrs on them nothing but plugs and oil changes M1 VTwin

[ATTACH=CONFIG]564857[/ATTACH]

Mine is way too small for this contest.

Rougher the water the better? Like turning around at boyne while a 33 power play went had a great day so the "poker run" boats could go jump boat wakes? Ok.

Are you guys fugging kidding us all? Kevin runs his Glad an a protected body of water (Traverse bay) that very rarely builds to more than 2-3' chop. He turned around last year at Boyne because he couldn't handle the big water, fact! Show us otherwise cowboy.
Full Farce has repeatedly posted pictures here and on Facebook bragging about his offshore pursuits. Any pic shown is maybe 2-4 and he is running maybe 50 with a big splash when that waterlogged water turd cuts the next wave.
Give it up guys. Five years ago people would feed into your bullish!t.

This thread has nothing to do with rough water, if you want to talk about rough water that's great just start another thread.