Speed Habits - Poll

F

FWTMD

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 15, 2020
Messages
284
Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
I am just curious about usage habits.

Do you find you more often cruise at leisurely, quiet, economical levels of let’s say 5 knots?

Or at a fast cruise speed of say 80% of your WOT (or similar)

Other?
 
6.5 knots (7.5MPH) all day every day!
 
80% of the time it's under 10 knots, but I try to hit WOT (18 knots) every so often to burn any accumulated carbon out.
 
Thanks. To be clear I am asking folks to ignore the recommended brief sprints to clean the turbos.
 
It depends.
If it’s a short trip, say 25 miles or less we typically cruise at 7 knots or less. If it’s a long distance to the destination, say 50 miles or more, then I run faster at 9-10 knots. I also run at 9-10 knots going through passes, against strong currents, and maneuvering to avoid the big freighters and the BC ferries.
 
Between 5 and 6.5 1 to 2 gallons, that’s to norm for over2000 hours 😎
 
I typically run about 75% of WOT, depending upon the wind waves. WOT is a little over 50 MPH, and gas mileage is best at about 35 MPH. I slow down a little inside the marina. :lol:

Marshall
 
18 knots almost exclusively. im time poor. lot of our enjoyment comes from the destinations we get to on the boat. and whilst pleasant just chugging up puget sound for 8 hours vs 2 can become a little dull for crew
 
Low and slow like good BBQ. 5/6 knots mostly. Goal is 3nm overall per gallon or better.
 
5 to 6 knots 90% of the time.
 
Most of the time 3000 RPM/14 Knots. Seems to be her sweet spot.

I'm trying to train myself to spend more time at 1800 RPM/7 Knots to conserve fuel, but I'm still a little new with my boat, I've spent my life sailing at 5 knots, so I just can't seem to keep my hand off that throttle.

Anything between those two speeds is just wasting fuel for little gain.
 
Mostly between 2600-2800/3000 rpm. 13-24 knots and 1.6-2.0 gpm.

We drove the boat slower when we first bought it but like getting to the destination. We also stop a lot along the way when anything interesting pops up or to grab the balloons we seem to find floating regularly. Mileage feels like it gets better when going faster after about 8 knots or so.
 
In marina 1200 RPM approx 5 kts. On s.cal ocean 3750 rpm approx 16 kts 80% load.
 
Usually at the sweet spot about 12 to 12.5 MPH, 2950 to 3050. Hit 80% throttle once on each outing.
Our 25 Classic clocked 24 mph in the St.Clair River SOG last summer, but with high water, current in the river is over 6 MPH.
 
Usually at the sweet spot about 12 to 12.5 MPH, 2950 to 3050. Hit 80% throttle once on each outing.
Our 25 Classic clocked 24 mph in the St.Clair River SOG last summer, but with high water, current in the river is over 6 MPH. After feeding the 454 big block in our Sundancer for many years, don't even think about mileage. 😛
 
What a great question! For us when not in a hurry best economical cruise speed is 7-8Kn. When I just want to get there 2850- 2900 RPM yields 14- 15Kn @ a fuel burn of 10.2 GPH. This is with a Volvo D4-300. Full tanks affect the speed. Least economical on our boat is 10-12 Kn.
 
I use my GPH and KPG rate for the best speed and fuel rate.
 
We moved from a Yellowfin center console with a pair of Mercury 300 HP Verado’s to our R29 CB and the D4 300 Volvo this year. My wife and I both had concerns about what life would be like at 7.5 knots. We absolutely love it! We are seeing things in our travels on familiar waterways that we never noticed or simply ran by at 35 mph before and did not notice. For us it’s 7.5 knots and 2-3 gallons per hour when out for a leisurely cruise or not in a hurry to get there. If time is a concern and we are trying to beat sundown to anchor out for the night or get ahead of the weather it’s 3,150 rpm’s, 15.5 knots and 11-12 gallons per hour fuel burn. I’d say the ration is about 70/30, low speed to the higher speed.
 
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