Cruse control?

[stinson]

Hi guys,

On my R23 I can maintain a comfortable plane at 25 mph at 4600 rpm. If the sea conditions change a bit, I'll drop rpm and slip off a plane, which lowers my rpm etc.

Is there a way to fix the rpm so it maintains 4600 rpm under different loads which would help maintain a plane? I guess I'm asking for cruse control which seems like it should be possible with these smart outboards.

Thoughts? jim

 

[Submariner]

Maybe the Lenco Autoglide system would help. As sea conditions change, it'll sense the change in pitch and roll of the boat and adjust the tabs accordingly to maintain plane. It works well even in crummy sea states.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I loved cruise control on my last boat. It was a SeaDoo Challenger 21 ft twin engine jet boat. It had real cruise control. Set the speed over ground to 28 MPH, and the engine RPMs would change as you passed an inlet on the ICW and the current changed 180 degrees. Would hold speed through turns as the engine revved up to maintain speed. I must say, I miss it.

In the end, it would be a Yamaha feature that they could easily implement. Not sure if other manufacturers have.

That said, on my R23, your RPMs would be right on the edge of planing for me. I get best MPG at 47-4900 RPM, depending on fuel load, water load, etc…


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[stinson]

Agreed this would be a Yamaha feature and it would be easy to implement. I do agree that 4600 rpm on my R23 is barely on a plane. I try to be conservative with the rpm thinking that continuous rpm around 4900 is pushing the motor but I guess they are made for this type of operation.

 

[BB marine]

Hi guys,

On my R23 I can maintain a comfortable plane at 25 mph at 4600 rpm. If the sea conditions change a bit, I'll drop rpm and slip off a plane, which lowers my rpm etc.

Is there a way to fix the rpm so it maintains 4600 rpm under different loads which would help maintain a plane? I guess I'm asking for cruse control which seems like it should be possible with these smart outboards.

Thoughts? jim

It would be a difficult program to design and also put a safety feature into it when piloting a small boat at planeing speeds (R23, R25 or R27) The issue is theses boats require a lot of power to keep them on plane. Narrow beam and a hull that is stern heavy. I can't imagine cruising at 25 kts in 1' to 2' following sea's in a 23' boat and not expect that I have to pilot it with continual throttling to maintain a good ride and speed. Theses boats are small ,light, narrow and have small displacement high Hp outboard engines. Expecting a trailerable boat with all the great amenities that these boats have to be sea kindly like a 32' to 40' Sport Fish that weighs 15000lbs to 30000 lbs powered by a couple of large displacement diesels and cruises comfortably at 25Kts in 2' tp 3' sea's and doesn't flinch at them. That is not going to happen. Realize what you have an awesome little boat that has its limitations when it comes to cruising with the "BIG BOYS".

If you want to stay on plane when the sea conditions change you have two choices. (1) drive the boat with continual throttling to maintain the lowest speed you can keep the boat on plane. (2) increase the speed of the boat to a point that it will not fall off plane and plan on getting beat up!!

Sometimes speed is over rated. I was cruising Florida Bay last winter with a R27 outboard. Knowing that the R27 cruises 15mph faster than us we left the marina 1 hour earlier. My cruise speed was 14 kts and the sea conditions were forecasted to be 1' 85 mile run. About 2 hours into the cruise the sea condition forecast did not hold true and the 1' were 3' to 4' 6 second period following seas. We were cruising at a average of 14 kts with speed changes of 1 kt+ and Kt- has we rode or got caught in the troughs. A comfortable ride for a 26' in 3' to 4' waves but not what I would want to cruise in all the time. It was doable! I received a radio call. It was the folks that were cruising in the R27 Ranger. They had caught up to us and in his words we are "getting the crap beat out of us out here" "How are you guys doing?" My response " what speed are you cruising at ? " "Just under 30 mph and if I go any slower it drops off plane" My response " we are cruising at 14kts enjoying the ride". They found an anchorage that afternoon and we decided to join them. We had a great evening having drinks and telling stories. Their 30mph boat and our 14kt knot boat ended up at the same place to enjoy the evening.

The Rangers and Cutwaters are small boats that can take you to big places. Respect what they are, Category D – Inland or sheltered coastal waters: is for boats in small lakes and rivers with winds to Force 4 and significant wave heights to 18 inches. I believe the C30 is a Category C- Inshore: is for boats operating in coastal waters and large bays and lakes with winds to Force 6, up to 27 knots, and significant seas 7 feet high.

 

[Karll]

Well written response BB. In my mind I had similar thoughts and you put it in writing better than I could describe it.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

I did find cruise control useful in ocean adventures. With following seas it just made it easy. Other seas, it was still pretty easy to set the (not rpm) at 20 and have a consistent cadence through the waves.


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[stinson]

Well said for sure and having been boating for over 40 years I totally agree with what you said. Cruising at 25mph in calm seas is a gift and I would only do this if conditions allowed. Knowing what we have we all do our best in picking time of day to travel and tide conditions to make our ride the best it can be.

Most innovations not yet invented seems crazy. Who would ever have thought that cruise control in a car would EVER be a good idea and better yet hands free driving.

My R23 has auto pilot and I bet ten years ago we would have all said this is crazy.

The ocean is bigger than land I would guess if used properly this would be a good feature.

Great forum here and I respect all of your opinions for sure.

jim