What speed/RPM do you at at?

This is kinda a follow up to my last thread about who actually uses their boat, and how many hours you put on it a season.

We spent last week at Mead and I gotta say that it's a pretty incredible lake. We had a great time, and had the boats on the water7 of the 8 days we were there. One day, we took a trip from Hemenway launch ramp to Temple Bar and stopped by Hallett beach on the way back. The other days, we drove 8-12 miles to find a beach for the day.

Spending this time on the lake got me thinking what the average cruise speed is here at RDP

First of all, what do you feel is a comfortable cruise speed with family and friends on the boat, and what kind of boat do you have?

Out boat is a 97 Hallett 270 straight bottom.

I found that everyone was happy around 45-48mph/3100-3200rpm. Much faster, and people started ducking to get out of the wind.

Second, what do you consider a good cruising speed?

At 45-48mph everyone was happy, but I found that I would start going faster after a bit. Kinda like driving 55mph on the way to the lake while pulling the boat. How often does that happen? I usually end up pulling the boat around 70-75mph.

I was happier cruising around 55-58mph/3500rpm, and the motor ran fine at this rpm.

Lastly, what speed is too fast for cruising, and at what rpm are you starting to work the motor too hard for a sustained amount of time?

To me, 65 plus is the cut off. Above 64mph I usually get "the look".

Most of our boating is in the summer, and we have the bimini up, so that kinda limits me to more moderate speeds. 3100 to 3500 is typical. Mid forties.

Seeing as my boat will only go 55 topped out I'm usually cruising much slower than that.

my sled rides,runs and sips gas in the 3000 to 3300 range, where i like to keep it, but she runs and sounds real good at 4500....

not really a speedometer kind of person, my back ground is all about rpms, so kinda stuck on that..oh i have a 496 mag in a 24' boat.

My hand rarely allows the throttle to dip down below 4000 RPM. I'm usually cruising in the high 50's.

My cruising speed is 40mph@3000rpm with best fuel economy of 7 gal per engine. Could cruise 50-55 all day long comfortably with the full size windshield, keeping the wind out of my face.

I usually cruise between 45 and 50. My boat doesn't work that well below 45. At 45 I can feel the steps start really making a difference in the ride.

If the top is up and I'm running the 5 blade , 35 - 45 is nice and comfortable, if I'm in a hurry , top down , 65 is a nice cruise speed . last year went from Heninnway all the way past Sand Point to where the water is brown and shallow , had the 5 blade on , 3200 rpm's and had a great relaxing time ! used less fuel too! With the 4 blade , it's a rocket , but cruise rpm's are up a little over the 5 blade .

I like to cruise about 65-75 the motor is not working hard there at all. RPM's around 3800-4200. I will cruise at 55-60 as well. Really I have no set speed it always depends on conditions and passengers. I like to open it up to 6000, but that is when I get the look too!

we cruise at 60 boat is really comfortable running about 3400 rpm if its rough 70-75 at 4000 not working the motor then no boost 25ft daytona

djunkie said:

Seeing as my boat will only go 55 topped out I'm usually cruising much slower than that.

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Guess you gotta get out of second gear then. Lol

fmo24 said:

Guess you gotta get out of second gear then. Lol

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You mean there's a third gear?


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djunkie said:

You mean there's a third gear?


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whoa whoa. u guys have gears in ur sleds, like in a car. damm no wonder my pos goes so damm slow. i have one gear for forward..

With the bimini up, we spend most of the time cruising at 3000-3200 at about +/- 50 MPH. Seems to be the most comfortable cruising speed, I can still listen to the tunes and have a drink along the way.

I really don't focus too much on the tach. I do know that when I get going over 45 MPH my boat starts making this incredible noise coming from the passenger seat (the wifey bitching) so I throttle it down a bit.

Would say alot of time is spent between 60-75. Boat starts to work well at 65 and tach is between 4000-4500. I swear I get better mileage over 5000, at least thats what I tell the wife!

3500-3800 rpm at about 50mph is perfect cruising for us.

Havaduner said:

Would say alot of time is spent between 60-75. Boat starts to work well at 65 and tach is between 4000-4500. I swear I get better mileage over 5000, at least thats what I tell the wife!

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she cruises sweeeeeeet at 5000, and a run up to 7000 every now and then for the adrenaline pump









ROCK ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :champagne:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190649028759
ITS A SKATER NATION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:drnkfr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-BOAT-TR..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item3cb4089d56&vxp=mtr

On the lakes my boat is very comfortable at 3500-4000 RPM, which is about a 55-60 MPH cruise. Above 4000 RPM my fuel economy drops way down. I made a run to Avalon on Sunday in nasty water and was running at around 38-40 MPH most of the. I have very few hours above 4000 RPM on my engines.

This boat runs 65 or so at 4000 rpm. I usually cruise between 4 and 5k.

Lol, "the look" can't be good.

PokerRun388 said:

Lol, "the look" can't be good.

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pokey, thats what happens when u fall into the trap and get married...poor guys..

milkmoney said:

pokey, thats what happens when u fall into the trap and get married...poor guys..

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Oh yea, but lucky for us MM, we don't have too worry about that "look", right?..

Outdrive1 said:

This boat runs 65 or so at 4000 rpm. I usually cruise between 4 and 5k.

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That's it?

PokerRun388 said:

Oh yea, but lucky for us MM, we don't have too worry about that "look", right?..

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how do you know i am not married???

milkmoney said:

how do you know i am not married???

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I thought you told me a longggg time ago, that you didn't fall into, "the trap"?:headscratch:

PokerRun388 said:

I thought you told me a longggg time ago, that you didn't fall into, "the trap"?:headscratch:

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i dont ever recall speakin with you in person, can you remind me..

milkmoney said:

i dont ever recall speakin with you in person, can you remind me..

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I can't remember that exact qoute, but I thought you were single, w/o kids.... I could be wrong.:headscratch:

PokerRun388 said:

I can't remember that exact qoute, but I thought you were single, w/o kids.... I could be wrong.:headscratch:

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oh quote, you mean on here, gotcha... you are right no wife and no kids, dont want to end up with the rug rats or get that look, jus bustin your balls..

milkmoney said:

oh quote, you mean on here, gotcha... you are right no wife and no kids, dont want to end up with the rug rats or get that look, jus bustin your balls..

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Lol I knew you were.:thumbsup

btw, single w/o kids is me too. I love it, because I never get, "the look".

Btw, back on topic.

We normally cruise bwtn 4000-5000 rpm. I like to go fast.

cruise around 2,300 when chillin at 55MPH and bump up to 3,500 which is right at 80 MPH.

So what RPM would be considered safe (for long engine life) for cruising? From the replies, it sounds like most members cruise around 3000-4000RPM. For me, I feel like 3500RPM is easy on everything.


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Don Johnson said:

cruise around 2,300 when chillin at 55MPH and bump up to 3,500 which is right at 80 MPH.

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Are you talking about your truck or your boat?


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With my barge drinking the gas as quick as I can put it in (it seems), I put in fuel flow meters to determine where it got the best mileage. 42-43mph, 4100rpm she sips 19gph per motor for 0.9mpg. I cruise there because that's the best it gets.

skav said:

Are you talking about your truck or your boat?


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Boat. 1.1 gears and 36 pitch props

With the Cig it is 4000rpm at 60 all day long
the Formula same rpm but only 45mph

my malibu redlines at 4800, so i cruise up and down the river at 35/3000rpm.

i'm growing tired of only getting so many mph. hopefully the gods grant me a new boat next summer. maybe v, maybe stern, maybe whacker, but never a squirtgun.

62 mph at 5200 rpms set on kill...lol

Don Johnson said:

Boat. 1.1 gears and 38 pitch props

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Wow based on that you're slipping 30%. Get that down to 12% and you'll do right at 100mph @ 3500 rpm.

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If you can get 12% that'll get you 173mph at 6000rpm

Shoot out time :thumbup:

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River911 said:

If you can get 12% that'll get you 173mph at 6000rpm

Shoot out time :thumbup:

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Just read my post and I have a typo. I run 36 props which is a slight difference.

Don Johnson said:

Just read my post and I have a typo. I run 36 props which is a slight difference.

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That gets your slip down to 26. Get it down to 15% and you'll cruise a cool 92 at 3500 rpm

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I like 4000-4500 RPM's 60-70 MPH depending on the water.

Do most of you guys have GPS or are you just going off the water pressure gauge? Some pretty crazy cruising for stock power in this thread.

STV_Keith said:

With my barge drinking the gas as quick as I can put it in (it seems), I put in fuel flow meters to determine where it got the best mileage. 42-43mph, 4100rpm she sips 19gph per motor for 0.9mpg. I cruise there because that's the best it gets.

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And here I was complaining about getting 1.5mpg. I feel good now. Well, not really. I remember when the expensive part of the trip was gas for the truck and the hotel. But that was when my pop was still around and took care of the boat expenses

plaster dave said:

Do most of you guys have GPS or are you just going off the water pressure gauge? Some pretty crazy cruising for stock power in this thread.

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Gps. I need to buy a new one though I think. I heard if I buy one off eBay my boat will go faster.

I cruise at around 3k wich, in good water is about 30-35mph. I'm in a 18' jet with a stock-ish 460BBF

Don Johnson said:

Boat. 1.1 gears and 36 pitch props

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Ya, whatever. LOL You can't post in this thread anymore:blah:

Actually, you need to post up the info and pictures of your boat. Sounds like it would be a blast!