20' tritoon with a 150hp

[sunedog]

Not trying to compare boats just trying to stay on the subject. In this captains choice marine video they claim that this Bennington can do 46mph with a Yamaha 150.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bPdaqh3G44

I will add that Captain's Choice Marine in Leesville, SC on Lake Murray (http://www.ccmarine.com/) is my local Bennington dealer and they have a well deserved stellar reputation. My boat came from there. I am the second owner, having bought it when it was about two years old. They have treated me as if I had bought the boat new directly from them. Good people.

[Bamaman]

I guess even a good dealership can make a mistake on speed claims.

I just know that my 24SSLX with Express Tube and a F150 Yamaha will run 40 mph GPS--41 mph with the top down. It actually runs better when the water's a little rough on a windy day--when more wind gets under the hull and lifts it up.

All displacement hulls have a point of no return in performance. My old pontoon boat had a very strong 115 hp Yamaha 2 stroke. It'd accelerate like a bass boat and ran great--until it hit a wall @ 30 mph where it wouldn't go any faster.

My new Bennington seems to hit a wall at 40 mph. To get any more speed, I'd have to add much, much horsepower and a higher pitch prop. "The Wall" is the reason the boats with 250 hp generally only get 3-4 mph more than my 150 hp. But the big engines have far superior performance and weight carrying capabilities @ 20-30 mph.

[Discovery]

All displacement hulls have a point of no return in performance. My old pontoon boat had a very strong 115 hp Yamaha 2 stroke. It'd accelerate like a bass boat and ran great--until it hit a wall @ 30 mph where it wouldn't go any faster.

Theoretical hull speed of a displacement hull:

1.34xsquare root( length of hull at water line )

Two real world analogies I can think of is how fast a train of 10 NASCAR cars will go around a track relative to a train of 5 and how a longer canoe will travel faster than shorter one.

This has been a good thread.

[Rock]

Been out 5 times now and hit 38-39 mph gps everytime. The Silverwave 210LP with 115 Suzuki SS and performance package flies. The two toons have 5 inch full length lifting strakes inside and out of each toon. The full enclosed bottom and engine pod mounted back 3 feet makes a world of difference. Took it into the gulf and ran the intercoastal back from Johns pass and it handles boat wakes like my 30 ft cruiser did. It is one solid built toon.
Rock

[rancherlee]

Been out 5 times now and hit 38-39 mph gps everytime. The Silverwave 210LP with 115 Suzuki SS and performance package flies. The two toons have 5 inch full length lifting strakes inside and out of each toon. The full enclosed bottom and engine pod mounted back 3 feet makes a world of difference. Took it into the gulf and ran the intercoastal back from Johns pass and it handles boat wakes like my 30 ft cruiser did. It is one solid built toon.
Rock

I've been waiting to see some real world results from the 115ss engine. Been looking to pull the trigger on one for mine. Dealer said the SS line is equivalent to Evinrudes "H.O." in that they are "hot" motors making close to the 10% limit allowed by law. If so its a ~125-130hp engine and in his testing is closer to the 140 than the regular 115 in performance. No doubt in my mine a light 2 tube with strakes and 125hp on the back hits close to 40mph. How hard is it to keep that Matte Black clean on the 115ss?

[bandman]

Have a 2006 Bentley 203. 20’ Tri toon with 2008 Mercury 150hp Opti Max.
Spring, cool water, 25 gallon of fuel, 14.5 17P, by my self 38 to close to 40mph slightly trimmed. 5200 rpm.

With 4 or 5 adults to end 32-34 mph.
Boat was rated for a 135 hp, but the same boat as a 2007 rated for 150, that is why the marina put the 150 hp on.

After reading about the New Mercury 150 4stokes, it sure sounds like a good engine. They have actually made it easy for oil change and other user friendly DIY steps.
My Opti has 350 hours. Only fixes, impeller change every 3-4 years along with fuel filter and 2 ignition coils. Did those myself.
Lower gear case seals one change.