Optimal long distance cruise RPM's

[jimrs]

If your figures are correct then you should be at 4,500 r.p.m. This is your most economical.

[Ron Burgundy]

When I first looked at the data form the performance bulletin it seemed odd to me that the boat had better gas mileage at 4500rpm than at 4000rpm. I'll take an extra 2.2 mph with less fuel consumption, but I'm not sure it is accurate.

4000 RPM 13.4 MPH 5.58 GPH
4500 RPM 15.6 MPH 5.57 GPH

Maybe this was caused by some external factor during the test like increased tail wind???

[GregF]

It may just be a quirk in the boat they were testing. Trying to plane a round pontoon is a study in laminar flow since there is no real planing surface, you are just goosing it up out of the water. They may have hit a sweet spot around 15MPH that it was firmly up on the step and not plowing. That is really going to be your best cruise speed and it depends on your particular boat. You can feel it when it is right. That was about 3800-4000 when I had the 75 2 stroke on my boat. With my 60 4 stroke it is just a tad higher RPM (4000-4200) but I am running a flatter prop.

The 15 MPH looks about right although it is a little better around 17 on my boat and that is where I am in the 4000 RPM range.

Of course you guys with the 100HP plus engines are up on the step at 3000 RPM I imagine, extra weight being the factor.

[Buccaneer]

Now I am even more motivated to go. I'm familiar with 3 Rooker Bar. Actually, if you go just a little but north you will hit Anclote Key and then a little bit further you will hit the North Anclote Sandbar. This is my local hangout. 3 Rooker Bar is about 5 miles south of the North Anclote Sandbar which is about 4 miles southwest from Gulf Harbors which is where my boat is docked. Did you move far away from Oldsmar?

I'm definately into the sand dollar thing...at least my little man is.

Off topic but ...

Yeah, the stretch of the IC from Clearwater Beach up to the the docks at the old Pappas' Restaurant in Tarpon was my old stomping grounds. I'm in VA now and stick mostly to lakes unless I'm on vacation and it aint my boat .. lol. Ron, you are boating in what I consider to be one of the best places in the world. The water is great, there are lots of islands, the swimming and shelling are amazing, and you can hang out on a crowded beach or find a spot that you swear no one has discovered yet.

I'd kill for a grouper sandwich from Frenchies on Clearwater Beach right now !

[Ron Burgundy]

Oh yes, grouper sandwich from Frenchies. Dosen't get much better. I just moved to Florida in '08 so I'm still discovering new places all the time. At first I wasn't lovin' the sunshine state, but when I got my 'toon it changed my view. It's a whole new and different world out in the IC. I think everyone that lives here needs a boat. Even if is a kayak they need to get out on the water.

Does this look familiar??

[GregF]

You sure have that right, I moved here so I could boat. My family were Southern Maryland water people who got trapped in the city by money.
I escaped here and my Niece escaped back to Point Lookout where she owns a marina with her hubby.

http://buzzsmarina.com/

I brought a motor with me and started shopping for a boat, then a house to park it behind.

[Ron Burgundy]

I brought a motor with me and started shopping for a boat, then a house to park it behind.

Good to hear you have your priorities straight. I'm starting to go further out in the IC as my two year old First Mate gets a little bigger. He is still in the phase where he wants to throw EVERYTHING that isn't tied down over the side of the boat.

[GregF]

That was the way I was here. I started out just poking around the river, then I went out in the bay a little ways. The first time I made it all the way to the pass and the Gulf was an adventure for me(about 6 miles).
I thought I was Marco Polo.
Pretty soon I bought another gas can and I was going all over.

I admit I was a little worried about a "new to me" motor until I got some confidence with it. I carried a battery and a trolling motor for a while.
It was also pretty lonely around here. I could be stuck for a while before someone found me and that was before cell phones. I did have a Children's Band Walkie Talkie but I was never convinced I could actually raise the USCG on Ch 9.

[Ron Burgundy]

I'm starting to get more comfortable out in the Gulf with my 'toon. At first I felt kinda like I brought a knife to a gun fight. I was being passed in the channel by 30-40 foot fishing vessels trailing 2-3 foot wakes that rocked me pretty good.

The boat just didn't seem seaworthy to me, and it felt more like a lake boat. Now that I have taken it out in a varity of conditions I realize that it can actually handle a pretty rough sea as long as I adjust the speed accordingly.

Took it out this afternoon for a little test run. Conditions weren't very favorable for a speed test. I had 12-15 knot winds and 1-2 foot chop. I was surprised that I got 14 mph into the wind and 16mph with the wind at my back at about 4200rpm.

[GregF]

Just be careful. You can get in trouble.
The most dangerous places are usually the passes, particularly on the outside, just about even with the beach line and out 100'
If you have 6 or 7 knots of outgoing tide into a 10-12 Mph wind coming in off the Gulf you can suddenly be in very short duration standing waves and it is possible to pitch pole or broach. If you stick the nose in and that wave keeps coming from behind you can flip right over.
You best bet is to avoid the center of the channel altogether, stay closer to the shoreline and follow it around a bit before you turn seaward if you have those conditions. You will see it (the standing waves) but you may not realize how bad it is until you are in it.

In the pass itself that 6 kt tide might choke down to 12kts, right at the worst place, under the bridge where you are supposed to be idle speed and there is plenty of stuff to hit. Remember, you are allowed to use whatever power is necessary to maintain steerage way. I usually stall around if there is another boat coming the other way in those situations so I can be in the washing machine by myself.

Around you, Johns Pass (Madeira Beach/Treasure Island) is a classic for that but it can be any narrow pass with a tight bridge opening (usually a draw bridge)

Form my experience running with a lot of other boats offshore, think of a 20' pontoon about like a 17' runabout. He may ride a little drier but you will handle the chop a lot better until you start burying the deck.

[Ron Burgundy]

So far I haven't encountered anything like that. I am a little further north than the John's Pass area, but thanks for the heads up. I'll keep an eye out as I venture further and farther in the IC waterways. I think I do have to go under a bridge to get to Caladesi Island.

The channel I take to get out is only about 30 feet wide and it's pretty intimidating to see a large vessel barrelling towards you at 30mph. Happened last week to me. The bow wave must have been four feet high. I just hung back before entering the channel and took it nice and easy over the wake.

It does handle the chop very well though. Rides like a caddy'

Here is a clip of me heading out in my channel. Nothing special, just a nice day out on the water.

[GregF]

Nice looking anhinga on the pole. Do you have speed restrictions outside the channel, if not, once you get some local knowledge you can get away from those big boats.
I have some movies of where I boat but I don't have them in any format that is easy to put up on the web yet. (coming off of 8mm tape)

When I get the time I am going to make WMVs out of them.

[Ron Burgundy]

No speed restrictions outdside the channel. It's only about a mile long and then it's open water every direction. Once I get out there I have no problem with the boats. During the summer though it's pretty busy in and out though.

[Ron Burgundy]

If you are able to get your video's on a digital format just open a youtube account. It's super easy and fast to upload a video.

[GregF]

I would just put it on my web site.