Cruising Speed

[Big Block Power]

If your not in front your not running fast enough. 100% nothing else.lol
Heck you can always dump a 572 in her.

Shake & Bake

I found a nice video of BBP from his childhood

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN34TJj ... ture=share[/youtube]

I wanna go fast I wanna go fast. Lol
I think that's Matt

[Protip]

If your not in front your not running fast enough. 100% nothing else.lol
Heck you can always dump a 572 in her.

Ok BB two things. First, does this make me Ricky Bobby and you my deadbeat dad? Second my bank account is going to hate you because now I am looking around to see what a 572 would cost.

[cmattj]

We took a long trip across the lake yesterday and I did most of it cruising at around 3200 RPM. That had me at about 35mph. Does that seem about right? Just not sure if I should typically be going slower or faster for long trips. This may all be to vague to really answer but I thought I would ask. I have the speed gene and going faster is always tempting, but I know it will wear on the motor and the gas bill faster.

In my thinking as we have discussed this in a vary of ways.

What you described is text book perfect. 3200 rpms and you probably thought and felt by your senses you could leave it there all day.

I'm not a leave the sticks to the dash guy but I do love bursts of speed that gently wind up to max mph, then right back down. ( yes I do that a lot).

In my brain my engines whisper " thank you and for that we will stay around "

Technology has improved for higher sustainable components and the rpms are easier to achieve.

and really? It's not about fuel mileage is it??? it's what we all sence , with sounds and feel.

Would you set you cruise control at 65mph and then drop her in 2 nd gear and leave it there for 15 minutes? Maybe not but you get my point.

[Big Block Power]

If your not in front your not running fast enough. 100% nothing else.lol
Heck you can always dump a 572 in her.

Ok BB two things. First, does this make me Ricky Bobby and you my deadbeat dad? Second my bank account is going to hate you because now I am looking around to see what a 572 would cost.

Maybe. Lol
Or get one of these bad boys.
The big bad Alpha Three!!!

[Protip]

Oh man, that is all kinds of great. Looks like it is more in your budget though.

[Bamabonners]

I’ve noticed that our boat is really beginning to loosen up. Brand new, 2 hours on the engine and it didn’t like to cruise more than about 26. Now, almost 10 hours and it seems to love 30. It jumps pretty good to about 43 and tops out around 47. This is for the vp 240 with dp option. V6 doesn’t have the top end of the v8, but it has good mid range torque.

[tgrace98]

If I am at 3200rpm's in my 262 I am doing about 40mph. Which I'd say is the sweet spot for the volvo 8.1gi. I had it running at that for about an hour straight last weekend and she just wanted to keep on going.

[Driller]

If I am at 3200rpm's in my 262 I am doing about 40mph. Which I'd say is the sweet spot for the volvo 8.1gi. I had it running at that for about an hour straight last weekend and she just wanted to keep on going.

I agree, that’s how my 8.1 Gi responds also.

[cmattj]

I’ve noticed that our boat is really beginning to loosen up. Brand new, 2 hours on the engine and it didn’t like to cruise more than about 26. Now, almost 10 hours and it seems to love 30.

Good cruise speed.. but....

I think it's you that likes 30mph... I'll check with you in a few weeks but I'm sure 34mph will be next.

Like anything we get used to it!

[quote=tgrace98 post_id=25887 time=<a href="tel:1525265433">1525265433</a> user_id=497]
If I am at 3200rpm's in my 262 I am doing about 40mph. Which I'd say is the sweet spot for the volvo 8.1gi. I had it running at that for about an hour straight last weekend and she just wanted to keep on going.

I agree, that’s how my 8.1 Gi responds also.
[/quote]

I'm with you guys. 3200-3300 seems to be my long time ( don't touch the throttles for 1/2hour) spot

[sailor55330]

Interesting that y'all are getting a near match on cruising speed and rpm's. Mine is still in the break in period, so haven't run her too hard, but it seems to me that 3,000 rpm's shows about 25 on the speedo, which suggests less than what others might be seeing. I haven't verified this with any gps and I am going from memory.

Maybe I'm underpowered? I only have 300 ponies.

[tgrace98]

Interesting that y'all are getting a near match on cruising speed and rpm's. Mine is still in the break in period, so haven't run her too hard, but it seems to me that 3,000 rpm's shows about 25 on the speedo, which suggests less than what others might be seeing. I haven't verified this with any gps and I am going from memory.

Maybe I'm underpowered? I only have 300 ponies.

it can be multiple factors. it could be prop's, HP, Are you trimmed all the way down?

[Ytmsn]

Interesting that y'all are getting a near match on cruising speed and rpm's. Mine is still in the break in period, so haven't run her too hard, but it seems to me that 3,000 rpm's shows about 25 on the speedo, which suggests less than what others might be seeing. I haven't verified this with any gps and I am going from memory.

Maybe I'm underpowered? I only have 300 ponies.

it can be multiple factors. it could be prop's, HP, Are you trimmed all the way down?

Or water chop or ambient temperature or barometric pressure or people and gear or bimini up or down or full gas tanks or not holding your mouth just right. It all makes a difference!

[hoghead54]

So that's how you determine your cruising speed? When your RPM's and MPH are the same or close to it??

[Ytmsn]

Nah, Its what you think "feels" good. Some folks cruise at 40 and some at 20. From Thunders tests he determined with his motor his optimal fuel economy and comfortable speed was like 33 if I remember right. Shoot I've dropped my tabs and throttled back to 8 mph and stayed on plane and it seemed to do fine without lugging. It's whatever you're most comfortable with I think. Others will chime in, but that's my take anyway.

[Big Block Power]

I think I'm At 3500 & 35 mph. It's been so darn long I can't remember. I like to cruise at 35-40mph just so i can hear my wife say slow down I can't see that place. I have a problem going under 30. The kids they don't care they just ride in the bow and say hit it