Kristian Ferrell
There are many ways to increase the speed of a boat, from reducing weight to changing the propeller pitch. The thrill of going fast on the water is part of the fun of boating, and many boat owners are surprised by how much weight they can leave on the dock. This is like finding free horsepower.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reduce weight | Clear out every storage compartment and only put back the essentials |
| Don't over-trim | Trimming out the sterndrive or outboard lifts the bow, reduces the wetted surface of the hull and thus drag, and increases speed. But if you just trim to the limit you could be over-trimming, and actually losing top speed |
| Change your propeller | The perfect propeller needs to match the boat power, weight, and hull type |
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What You'll Learn
Reduce weight
Reducing weight is one of the simplest ways to make your boat go faster. Many boat owners are surprised by how much weight they can leave on the dock. Start at the bow and work your way back, clearing out every storage compartment, and then put back only the essentials. This is like finding free horsepower.
When reducing weight, it's important to consider the weight of the boat, the engine, and the propeller. The perfect propeller needs to match the boat power, weight, and hull type. Some dealers will let you test a prop before purchasing, and may even have “demo” props on the shelf just for that purpose.
On days when you want to go as fast as possible, drain the fresh water and holding tanks if your boat is so equipped, and head out with less than a full tank of fuel. This will reduce the overall weight of the boat and increase speed.
Trimming out the sterndrive or outboard lifts the bow, reduces the wetted surface of the hull and thus drag, and increases speed. However, be careful not to over-trim, as this could cause you to lose top speed. As you trim out the drive, the prop gets closer to the water's surface and will eventually ventilate, or become contaminated with air, and lose its grip on the water.
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Change your propeller
Changing your propeller is a great way to make your boat go faster. It's like changing gears on a bicycle: if you're in a low gear, you can ride away quickly but your legs will soon be spinning and you won't be going very fast. In a high gear, you'll need to push hard on the pedals to get going, but you'll eventually reach a faster top speed.
The perfect propeller needs to match the boat's power, weight and hull type. This is where expert advice is useful. Some dealers will let you test a prop before you buy it, and may even have 'demo' props available.
Propping for top speed may produce unsatisfactory acceleration—the boat will take longer to get on plane. However, if you're looking to increase your boat's speed, changing your propeller is a great place to start.
In addition to changing your propeller, there are a few other things you can do to make your boat go faster. For example, reducing weight is like finding free horsepower. Many boat owners are surprised by how much weight they can leave on the dock. Start at the bow and work your way back, clearing out every storage compartment, and then put back only the essentials.
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Drain fresh water and holding tanks
Draining fresh water and holding tanks is one of the ways to make your boat go faster. If your boat is equipped with fresh water and holding tanks, drain them before you head out. This will reduce the weight of your boat and increase its speed.
Start at the bow and work your way back, clearing out every storage compartment. Only put back the essentials. This will help your boat reach its full speed potential.
You can also reduce weight by leaving non-essential items on the dock. Another way to reduce weight is to head out with less than a full tank of fuel.
Trimming out the sterndrive or outboard will also help to increase speed. Trimming out lifts the bow, reducing the wetted surface of the hull and thus drag. However, be careful not to over-trim, as this could cause you to lose top speed. As you trim out the drive, the propeller gets closer to the surface of the water and will eventually ventilate, or become contaminated with air, and lose its grip on the water.
You can also change your propeller to increase speed. The perfect propeller will match the boat power, weight, and hull type. Some dealers will let you test a propeller before purchasing.
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Engine RPM
To avoid over-trimming, you can change your propeller. This is like changing gears on a bicycle – a low gear will allow you to pick up speed quickly, but you won’t be able to go very fast. A high gear will take longer to get going, but you’ll eventually reach a faster top speed. The perfect propeller will match the boat’s power, weight and hull type. Some dealers will let you test a propeller before purchasing, and may even have demo props available.
Another way to increase engine RPM is to reduce the weight of your boat. Start at the bow and work your way back, clearing out every storage compartment, and then put back only the essentials. Reducing weight is like finding free horsepower, and many boat owners are surprised by how much weight they can leave on the dock.
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Trimming
To trim your boat, run it up to full throttle and then very gradually add trim, just bumping the trim button with your thumb, and watch the boat speed. Engine RPM might keep climbing, but speed will start to go down. This is easy to see with a GPS speedometer or any device with a GPS-generated speed display.
You can also change your propeller. The perfect propeller needs to match the boat power, weight, and hull type. Some dealers will let you test a prop before purchasing, and may even have “demo” props on the shelf just for that purpose.
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Frequently asked questions
Reduce weight, change your propeller, and don't over-trim.
Reducing weight is like finding free horsepower. Many boat owners are surprised by how much weight they can leave on the dock.
Changing propeller pitch is like changing gears up or down on a bicycle. The perfect propeller needs to match the boat power, weight, and hull type.
Trimming out the sterndrive or outboard lifts the bow, reduces the wetted surface of the hull and thus drag, and increases speed. But if you just trim to the limit you could be over-trimming, and actually losing top speed.
Engine RPM might keep climbing, but speed will start to go down. This is easy to see with a GPS speedometer or any device with a GPS-generated speed display.
