CONTINUOUSWAVE

Just bought [a 1994 OUTRAGE 21] boat with a 1994 Yamaha 200-HP Saltwater series—560 hours on both.

I know the upper end of the engine speed range is about 5900-RPM. I do not want to run the engine too hard at its age.

I've been running the Yamaha 200-HP engine between 3500 and 4500-RPM.

Give me input on the best maximum engine speed.

What ever the redline is or just below. You d not want to baby a 2 stroke as it will probably self destruct before from carbon buildup , etc. The hours are low, run it conservative like you are doing but don't be afraid to kick it up once a day or so.

There's no reason not to run it up to redline from time to time. The thing to avoid is spending excessive time in the low midrange, where you are just barely planing, struggling to stay on plane, or plowing along at high, sub-planing speed. All of those are demanding a lot of power, but not flowing much air through the motor to help cool it.

These comments are greatly appreciated. When running at 3500 the boat is definitely on plane, and not laboring, that's in the 2200-2400 range on this boat. The 3500 is to address pounding in the short steep freshwater chop on the large lake where I keep the boat. I'm looking forward to opening the throttle up periodically.

Just do it!

I had an Outrage 21 with a Yamaha 200 2-stroke. Sweet spot was 4000rpm, 28-29knots. Conditions didn't always allow for that.