Q1: what can be done to a 2016 150 SUPER SPORT with a Mercury 60-HP FOURSTROKE engine [with a propeller that is “dinged” in at least two places] to increase the engine speed so that the boat speed increases?
BACKSTORY
I recently purchased a 2016 150 Super Sport with a Mercury 60-HP FOURSTROKE COMMAND THRUST engine and a 13-3/4-inch x 15-pitch Black Max propeller. The Boston Whaler published performance data for the boat with this engine and propeller shows that at wide-open throttle the engine speed is 5940 RPM and the boat speed is 36.3-MPH.
My 2016 150 SUPER SPORT only reaches an engine speed of 4900-RPM and a boat speed of 28 to 29-MPH with about the same number of persons and the same amo7ntbload as in the published performance. The engine speed is measured on the dashboard tachometer and boat speed is measured by GPS.
The propeller is a little bit dinged in a couple places, but nothing significant.
150 SUPER SPORT Performance Far Below Published Speeds
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NorthShoreWhaler
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Re: 150 SUPER SPORT Performance Far Below Published Speeds
Q2: What is the condition of the boats bottom?
Q3: Is there bottom paint on the boat?
Q4: Is the engine sufficiently trimmed up when on plane?
I have the same boat. The 150 SUPER SPORT is definitely sensitive to trim, and once on plane the engine must be trimmed up to increase boat speed.
Q3: Is there bottom paint on the boat?
Q4: Is the engine sufficiently trimmed up when on plane?
I have the same boat. The 150 SUPER SPORT is definitely sensitive to trim, and once on plane the engine must be trimmed up to increase boat speed.
Re: 150 SUPER SPORT Performance Far Below Published Speeds
The published performance data from Boston Whaler generally is VERY representative of actual field test results, and being able to achieve the same speeds is expected.
For a variation in maximum engine speed and boat speed from published data that is as much as you are indicating, that is, the engine speed is 1040-RPM LESS than the published engine speed and the boat speed is 8.3-MPH less than the published boat speed, is a very significant DEVIATION from expected results.
The first element of your narrative that draws immediate attention to being a possible cause of the deviation is the condition of the propeller. To have ANY damage to a propeller blade or blades will result in reduced performance. As you report at least two instances of damage to propeller blades, the only reasonable inference from this statement is the propeller CANNOT be working at optimum efficiency. You CANNOT expect to have the published performance with a damaged propeller.
The second element of your narrative that draws attention is that you do not describe the WEIGHT being carried on the boat. You only say that the NUMBER of people is the same. The WEIGHT of people is very important on a small boat, so no comparison can be made just on the number of people; the weight of the people aboard must be the same or less than on the published data. You also describe the AMOUNT of gear aboard; again, the amount is not as important as the WEIGHT. If you want to achieve the same performance as in the published specification, the total WEIGHT of crew and gear must be the same in your testing as in the factory testing.
The third element of your narrative that draws attention is in the position of the throttle. To achieve the "wide-open" throttle as used in the published test data, your rigging of the throttle linkage must be able to move the throttle plates in the engine to the wide-open position. You need to check that the remote throttle control and linkages are actually moving the throttle on the engine to the wide-open position.
As suggested by another 150 SUPER SPORT owner, the setting of the engine trim will have a big influence on engine and boat speed. You need to experiment with engine trim to be sure you have optimized the engine trim at full-throttle to produce the maximum engine speed and boat speed combination.
Also, test condition such as air temperature, water temperature, water salinity, humidity, sea state, and winds will all affect the engine and boat performance.
Q5: what is the URL to the factory performance data you are referring to for boat and engine speeds?
For a variation in maximum engine speed and boat speed from published data that is as much as you are indicating, that is, the engine speed is 1040-RPM LESS than the published engine speed and the boat speed is 8.3-MPH less than the published boat speed, is a very significant DEVIATION from expected results.
The first element of your narrative that draws immediate attention to being a possible cause of the deviation is the condition of the propeller. To have ANY damage to a propeller blade or blades will result in reduced performance. As you report at least two instances of damage to propeller blades, the only reasonable inference from this statement is the propeller CANNOT be working at optimum efficiency. You CANNOT expect to have the published performance with a damaged propeller.
The second element of your narrative that draws attention is that you do not describe the WEIGHT being carried on the boat. You only say that the NUMBER of people is the same. The WEIGHT of people is very important on a small boat, so no comparison can be made just on the number of people; the weight of the people aboard must be the same or less than on the published data. You also describe the AMOUNT of gear aboard; again, the amount is not as important as the WEIGHT. If you want to achieve the same performance as in the published specification, the total WEIGHT of crew and gear must be the same in your testing as in the factory testing.
The third element of your narrative that draws attention is in the position of the throttle. To achieve the "wide-open" throttle as used in the published test data, your rigging of the throttle linkage must be able to move the throttle plates in the engine to the wide-open position. You need to check that the remote throttle control and linkages are actually moving the throttle on the engine to the wide-open position.
As suggested by another 150 SUPER SPORT owner, the setting of the engine trim will have a big influence on engine and boat speed. You need to experiment with engine trim to be sure you have optimized the engine trim at full-throttle to produce the maximum engine speed and boat speed combination.
Also, test condition such as air temperature, water temperature, water salinity, humidity, sea state, and winds will all affect the engine and boat performance.
Q5: what is the URL to the factory performance data you are referring to for boat and engine speeds?
Re: 150 SUPER SPORT Performance Far Below Published Speeds
The dinged propeller could be a big part of the problem with insufficient boat speed. Even small damage affects a propeller's performance.
Re: 150 SUPER SPORT Performance Far Below Published Speeds
Regarding the maximum boat speed and engine speeds: getting to the maximum boat speed generally means that the propeller is very well matched to the load, and the engine can continue to accelerate under load to a speed that is just about the maximum allowed engine speed, thus producing what is often the last two or three or even four miles-per-hour of additional boat speed.
In actual operation of a boat, the engine is never run at maximum throttle for very much of the total operating time. Typically the engine might only spend a few percent of its operating time at full-throttle.
In my own case, running my engine at full-throttle occurs mostly in the process of testing propellers. If I weren't testing propellers then the engine would essentially never be running at full throttle, and I would never make any use of that maximum boat speed.
In actual operation of a boat, the engine is never run at maximum throttle for very much of the total operating time. Typically the engine might only spend a few percent of its operating time at full-throttle.
In my own case, running my engine at full-throttle occurs mostly in the process of testing propellers. If I weren't testing propellers then the engine would essentially never be running at full throttle, and I would never make any use of that maximum boat speed.
Re: 150 SUPER SPORT Performance Far Below Published Speeds
Thanks to all for your helpful replies. The bottom is painted and the paint is in very good condition. The total weight of gear and persons is roughly equal to the total weight of gear and persons in the performance tests.
I've tried trimming up more and that has [allowed the engine to accelerate] to 5200-RPM and to a boat speed of about 32-MPH.
Next I will probably try a new propeller.
Suggestion of a propeller brand, model, diameter, and pitch for this boat will be appreciated.
Regards,
Matt
I've tried trimming up more and that has [allowed the engine to accelerate] to 5200-RPM and to a boat speed of about 32-MPH.
Next I will probably try a new propeller.
Suggestion of a propeller brand, model, diameter, and pitch for this boat will be appreciated.
Regards,
Matt
Re: 150 SUPER SPORT Performance Far Below Published Speeds
Q6: What is the gear ratio of your engine?
Q7: What is the engine manufacturer’s specified optimum engine speed range for full throttle.
Q8: How much are you willing to spend for a steel propeller that will provide maximum boat speed?
Q7: What is the engine manufacturer’s specified optimum engine speed range for full throttle.
Q8: How much are you willing to spend for a steel propeller that will provide maximum boat speed?