48 | BOATINGMAG.COM | JULY/AUGUST 2018M
Whether running a dedicated go-fast boat, a
sport boat or a hard-charging center-console,
many boaters would like to garner more
performance from their craft but aren’t sure
where to start.Maybe it won’t plane
quickly enough, the
rough-water handling
is unpredictable, or the
propeller ventilates in
hard turns. For many,
top speed is the issue;
who wouldn’t want
a few more miles per
hour? Whatever your
speed concern, it can
probably be improved
— though it may not be
cheap or easy. Here are
eight tips for improving
speed and acceleration.VIDEOS AND
PHOTOS: DOCUMENT
THE PROGRESS
What once was a pain (a
friend with a camcorder)
is now easy-peasy. Have
your buddy use a phone
to video your boat at
speed so you can cri-
tique its performance.
This is a great way to
show setup experts and
prop shops. Look to seePROPELLER
SELECTION
Your propeller is the
transmission that con-
verts power into motion.
Check that your prop’s
blades are in good condi-
tion — clean and sharp,
with no dings or nicks. If
not, it may be time for a
tuneup at a prop shop.
What type of propel-
ler do you have? Is it
right for your perform-
ance application? A
round-ear propeller
is good for overall
lift, delivers strongperformance under
varying conditions,
and excels at low-end
and midrange accel-
eration performance.
Cleaver-style propel-
lers work well on light
boats, or boats that
have a lot of natural
lift built in (e.g., tunnel
hulls or catamarans).
Cleavers typically do
not accelerate well but
provide optimum top
speeds. Larger, thicker
blades with more
surface area are better
for larger, heavier
hulls with larger gear
cases. Smaller blades
with less diameter and
surface area will notprovide enough thrust
to carry larger hulls.
Discuss your boat’s
performance with
experts at a prop shop
and show them your
props to determine
what changes are
needed and what re-
sults are realistic. Last,
remember the old
racer’s adage: Never
turn down the oppor-
tunity to try another
propeller.BLUEPRINTING
THE BOAT BOTTOM
Tuning your boat’s bot-
tom is a time-consum-
ing and back-breaking
chore but can yield PHOTOS: COURTESY MERCURY MARINE (PROPS), COURTESY FOUNTAIN POWERBOATS (ICONIC MARINE GROUP)EIGHT TIPS
FOR GOING
FASTER
How to improve your top speed.if all or most spray exits
the boat at the transom
(none or very little
exiting the hull from
the sides means more
ei ciency). If there’s a
rooster tail, it should be
long and low — behind
the boat 20 to 40 feet
and no higher than the
top of the outboard
cowl — not high like a jet
boat’s nozzle spray. The
boat’s bow should be
riding (“carrying ”) at an
angle of approximately
3 to 5 degrees positive
incline, maximum. If
you see anything other
than these visual clues,
the boat-and-motor
setup is not right. More
performance is there for
the taking, and pros can
show you how.SPIN IT
Changing
props could
help you gain
an edge in
performance.