The magic number |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Posted: May-02-2008 at 3:51pm |
I thought since we were discussing speeds in the "50ish" thread that I'd talk a little about it and open it up to discussion .
In the 60's hulls and with the advent of the light weight V8's the magic number seemed to be 40. Some of the Century's with the big blocks as well as the Cuda's with the H/M's would do slighly over the 45 mark. Then with our 70's narrower hulls that magic number hit the 50 mark. With more thought and engineering with the wake of the boat in mind, the 80's hulls seemed to go back down to the 45 mark. That 45 mark with a few exceptions has seemed to hold to this day. Comments? |
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tullfooter
Grand Poobah Joined: March-02-2007 Location: White Lake, MI Status: Offline Points: 2225 |
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Pete
I don't know if it's true, but I've been told that, "back in the day", insurance rates increased on boats that were spec'd to run over 45mph, and manufactureres aimed for the 44 mark. I know in the 80's, almost any inboard I had the pleasure to ride in, topped out at about 43-44. Has anyone heard of this? My insurance guy did ask how fast my BFN ran when I insured it. Steve |
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Play hard, life's not a trial run.
'85 BFN '90 BFN White Lake, Michigan |
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MaddMarxx
Platinum Member Joined: June-29-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1741 |
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I think when CC came out with the 2001 in 82 speeds did go down because the boat got bigger and the HP stayed the same, you are right Pete, 81s and older do tend to be a bit faster and with a few mods, alot faster!
So I guess Size does matter! |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Steve, The speed is a new one on me but I have been asked about the HP's of my boats by the insurance companies. Century sure didn't go by that theory - they were grabbing the biggest engines they could find!! The speed I feel really revolves around the laws of physics of any given hull design and the HP needed to push it. Boats just like cars went through a "muscle" era. The problem with gaining large HP's back then, is it really cut down the reliability of the engines. The marine engine is under load all the time and needs to have the torque available. |
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behindpropeller
Platinum Member Joined: July-31-2006 Status: Offline Points: 1810 |
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Personally....
I don't care about speed. As long as it holds 42-44 barefooting and can pull a load off the dock, I am happy. If I want a fast boat I'll buy an outboard. |
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21169 |
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...but if you want to pull a load of barefooters off the dock and still hold 42-44, you'll need some extra power. Topping out over 50 when unloaded would just be a nice side benefit. Im sure fast boats are fun, but if its not a CC, who cares? |
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hasbeenskier
Platinum Member Joined: May-23-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1116 |
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Bingo! You guys are singing my tune. I am a "hasbeen" of comp. skiing. Boat speed 36mph... 35 for jumping...For showin' off 42mph for footin'.
Personally, I love the sound she makes purrin' at 29mph. I can appreciate those seeking C.C.'s that can skin it back, I just don't need it for my personal uses. bj P.S. I'm going to the lake tomorrow. |
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hasbeenskier
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hasbeenskier
Platinum Member Joined: May-23-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1116 |
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hasbeenskier
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hasbeenskier
Platinum Member Joined: May-23-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1116 |
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Anyone recognize the boat?
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hasbeenskier
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MaddMarxx
Platinum Member Joined: June-29-2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1741 |
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BJ...Is that the boat you sold?
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boat dr
Grand Poobah Joined: June-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 4245 |
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It is that slow boat that 79 sold........LOL
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hasbeenskier
Platinum Member Joined: May-23-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1116 |
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Slow and too cool doc.
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hasbeenskier
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hasbeenskier
Platinum Member Joined: May-23-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1116 |
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Hey Madd Man. It is...Oh well
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hasbeenskier
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Riley
Grand Poobah Joined: January-19-2004 Location: Portland, ME Status: Offline Points: 7953 |
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I think speeds went down in the '80's because they made design changes that significantly improved the slalom wakes, but also resulted in the bow riding lower which kills speed.
Seems like 50 is the upper limit for an inboard, except for a few people here that have put a lot of effort into getting a little more. What's the fastest CC hull? I remember hearing the 60's plywood CCs and mahogany Centurys would hit 50 back in the day, but that was before GPS. |
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quinner
Grand Poobah Joined: October-12-2005 Location: Unknown Status: Offline Points: 5828 |
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Pete,
The modern CC's are definitely getting over the 45 mark, our 206 with the 330hp Excal will show 46-48 on the Perfect Pass display, keeping in mind mine is heavier than most with tower, tanks, etc. a bone stock 206 should be faster. The latest Excal is now rated at 343hp. With a ZR6 @ 390hp or the new 6 liter @ 409hp 50mph should be no problem! Here I am talking about a 206, I would imagine a 196 should be even faster then that. PS, don't tell Tim, he thinks my boat will only do 39! |
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TRBenj
Grand Poobah Joined: June-29-2005 Location: NWCT Status: Offline Points: 21169 |
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CQ, you better go put a gps on that thing before you brag about the top end! 49+ on the PP (calibrated at skiing speeds) is only 45-46 gps on my dad's 196. Id be surprised if youre getting more than 44mph. With the 390hp ZR6 and hydrogate up, Waterski saw the 196 do 51. The modern Malibus seem to do OK top speed wise, but the current MC's are slugs- it takes a lot of power to get them out of the low 40's it seems. |
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Riley
Grand Poobah Joined: January-19-2004 Location: Portland, ME Status: Offline Points: 7953 |
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I asked the MC dealer at the Boston boat show why MCs seem to be such dogs compared to CCs and Malibus in both acceleration and top speed. He said they are designed to be slower, but they have a better pull and far better wakes.
I think the 196 was just about the fastest boat in the WSMBBG this past year, second only to maybe Gekko. |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Now Bruce, Did you expect the MC salesman to be truthful??? Designed that way!! In all honesty, I fell that top speed on a hull is compromised when it is designed for the wake in mind. We see it in all makes. They really are ski or board boats. Notice I didn't include the "T" word!! |
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phatsat67
Grand Poobah Joined: March-13-2006 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 6150 |
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Ha far better wakes? The nautique wakes are much smaller and alot softer than any of the new MC's Ive skied behind and the malibus have the biggest wake of all. You pretty much jump the Malibu wake at skiing speeds.
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Tim D
Grand Poobah Joined: August-23-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2641 |
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Top speed and getting it faster always seems to come up at least once a year. We all have nice tug boats here if you really think about it, fixed drive shaft and a rudder, designed to pull. When you take all the factors, hull length, weight, etc. with a fixed drive shaft, it's only going to go but so fast. There's a 66 Mustang at White Lake with a built 351 in it, the hull length limits the top end because it starts to porpoise.
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Tim D
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Riley
Grand Poobah Joined: January-19-2004 Location: Portland, ME Status: Offline Points: 7953 |
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Pete, It amazes me the stuff salesmen can come up with. I had a truck salesman tell me one time that they didn't discount the price of a new truck much so they could give me a better trade in later on.
The new CC 196s and Malibu ski boats are fast (50 mph), but they have upwards of 400 hp. They ought to go 50. |
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