Top Speed?

MegaCabMan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:19 am **Posts:** 6

2007 215
350 mag EFI/Bravo III 28 pitch
3/4 tank of gas, full fresh water tank.
bimini up but not open
1 person
glass water = 48 mph with a little left to go and trimmed to the double hash mark.

With just a little chop (1 to 2") 53-54MPH balls to the wall & trimmed up till she's squirming around in the ass!

jdclay · **Joined:** Wed May 02, 2012 11:50 am **Posts:** 30

1996 195 Sundowner, 302 ford, 5.0 will do 46 loaded down with same prop. Changing to 14.75x19 shortly. Anxious to see....

montana73 · **Posted:** Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:38 pm

I guess I'm a bit disappointed after seeing everyone's posts. I have a 1999 Sundowner 245 with the 7.4L Volvo Gi and DP stainless props. I had F6's when I bought it, but I live around 5200 ft and often boat on lakes at 6000 or 6500 ft. Top end with F6's was 48 mph. Switched to F5 to get out of water faster. Dropped to 42. Still only run at 4k rpms. Just last weekend, I switched to F4's (stainless as well) and pop out of the water great (perfect for skiing even with 6-8 people in the boat. However, I can hardly break 38 with 1/4 tank of gas and by myself. Still sitting at 4k rmp, which I think I should be running faster. It's kind of weird because my first run out, I popped right out and broke 44 mph and sitting around 4300 rmp. I slowed down and tried again (and again, and again) and could never break 38 mph on glass water and perfect trip. I know I'm at high altitude, but seems like I should be running a lot faster. I believe I have 1.78 gear ratio too. Not sure, because it's hard to read tag on outdrive. Any thoughts? It's almost like the engine was governed at 4000 mph. Dealer in Pueblo said it should run up to 4800 rpm with no problem. Thanks, Russ

Obie · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:40 pm

It seems your RPM limiter is the first issue to address. The engine should be able to reach well above that RPM rate. Then you can try different props. My top speed with an F4 and an F3 were almost identical. But the F4 resulted in engine RPMs being below the recommended minimum of 4800 at wide open throttle. You should be reaching different maximum RPMs with different props being limited only by the engine RPM limiter at the high end.

Bogger · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 3:07 pm

I don't have GPS & can't trust my guages but my brother clocked us at over 40 mph this weekend from his invader... I saw a video of my 238 cruising @ WOT and it is quite impressive to see the cruisers at those speeds.... BUT 25 min @ WOT burned about $60 in fuel....

Obie · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:22 pm

I feel your financial pain. The cost of the boat, fuel, insurance, repairs, and many many added amenities results in a cost of about $50.00 per mile for me after six years of use. Fuel is the least of my expenses. The best boating quote I ever heard was "The cost of boating (when amortized over the length of time you will be dead) is essentially zero". At WOT I am getting 1.77 MPG and burning 25 gallons per hour according to my Flowscan fuel flow meter. That translates to about $100 per hour and $2.28 per mile. When just cruising I watch the GPS closely while I tweak both the outdrive trim and trim tabs. I cruise most efficiently at about 29 MPH while getting 2.95 MPG or about $1.37 per mile in fuel. This is way less than the cost of owning a boat. So just go for it.

Bogger · **Posted:** Mon Jul 23, 2012 4:38 pm

Boat = Break Out Another Thousand....
My dad always said "my boat will always keep me grounded, it ensures I'll never have too much money"

The cost of Boating & Sledding addiction is comparable to cocain addiction, same high without the weight loss....

Obie wrote:

I feel your financial pain. The cost of the boat, fuel, insurance, repairs, and many many added amenities results in a cost of about $50.00 per mile for me after six years of use. Fuel is the least of my expenses. The best boating quote I ever heard was "The cost of boating (when amortized over the length of time you will be dead) is essentially zero". At WOT I am getting 1.77 MPG and burning 25 gallons per hour according to my Flowscan fuel flow meter. That translates to about $100 per hour and $2.28 per mile. When just cruising I watch the GPS closely while I tweak both the outdrive trim and trim tabs. I cruise most efficiently at about 29 MPH while getting 2.95 MPG or about $1.37 per mile in fuel. This is way less than the cost of owning a boat. So just go for it.

MegaCabMan · **Joined:** Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:19 am **Posts:** 6

montana73 wrote:

I guess I'm a bit disappointed after seeing everyone's posts. I have a 1999 Sundowner 245 with the 7.4L Volvo Gi and DP stainless props. I had F6's when I bought it, but I live around 5200 ft and often boat on lakes at 6000 or 6500 ft. Top end with F6's was 48 mph. Switched to F5 to get out of water faster. Dropped to 42. Still only run at 4k rpms. Just last weekend, I switched to F4's (stainless as well) and pop out of the water great (perfect for skiing even with 6-8 people in the boat. However, I can hardly break 38 with 1/4 tank of gas and by myself. Still sitting at 4k rmp, which I think I should be running faster. It's kind of weird because my first run out, I popped right out and broke 44 mph and sitting around 4300 rmp. I slowed down and tried again (and again, and again) and could never break 38 mph on glass water and perfect trip. I know I'm at high altitude, but seems like I should be running a lot faster. I believe I have 1.78 gear ratio too. Not sure, because it's hard to read tag on outdrive. Any thoughts? It's almost like the engine was governed at 4000 mph. Dealer in Pueblo said it should run up to 4800 rpm with no problem. Thanks, Russ

You didn't mention trim...if your not trimming the drive constantly, trying to get maximum performance, you leaving some MPH on the table. My boat for instance will only run about 38 MPH @ ~4000 RPM trimmed all the way down. Trimmed to the max WFO at 5800rpm I can get to 52-53 MPH under perfect conditions. Also glass water is not the fastest water, fast water has a little chop on it.

neutron · **Posted:** Wed Jul 25, 2012 5:24 pm

lindeman23 wrote:

Question: My boat is a 1997 w/ the fuel injected 5.7 liter. On the Website it says my motor has either 250 or 220 HP. How is it that your 91 has 270? Did you do upgrades?

yours should have 250

boatingboy · **Joined:** Sat Dec 29, 2012 10:14 am **Posts:** 31

my four winns sundowner 225 1999 has a 280 volvo penta motor single prob. It will do 51 5 people 1/4 gas. With Canvas.

Technologic80 · **Posted:** Sun May 11, 2014 8:58 pm

My 97 Vista 278 with the twin 4.3l Gi engine (TBI) and SX outdrives hit 44.6mph today GPS speed at WOT with a FULL tank of freshwater, 3 adults on board + 1 large black lab/rottweiler mix, and a ton of gear (cooler, etc) from overnighting on board. I also have a factory installed 4kw Kohler Generator! (read: the boat is heavy)

I was VERY impressed with that. Seems like when I bought the boat a few years ago, during the sea trial I swear we hit 48mph per the GPS. But according to Four Winns, the fastest my boat will go at WOT is 46mph. Either we hit 46mph and Im mistaken, or the wind was REALLY strong from behind and all the planets aligned that day, and we really did hit 48mph. lol

neutron · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2014 8:19 am

that is very impressive with twin V6s.
problem would be how much gas is she chugging to be at that speed and weight

Jdpber · **Posted:** Mon May 12, 2014 2:22 pm

72 mph @ 15MPG propelled by a built 5.3 Chevy :lol:

rpengr · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2014 7:37 am

Jdpber wrote:

72 mph @ 15MPG propelled by a built 5.3 Chevy :lol:

That pretty good on the trailer... That's impossible on the water!

Walt · **Posted:** Wed May 14, 2014 8:10 am

rpengr wrote:

Jdpber wrote:

72 mph @ 15MPG propelled by a built 5.3 Chevy :lol:

That pretty good on the trailer... That's impossible on the water!

My thoughts exactly... I've had mine to 78 mph and that's with a factory inline 6. Impressive as my boat/trailer weighs nearly 5k lbs and is about 10' 6" tall!

EDIT- Boat about 1/2 fuel, 4 pers .... 55 by GPS with the bimini up!

www.iFourWinns.com

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