On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 15:41:54 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
wrote:
I'm using the term "speedboats" to describe boats which sound like they have
(and probably do have) a pair of 400+ cubic inch motors in the back? In
order to achieve their purpose (speed), is it absolutely necessary for them
to be as noisy as they are, or are they just designed that way, in the same
way some morons alter their motorcycles because "loud pipes save lives"?
And, when they're idling, why do they sound (and smell) as if the engines
are only firing on half their cylinders?
=====================================

It's just more thoughtless behavior from the ego challenged "look at
me" crowd. There's no reason at all why a pair of 454s has to be
louder than any other well mannered I/O except that the owners prefer
it that way. Unfortunately in their "it's a free country behavior",
they bring down a lot of unwanted attention and enforcement on the
rest of us. Much of the support for "Save the Manatee" madness
originated with waterfront property owners who were fed up with the
constant noise of jet skis and go fasts zipping up and down the
shoreline at high speed (and decibel levels).

The unique stumbling idle is from the use of high performance cam
shafts that are designed to run well only at top RPMs.