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Short Wave Sportfishing
 
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On 23 Nov 2004 15:31:50 -0800, (Big Daddy) wrote:

Wow. Thanks for all the great comments. Let me clarify a few
things...
I don't even need to use the trim tabs to get on plane, even with full
tank and many people. I guess the duoprop twin outdrives do the
trick.
I will check into the flowmeters, but I think the reason I don't buy
them is that I'd like to get good at finding what you have all called
"the sweet spot" by watching the gps speed vs rpm while making
adjustments. All I can think of is all the gas I can buy for the 2 or
3 hundred dollars for flow meters for my twins! (I hope that isn't a
dumb answer).


Yes and no. It would seem a wasteful purchase and I should know - I
had to be convinced that it would help with my Contender. I have to
admit that I was wrong. The fuel flow meters help because they can
show you if, all things being equal, you might have a problem. And
you can pretty much keep track of how much fuel you are using at any
one time. The ones I have keep track of total fuel usage also.

What I really should have asked is; Would I get better fuel mileage
by running on plane at a slower speed with larger trim tabs versus
running at a faster minimum planing speed with the tabs I have now.
I think you have all answered my question. Leave it alone. The tabs
are Bennet and installed new on the boat. The boat runs great the way
it is. I really like the advice to watch rpm and speed while changing
things.


Ah - it if works, it works. My motto. :)

Thanks a lot.

Hey, one more quick one. Has anyone else noticed in some of the
magazine boat reviews where they show the rpm, boat angle, and mpg
that in some tests, the best mpg that they measure is when the boat
angle is at it's steepest, like 5 degrees? That seems odd to me.
That, I would think is the very worst angle for good gas mileage and
yet they show it as the best.


Once again, depends on the type of hull. I would bet that those boats
at that angle don't have a great deal of deal rise.

Later,

Tom