On Thu, 02 Sep 2004 11:47:11 GMT, "simon gilder"
wrote:

Hi Group

I'm the owner of a nice example 1989 Bayliner Capri with a 2.3 ltr cobra omc
engine.
Now my first thought when i bought this boat just over a year ago was that
it was going to
economical.
The boat has not had a hard life and is all serviced.
With a different prop top speed is 34 mph tops but this is screaming the
engine.
I guess at this speed i'm probably using what 5-7 gals.
My thoughts are now that i cant be doing the engine any good running at max
revs and only acheiving 34 mph tops,so i'm considering selling up and buying
either another Bayliner with a 4.3ltr or 5ltr engine.
My question is i guess,am i going to be in for a nasty shock when i realise
that,that fuel consumption has at least doubled?
I've been told that a larger engine would'nt be working as hard and could be
as economical as the smaller 2.3ltr.
Also,would a larger engine last longer if serviced propably as it would'nt
be working so hard.
Any thoughts or answers would be really appreciated.

Thanks for reading.

Go outboards. While some will disagree, I think they are more
efficient - mine sure as heck are. I have one 200 and twin 225s and
they all run around 5 gph across the usage curve. Plenty of power,
lots of speed and they are much easier to repair.

Then again, I'm not much of an inboard guy. :)

Having said that, the whole concept of large engines not haveing to
work as hard at high revs as opposed to smaller engines is suspect to
me. If you are going to run at full throttle most of the time, then
the bigger engine is working just as hard as the smaller engine.

As to efficiency, a larger engine will be more efficient in terms of
obtaining plane speeds because of the stronger power curve. In terms
of GPH figures, bigger cylinders, more cylinders, more gas. If you
are pushing relatively the same size boat with a bigger engine, you
might gain some efficiency, but not a lot in my opinion. Others may
disagree.

As to service, any engine that is serviced correctly and on a regular
basis will last longer, even a small one. It's really how the engine
is used that causes the problems.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653