Based on the tests I have read in boating magazines where they plot fuel
consumption vs. rpm, an outboard powered planing hull usually get best
mileage at 500 - 800 rpm above planing speed. This works out to 3800 - 4300
rpm on the boats I have owned.



"RB" wrote in message
...
I've had several boats with big single and twin o/bs in the past. I
remember most as having a "sweet spot", which was just down from wide open
throttle (WOT). Many of you are probably familiar with a sweet spot.
Cars
and trucks have been known to have them. Seems like going to WOT can eke
out a little more speed, but things are straining, coming back down a
little
seems to let everything harmonize and get in the groove, and run more
smoothly.

The question I have is: assuming a boat with o/b has a sweet spot, is my
fuel consumption more efficient at the sweet spot than wide open? Sounds
like it would be -- a little bit---as you come back on the throttle to get
to the sweet spot. Or, is it that there's no real reason to run at the
sweet spot, other than it "feels right", and good?

Just curious