Sportcraft 454

[walleye2go]

Got a question for any of you guys running a Sportcraft with a 454. What speed or RPM do you guys run? Or what do you think is the best compromise between speed and fuel efficiency? Thanks for the input.

[Fishin Crazy]

The speed of your boat at deferent RPMs depends an what kind of prop you have and wind direction. Both will change your speed and fuel consumption.
To get the speed right use your GPS for land speed or I sometimes use my paddle wheel to get my water speed if in a strong current. As for prop. pitch whatever works for ya. Some go with a higher pitch prop and a beaver tail or drift sock to slow the boat when trolling. Some go with low pitch prop to loose speed but remember you loose on the top end too. Its really what you want. If you only drift or cast you probably want the higher pitch prop.

Hope this helps ..... Tight lines to ya!

[walleye2go]

Sorry, what I meant top ask is, what is your cruising speed on the water given optimal conditions.

[bocajemma]

I think a more accurate question would be at what RPM do your secondaries open on your 4 barrel and the gas consumption goes way up. I am curious as well. My 454 in my Baha loves the gas, but I usually just burn it and get to my destination. I think it's somewhere around 3200-3400 rpm, but not sure. I know it's more vaccuum related, but there has to be a typical RPM range.

[walleye2go]

LOL. Yeah they love the gas. I usually run at 3000 which gets me about 22-23 mph. I was just curious what rpm or mph other guys ran. The manual says the max rpm is 4400 but I don't think I'd push it close to that.

[bocajemma]

I usually run closer to 3800 RPM which gets me around 27mph. But I am burning a lot of fuel. I am going to back it down to around 3200-3400 which usuall gets me around 22mph. From what I have read the sweet spot for fuel mileage is somewhere in that neighborhood before the secondaries open up on the 454. If you are running 3000 you could probably bump it just a little and not hurt fuel mileage a lot.

[walleye2go]

That's right about what I was thinking. One day I did quite a bit of running (I should have wrote down mileage for comparison, duh), but I ran her at 3400, 25-26 mph, and seemed to drink a lot more fuel for the mileage I ran. Thanks for your thoughts!

[stubby]

LOL. Yeah they love the gas. I usually run at 3000 which gets me about 22-23 mph. I was just curious what rpm or mph other guys ran. The manual says the max rpm is 4400 but I don't think I'd push it close to that.

i usually run 34-3600 in my 26' searay amberjack (stern drive)...19-19 prop
27-28 mph

LADY B II....ch 79