Best cruising speed for a 260DA?

P

petern

New Member
May 17, 2009
85
Wickford, RI
Boat Info
260 Sundancer 2006
Engines
350 Mag w/ B3 Drive
I've read various posts about cruising speeds/fuel burn numbers.....I tend to cruise at around 3500rpm @ approx 19 mph.....this feels a little light to me (although with the drive trimmed at 3, this combo is the most stable) For some reason, I'm anxious about running at 4000 rpm and 30 mph as some suggest (not sure I can even get Karavaki to do that) any thoughts?
 
I cruise between 3800 and 4000 RPM at approximately 25 to 27 knots with no problem.
 
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new to this boat i am curious to hear other peoples opinions also, especially about economical speeds etc.
i feel my boats comfortable cruise speed is about 3500 rpm.
 
This is going to depend a lot on the year of your boat, or more specifically the pitch of your prop and drive ratio. I believe prior to 2004 or 2003, Sea Ray was selling the 260DA with a 24" pitch prop set. Guys with this setup should be able to cruise ~ 30mph @ 3500 rpm. Later boats came with the 20" pitch props and need to turn 4000 rpm+ to get 30 mph.

To the OP, you should be moving faster than 19mph @ 3500 rpm even with the 20" pitch props, should be more like 24 mph. Did you verify the speed with GPS?
 
3900 rpm (26-27) mph is my best fuel mileage.

6.2L and Genny....I'm pretty heavy always have 5+ on the boat 1/4 tank fuel and full water.
 
I run between 3750 and 3850 and that produces around 27-29mph all things being equal. Although the gas mileage is not that great.....13.5gph.
 
My boat is a one of a kind, but I get 27mph (GPS) at 3400. That is 13.6 - 14.1 gph depending on the waves and currents.

Last Thursday night, the water was bathtub flat. No wakes, waves, or current to speak of. I got 29mph at just a touch below 3500rpm and 12.9 gph. I had the drive trimmed up a bit higher than usual and a bit of both tabs down, which is rare. I was tempted to go WOT, but it was dark and I didn't feel like pushing my luck and ruining a perfect midnight run.
 
1stSeaRay said:
This is going to depend a lot on the year of your boat, or more specifically the pitch of your prop and drive ratio. I believe prior to 2004 or 2003, Sea Ray was selling the 260DA with a 24" pitch prop set. Guys with this setup should be able to cruise ~ 30mph @ 3500 rpm. Later boats came with the 20" pitch props and need to turn 4000 rpm+ to get 30 mph.

To the OP, you should be moving faster than 19mph @ 3500 rpm even with the 20" pitch props, should be more like 24 mph. Did you verify the speed with GPS?
Click to expand...

The '99-'04s are about 1100 lbs lighter (depending on options) than the '05-'08s. I cruise at 3500 RPMs and 25-26 knots (30MPH)consistently. I have 24" pitch props on the BravoIII
 
skibum said:
My boat is a one of a kind, but I get 27mph (GPS) at 3400. That is 13.6 - 14.1 gph depending on the waves and currents.

Last Thursday night, the water was bathtub flat. No wakes, waves, or current to speak of. I got 29mph at just a touch below 3500rpm and 12.9 gph. I had the drive trimmed up a bit higher than usual and a bit of both tabs down, which is rare. I was tempted to go WOT, but it was dark and I didn't feel like pushing my luck and ruining a perfect midnight run.
Click to expand...

Must be higher pitch props or different drive ratio since you have the grunt to pull it!
 
Yep. 26p props and a 2:20 ratio.

The pull matches the published torque curves extremely well. At 4000 RPMs I have to hang on to the wheel pretty good just to stay in position in front of the seat, at 4500, I have to sit down or cut back on the throttle.

I generally cruise "comfortable". 90% of the time, I run around at 3300-3400 RPM doing somewhere between 24 and 27. I could probably live with a smaller engine as I rarely use this one to its full potential. That being said, I wouldn't give it up. There have been times where I DID need it, and I was glad that it was there...
 
petern said:
.....I tend to cruise at around 3500rpm @ approx 19 mph.....
Click to expand...

Double check this. If 3500 RPMs are really only giving you 19 mph, something is wrong. Based on the other 260s with your engine, 3500 should give you 24-25 mph. Best cruise looks to be a bit faster at 3700-3800 and 27-29 mph.
 
Based on my experience with my 260DA, at 3500 RPM he is not on plane any longer so the 19 mph makes sense to me.
 
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