Planing........Gradual or as fast as possible?

[Dave S]

I have always been from the school of "plane as quickly as possible". But now I am wondering with all the weight of my 260DA whether slamming the throttles wide open to come on plane is really adviseable or whether this is too hard on the engine and outdrive. What do you think?

I would like to hear some opinions on this and your reasons for how you choose to come on plane. Answers will probably vary widely depending on boat size, bow rise issues, etc. but hey.........that's the way we all learn and gain a better understanding on this matter.

I was also thinking about that 38DA that rammed the 18 foot Bayliner and wonder if that guy was comming on plane too slowly. :smt017

 

[Hampton]

I don't slam my throttles to come up on plane immediately. Both my former 250 and current 340 have plenty of power to come up on plane in a timely manner without pushing the power up all of the way. In my 340, I set about 3000 RPM and it comes on up and accelerates to about 3300, then I adjust it.

When my 250 was new, I used to drag the kids around in an inner-tube, but then I got tired of tasking that motor and out-drive too much. They were both fine when I sold them at age 10, but I never felt good about slamming the throttle around.

 

[Four Suns]

I'm from the "fast as possible" school. Getting over the hump from displacement hull speed to planing speed requires far more work on the engines than being on plane. Staying in the "in between" zone longer than you have to is putting more stress on your engines than required. But those are my thoughts and others may have different ones.

 

[JeffM]

Guess I'm sort of in between. I like to get on plane quickly, but don't "slam" the throttle...I fairly quickly advance to full throttle and when on plane reduce throttle and adjust trim/tabs for cruising. I usually take about 10 seconds or so to reach full throttle.

Jeff

 

[MAKC]

I roll on the power and the boat gets up on plane pretty quickly. I have never needed to use full throttle unless we are loaded with people (8). I throttle to 3400 somewhat quickly but not slamming the throttle. Im on plane in under 10 seconds and have eliminated the blind spot created when the bow goes up, as quickly as possible.

 

[ImpulseIII]

I generally "roll the power" up as well. I don't like the thought of just firewalling the throttles. I also use the tabs to get her over as quickly as possible.

 

[osd9]

I also use the tabs. It's not that I need tabs to get on plane, but they do help you get on plane quicker without slamming the throttles. Once on plane, I adjust the throttles and the tabs...

Off topic...sort of...I also fully deploy the tabs when coming off plane. I come off the throttles slowly and steadily. With the tabs down, it helps to bring the bow down quicker and minimizes that big surfing wake at the transom caused from squatting.

 

[Converse48]

Synchronizer On.
Cruise Control On (limits RPM to pre-selected level).
Tabs down.
Roll up throttle.
Tabs up.
Enjoy!

 

[comsnark]

What do you mean by "slam"? I usually push my throttles from 1200 to to a setting appropriate for 3400 rpm in one motion. Then, as the bow starts to level out, I drop the thottles down to a setting for 3000rpm. I don't always wait for the engines to line out at 3400rpm before backing off.

 

[goblue]

Quick is a relative term when your pushing 19,000 pounds. I deploy the tabs fully down and then gradually ramp up power to about 3000 rpms. This way the boat gets up on plane without any bow rise. Then I retract the tabs which brings the rpms up to 3600. Then I back the tachs down to 3400 and trim things out and I'm making about 24.6 knots.

 

[eddiemorales]

When my 250 was new, I used to drag the kids around in an inner-tube, but then I got tired of tasking that motor and out-drive too much. They were both fine when I sold them at age 10, but I never felt good about slamming the throttle around.

How much did you get for 10 year old kids? I've been trying to sell mine and no one will bite!!!!! :smt043 :smt043 :smt043

 

[Sundancer]

I usually move from a fast idle, around 1100 RPM or so to a slow but firm acceleration to around 3300 or so. Sometimes a little higher depending on the load. Slamming a 454, 330 hp Merc Magnum mated to an Alpha drive is a quick way to upgrade your outdrive!! :grin: I still have my original outdrive and intend to keep it that way! :thumbsup:

 

[Cap10Pat]

I'm with Sundancer here - but we have similar boats. I'm usually already underway and exiting a harbor or something before coming on plane, so I'm doing 1000 - 1500 already. I'll push it gently to about 2500+ and let it climb onto plane. In rough water I may push it up faster to minimize getting bounced around, and maybe to a few more rpms. I'm trying to create a smooth and comfortable ride for my passengers and myself. A startling engine rev-up and dramatic shift in boat attitude will not do that.

My thinking is this: 1. The boat will not accelerate as fast as you can push up the throttle, so let them climb together. 2. Just like cars, accelerating away from every light isn't good. 3. You WILL have better control of your boat with slower acceleration.

And, a note on boat design: my old 1980 260, and I suspect Sundancers 1987 250, do not point the bow at the sky like some of the newest boats do. To minimize this perhaps a slower acceleration combined with use of tabs would allow newer boats to get on plane without loosing sight of what's in front of them.

 

[Hampton]

When my 250 was new, I used to drag the kids around in an inner-tube, but then I got tired of tasking that motor and out-drive too much. They were both fine when I sold them at age 10, but I never felt good about slamming the throttle around.

How much did you get for 10 year old kids? I've been trying to sell mine and no one will bite!!!!! :smt043 :smt043 :smt043

13,250 each - the going rate! Try E-bay. Just Kidding around. That did sound funny after I re-read it. The Motor and Outdrive were both fine when I sold the boat - yeah, that's what I meant to say.

 

[islandhopper00]

I push the throttles till the rpms hang and let the boat catch up, then push the throttles slowly forward till I reach planning speed, then back off and adjust for cruise speed.

I should say "throttle" and "rpm" verses throttle"s" and rpm"s". I guess I'm still on my other boat.

 

[Alex D]

On my 340 the worst fuel economy is between 1500 rpm and 3000 rpm and then above 4000 rpm. I usually troll out of the marina and side cove at 1200 to 1500 rpm and then drop the tabs 50 to 70% depending on load, roll the throttles smoothly to 3200 rpm under load and keep the engines synced. She comes right up on plane and I reduce throttles to cruise at 3600 rpm or 31 mph SOG, my favorite speed. Coming off plane I usually reserve 5 minutes for low rpm cool down trolling while approaching the anchorage or getting back to the marina.

 

[lorenbennett]

I start slow on the throttle and increase the speed on the throttle over a few seconds, with an extra bump to get it over the hump then ease off to around 3500. 4000 if i am fully loaded with people. :thumbsup:

 

[walts]

Dave I'm with you. My wife hates the bow up attitude so I move the rpms to around 4400 hit the tabs and after the bow drops back down reduce to around 3000 rpm. In doing that the old girl gets on plane much quicker.

Walt

 

[RonF]

I usually troll out of the marina and side cove at 1200 to 1500 rpm and then drop the tabs 50 to 70% depending on load, roll the throttles smoothly to 3200 rpm under load and keep the engines synced.

Alex, do you have a trim tab gauge? Or are you estimating by the time on the switches.

 

[Nehalennia II]

Dave I think that the 1200RPM 6Knot speed then steady "Roll up" to plane is the way to go.
Slamming it up is probably unnecessary, quick fuel burn and harder on the equipment than you need.
Compare it to hammering the throttle each time you get on the freeway. You'll end up at 60MPH one way or another but it's easier on teh gear if you "Roll Up" :thumbsup: