Sundancer 260 Performance/gph

[wprice0511]

I thought I'd share my performance numbers this first weekend and see if other owners wouldn't mind chiming in with their own numbers for similarly sized and powered classic Sea Rays. I just got his boat, so I'll give you the information I've got. This is all based on the factory speedo, as I haven't had a chance to connect the GPS yet.

1985 Sea Ray Sundancer 260, 350 c.i. Mercruiser, 260 h.p., two people on board with about 50 gallons of fuel in the tank. Winds 10-15 knots on Lake Erie. Pretty smooth, but some chop. By the way, it's got a new style 4 bladed prop on the outdrive.

RPM SPEED

2500 16 MPH

3000 20 MPH

3500 24 MPH

4000 27 MPH

Although I'm not sure, I'm guestimating that I'm getting around 7-8 GPH of fuel burn.

I was pretty happy with this performance. Does this sound about right for the boat? What are others getting?

Thanks,

Warren Price
MARINE WOLF
1985 Sundancer 260

 

[Cap10Pat]

Mine is a 1980 260, same engine vintage 1995 with a 4 bbl.
Most people don't put much stock in factory speedometers. I find them to be okay except that they can get clogged with growth, and need a new pickup - possibly every year.
But I find your result to be right on mine at 2500, although you lose about 3 mph as rpm increases. This may be the prop or the speedo. I'm running a 3-blade, which is usually better than a 4 at higher rpms. My results are from GPS.
Your fuel burn is about right for 2500, but will be more like 10 gph if you cruise at 3000, and maybe 15 by 3500. Maximum (WOT) burn for that engine is about 18 gph. I usually cruise at 2500-3000 and get over 2 mpg at both speeds.

 

[keokie]

Mine is a little different animal. For what it's worth, at 3000 rpm I run 29-30 mph and burn about 13gph (according to GPS and a flow meter) This is at 1200 feet elevation and well loaded.

 

[wprice0511]

Well, that's good information. Sounds like I'm best to stay between 2500 and 3000 for cruising. I'm going to be taking a 3 hour trip next week and I'll have the GPS installed by then. I'll determine my MPG mroe accurately on that trip and get some more accurate speed numbers. I'm thinking that my prop is probably reducing my top end slightly, but it seems to do real well at lower to mid-range speeds.

I'm glad to hear that my performance seems to be meshing with others.