To plane or just cruise

[NorCal Boater]

That slow cruise you say is NOT in a wake zone but out deep in the water, and 2000 RPM is not really a significant wake maker….

Must be the difference in hulls because my old 340 at 2000 RPMs threw a wake big enough to surf on. Hhere in the Delta we try and also be respectful of our levees and wildlife by minimizing wakes whether in a no-wake zone or not. And that doesn't mean you need to go 6 knts. You should throw less wake at planning speed that at 2000 RPMs.

 

[billnpat]

Must be the difference in hulls because my old 340 at 2000 RPMs threw a wake big enough to surf on. Hhere in the Delta we try and also be respectful of our levees and wildlife by minimizing wakes whether in a no-wake zone or not. And that doesn't mean you need to go 6 knts. You should throw less wake at planning speed that at 2000 RPMs.

Glad your respectful in the Delta:smt001

 

[2000SR380]

Coming through the GG is quite an experience, and not for the inexperienced. In the mid 80's I went through on a ship in the winter, with massive swells/wind. One barge had hit the rocks, and we had a CG escort after waiting outside for many hours to enter. like the approach you describe.

I think a good number of our fellow Sea Ray owners mostly run in rivers, lakes, or delta area's. In San Diego you have a reason to go off-shore (Fishing, Catalina, and the Channel Islands). We have been down to Santa Barbara, anchored overnight in Cuevo Valdez (on Santa Cruz Island), and had lunch at the Avalon Grill. I know what a Santa Anna is and learned to turn on my VHF if the deck is dry in the morning! I do not have any stories to match your trip through the Gate! Sounds like that was a real adventure.

 

[320Bob]

Bill,
My cocktail cruise speed in my old 320 was 7.5 mph on the GPS burning 5 gph which is what the Admiral preferred to being on plane. In my Chaparral, with its shorter length and single engine, cocktail cruise speed is only 6.3 mph burning 2.5 gph or half of what my old 320 with twins. Above this speed the fuel economy drops off noticeable and you can hear the boat laboring pushing all the extra water. The lake where I now boat in AZ has a no wake zone in the shallower portion so I am on plane at around 25 mph burning 10.5 gph at 2,900 rpm. When I reach the no wake are I drop down to 5 mph at around 900 rpm burning only 1.8 gph. At WOT, I'm at 4,750+rpm burning 30 gph going 45 mph which I try to do around once every month or so. Since my lake is at 1,800 ft. I had to have the pitch reduced by 1/2" to get to maximum rpm compared to how it came from the factory.

 

[billnpat]

Bill,
My cocktail cruise speed in my old 320 was 7.5 mph on the GPS burning 5 gph which is what the Admiral preferred to being on plane. In my Chaparral, with its shorter length and single engine, cocktail cruise speed is only 6.3 mph burning 2.5 gph or half of what my old 320 with twins. Above this speed the fuel economy drops off noticeable and you can hear the boat laboring pushing all the extra water. The lake where I now boat in AZ has a no wake zone in the shallower portion so I am on plane at around 25 mph burning 10.5 gph at 2,900 rpm. When I reach the no wake are I drop down to 5 mph at around 900 rpm burning only 1.8 gph. At WOT, I'm at 4,750+rpm burning 30 gph going 45 mph which I try to do around once every month or so. Since my lake is at 1,800 ft. I had to have the pitch reduced by 1/2" to get to maximum rpm compared to how it came from the factory.

Your Admiral and my admiral are on the same plane................:grin: