Marine Forum

I want my Monterey to go faster

MontereyMan

29 March 2006 09:56:25

Joined: 29 March 2006 09:55:00 | Posts: 4

My Monterey 262 has a 5.7L 250 hp Mercruiser V8 with the Alpha 1 outdrive. It cruises at 18-20 mph and WOT on flat water is 32 mph according to my GPS. I rode in my buddys similar sized Donzi with a 7.4, Bravo 3 and we hit 55 on his GPS and that was in a good sized chop.

Do I have to get a new boat or a new motor/outdrive if I want to go faster?? Is there anything I can do to make what I've got perform better?

I want my Monterey to go faster

SeaWeed

29 March 2006 12:33:05

Joined: 24 November 2005 14:39:02 | Posts: 7

Tune up your engine, make sure the bottom and outdrive stays nice and clean and make sure you have the right prop for your boat. If it's not stainless steel, get one, it will give you a little more speed. Also, make sure you unload as much unneeded stuff from the boat as possible. One can easily accumulate a lot of weight from junk and every pound you can eliminate will help your speed.
All that being said, a 26 footer is really too much boat for a 5.7

Realize too that a Donzi hull is built for speed more than most other boats including yours. So, even if you had the same engine and outdrive as your buddy, your boat ain't going to be as fast as the Donzi.

I want my Monterey to go faster

Anonymous user

29 March 2006 12:34:21

Joined: Unknown | Posts: Unknown

What's your WOT RPM? What's the gear ratio and prop size?

cwms is right, You're a bit underpowered for that size boat. There's a world of difference between a big block with BIII and a little block with an alpha.

I want my Monterey to go faster

Anonymous user

29 March 2006 12:34:45

Joined: Unknown | Posts: Unknown

If you want to go faster, you might consider a boat that was designed to go faster. Your 26 foot family cruiser powered by a 250 hp small block is for hauling the family around, not going fast. Too heavy a boat, not enough power. But, if you're dead set on keeping this boat, some forum members will tell you to get a stroked small block with a Bravo 1 ($9,000- $10,000), and go 4 or 4.5 mph faster, that would put you at the dizzying speed of 36 mph!

I want my Monterey to go faster

MontereyMan

29 March 2006 12:35:36

Joined: 29 March 2006 09:55:00 | Posts: 4

Thanks for all your replies!

Re: I want my Monterey to go faster

MontereyMan

29 March 2006 12:52:11

Joined: 29 March 2006 09:55:00 | Posts: 4

Consider yourself lucky that you weren"t out with a friend that has a Boat capable of reaching speeds of over 90 or so. Imagine what THAT would cost you to achieve.
Why does it always seem that everyone seems to think that they have a Boat just as fast as somebody else"s? If you want a Go-Fast Boat..Then BUY a Go-Fast Boat.

Re: I want my Monterey to go faster

Anonymous user

23 March 2007 16:12:25

Joined: Unknown | Posts: Unknown

i just bought a four winns 21ss, after test driving the baja 20 2 islander. my ss with 280 hp volvo hits 65 mph. needless to say im real happy. it s my first boat, any ideas to make it go faster?

Re: I want my Monterey to go faster

Anonymous user

24 March 2007 18:56:36

Joined: Unknown | Posts: Unknown

My 2006 Monterey 248 LS 24 feet. Bowrider has MERC 350 MPI MAG/300 HP BRAVO III and goes about 54 MPH. To get those speeds I think it would be cheaper to trade in the boat for a boat with a bigger engine. But I'm far from an expert.

Good Luck