US sports boat engine questions
Discussion
For my sins I clicked on a youtube boating video that looked vaguely interesting, and now because of youtube algorithms I get these things promoted into my inbox.
Subject matter is Americans in sports boats basically pissing in and out of inlets on the Florida coast where combination of tide and wind can create rough water. There are several channels that do this twaddle, often including shots of tanned beauties wearing very little.
Example https://youtu.be/zJKh5tchq50
Anyway my observation, apart from the level of numptiness on display, many of these sports boats have multiple outboards, often 4x 5x and even 6x units 4such as Mercury 450R.
Looking at Mercury website, link/https://www.mercurymarine.com/en-gb/europe/ne... each of these units comprises a 4.6litre 4 stroke V8 450 shaft horsepower, and it looks as if fuel consumption can be north of 300 litres per hour. What the actual!!!!!!
Clearly there's a huge difference in climate ie Florida versus Thames estuary or the Humber, say, but it's a different world to one I recognise. Can imagine saying to a f2f,get that bikini on, we're off for a quick spin down to Spurn point, there's a lovely bit of wind over tide.
Subject matter is Americans in sports boats basically pissing in and out of inlets on the Florida coast where combination of tide and wind can create rough water. There are several channels that do this twaddle, often including shots of tanned beauties wearing very little.
Example https://youtu.be/zJKh5tchq50
Anyway my observation, apart from the level of numptiness on display, many of these sports boats have multiple outboards, often 4x 5x and even 6x units 4such as Mercury 450R.
Looking at Mercury website, link/https://www.mercurymarine.com/en-gb/europe/ne... each of these units comprises a 4.6litre 4 stroke V8 450 shaft horsepower, and it looks as if fuel consumption can be north of 300 litres per hour. What the actual!!!!!!
Clearly there's a huge difference in climate ie Florida versus Thames estuary or the Humber, say, but it's a different world to one I recognise. Can imagine saying to a f2f,get that bikini on, we're off for a quick spin down to Spurn point, there's a lovely bit of wind over tide.
Like a Muppet I forgot my question.
But is this scene a peculiar American / Florida thing or is it just that we're not American and therefore different? Lots of boat manufacturers I don't recognise, though there are some I do. Also the fuel consumption, 5x 450R, potentially 1500 litres per hour at a reasonable chat. Is this just a function of US fuel prices or do they go very little distance, essentially just dicking about locally? Is there an equivalent scene in UK/Europe?
My lottery win boat, one of the bigger Botnia Targa range only has 1500litre tank. OK inboard diesels but even so.
But is this scene a peculiar American / Florida thing or is it just that we're not American and therefore different? Lots of boat manufacturers I don't recognise, though there are some I do. Also the fuel consumption, 5x 450R, potentially 1500 litres per hour at a reasonable chat. Is this just a function of US fuel prices or do they go very little distance, essentially just dicking about locally? Is there an equivalent scene in UK/Europe?
My lottery win boat, one of the bigger Botnia Targa range only has 1500litre tank. OK inboard diesels but even so.
Same happened to me a few months back, one video turned into hours of watching boats.
Haulover is an interesting watch indeed. The rules and laws in FL are a little relaxed compared to most of the US.
Not unusual to see party boats rented and piloted dangerously with kids dangling over the sides and not a PFD to be seen.
The speed limit at Haulover doesn't kick in until well into the opening and can get dangerous with little 40hp singles being buzzed by Centre Consoles with 2000hp.
Haulover is an interesting watch indeed. The rules and laws in FL are a little relaxed compared to most of the US.
Not unusual to see party boats rented and piloted dangerously with kids dangling over the sides and not a PFD to be seen.
The speed limit at Haulover doesn't kick in until well into the opening and can get dangerous with little 40hp singles being buzzed by Centre Consoles with 2000hp.
- Warning** You may find yourself pricing Centre-Consoles for $2+ M that you will never own lol.
TellYaWhatItIs said:
Same happened to me a few months back, one video turned into hours of watching boats.
Haulover is an interesting watch indeed. The rules and laws in FL are a little relaxed compared to most of the US.
Not unusual to see party boats rented and piloted dangerously with kids dangling over the sides and not a PFD to be seen.
The speed limit at Haulover doesn't kick in until well into the opening and can get dangerous with little 40hp singles being buzzed by Centre Consoles with 2000hp.
It was Jupiter Inlet footage that got me into this.Haulover is an interesting watch indeed. The rules and laws in FL are a little relaxed compared to most of the US.
Not unusual to see party boats rented and piloted dangerously with kids dangling over the sides and not a PFD to be seen.
The speed limit at Haulover doesn't kick in until well into the opening and can get dangerous with little 40hp singles being buzzed by Centre Consoles with 2000hp.
- Warning** You may find yourself pricing Centre-Consoles for $2+ M that you will never own lol.
- Confession** Don't even start about pricing Centre-Consoles with 2000hp that will never ever be owned.
As for pilotage with kids bow riding and not a buoyancy aid in sight.
Also surprising the number of different 'enforcement' agencies you see rushing about, Coastguard, Miami-dade police, Harbour police, State Police, who knows how many others.
Anecdote, recall staying in a FT Lauderdale hotel on a July business trip that backed onto a marina/ waterway, there were some party boats moored nearby. Not the sports boats but the big boats, several million $ each. Oh my word, the quality crumpet on board, not many clothes either.
The weather though, just walking to the car park, as soon as exiting the aircon, lathered. Couldn't live with that, even with the barely clothed crumpet.
Florida is definitely my spiritual boating home. I do a lot of work with the US boat market and am lucky enough to have been over to Miami for a half dozen or so boat show weeks and it really is a different world to what we experience - they really don't know how lucky they are!
When you have a look at what's in the average marina in the UK compared to a Floridian one, there's absolutely no comparison. Even when it comes to the fish in them they beat us hands down - where we've got mullet, they've got tarpon!
Talking of fish, the fishing scene over there is HUGE. I went to dinner with a bunch of colleagues and was introduced to a guy who I got chatting with about fishing and boats - he obviously had a huge passion for both. Every couple of mins, someone would walk by, high five him or get a photo with him and it was evident he was some sort of local personality.
I asked my mate afterwards if that was the case and he was like "Oh yeah, he's the all-Florida billfish champion" - obviously a big deal there. Apparently his last years earnings for that alone went well into 7 figures. He went on to tell me that that guy's boat was powered like it was (quad 400's), because when they go out for a tournament, they also charter a helicopter for spotting. When the heli spots indications of predatory fish action, they give out the GPS coords, but it's obviously over an open channel, so it's quite literally then a race to get there with all the other competitors to maximise fishing time.
All the experiences I've had over there have shaped my boat tastes - I'm not a fan at all of half the stuff I see in my local marina (Ocqueteau/Merry Fisher/Orkney/Sea Hog), but I do love the high powered centre consoles/walkarounds like Boston Whaler, Donzi, Grady White, Contender, Regulator, HCB.
Aside from the fishing orientated brands, I certainly wouldn't say no to a Midnight Express with quad Seven's either. Love and admire (but wouldn't want to own) a Cigarette too - awesome pieces of kit. Awesome money too and like my mates over there say - " No cash, no splash"
When you have a look at what's in the average marina in the UK compared to a Floridian one, there's absolutely no comparison. Even when it comes to the fish in them they beat us hands down - where we've got mullet, they've got tarpon!
Talking of fish, the fishing scene over there is HUGE. I went to dinner with a bunch of colleagues and was introduced to a guy who I got chatting with about fishing and boats - he obviously had a huge passion for both. Every couple of mins, someone would walk by, high five him or get a photo with him and it was evident he was some sort of local personality.
I asked my mate afterwards if that was the case and he was like "Oh yeah, he's the all-Florida billfish champion" - obviously a big deal there. Apparently his last years earnings for that alone went well into 7 figures. He went on to tell me that that guy's boat was powered like it was (quad 400's), because when they go out for a tournament, they also charter a helicopter for spotting. When the heli spots indications of predatory fish action, they give out the GPS coords, but it's obviously over an open channel, so it's quite literally then a race to get there with all the other competitors to maximise fishing time.
All the experiences I've had over there have shaped my boat tastes - I'm not a fan at all of half the stuff I see in my local marina (Ocqueteau/Merry Fisher/Orkney/Sea Hog), but I do love the high powered centre consoles/walkarounds like Boston Whaler, Donzi, Grady White, Contender, Regulator, HCB.
Aside from the fishing orientated brands, I certainly wouldn't say no to a Midnight Express with quad Seven's either. Love and admire (but wouldn't want to own) a Cigarette too - awesome pieces of kit. Awesome money too and like my mates over there say - " No cash, no splash"
DodgyGeezer said:
Fab viewing, but that's an Oz/Kiwi obsession, not USThunderSpook said:
AngryPartsBloke said:
cb31 said:
I really don't like the look of a row of outboards on a boat, why don't they make them inboard instead?
Takes up room that could otherwise be used for cabin/entertaining space. Must admit do appreciate the way they colour co-ordinate the row of outboard housings with that of the hull.
Yet so much of this is what makes me have a disposition to not particularly liking a certain subset of Americans and their culture. It's just so... I don't know what exactly.
Watched a video of activities on the Haulover sandbar, dozens of boats anchored up, folks pratting about swimming and cavorting in chest deep water, others motoring close by. Another world compared to drying out on a mud bank on a chilly Saturday for a quick bottom scrub.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff