Maximum cruising range - V21 with 150hp
 

Question the specification rating of over 230 miles with 150 hp ?

Based on my last two trips, I'm thinking more like 125 -150 miles real world maximum.
I have a 96' 150hp, and the Wellcraft spec was written for 1996 outboard so it lines up.

I know - " based on weather, sea conditions, load, and running at a steady lowest rpm to maintain planning speed".....

Opinions ?

You forgot prop also. that has a lot to do with it..Oh... and a strong tailwind.

Depends on what engine you have. Your 96 150 OMC is a thristy son of a gun drinking around 10 GPH or so at a good cruise probably pushing you about 25 MPH. So that would put you around 2.5 MPG, and a safe 50 gallons of useable fuel gives you 125 miles of range. Now an equivelant YAMAHA of that era in a 150 would probably drink about 8 GPH giving you 156 miles of safe range. Put a 14 SUZUKI 4 stroke on it though and watch your range go up to about 250 miles.

That's what I get for having a big Johnson.......oops, I mean Evinrude.

Maybe Wellcraft provided the 230 mile range based on running the boat " downhill" most of the time ? Not sure they had a 4 stroke back in 96' and if so maybe too heavy .

Just thought of this.......if I trailer the boat, then maybe I'll get 230 mile range, driving the Ford Explorer at a steady 50 mph on flat land with a tail wind.

I have a 94 v21 with a Johnson 150, put 50$ or 15 gal of non ethanol in on sat and reset the gps trip. With 4 people in the boat and 12mph wind we ran 50 nm
on lake hartwell before stopping for more gas. With a mix of trolling, downlining, and cruising at around 24 knots. Avg just above 3 nm per gal for the trip, which i thought was pretty good for that ol 2 stroker.

The little ones were just as thirsty as the big ones at cruise, that was why so many people opted for the 200/225 over the 150/175.

To wonder about those specific differentials..............1996 engines, same year V21:

Evinrude 150hp fuel burn at 4,000 rpm.........WOT top speed (41mph) and fuel burn rate.
Evinrude 200hp same
Evinrude 225hp same

Most of us see about 39-42mph top speed with carb'd 150hp outboards.
That lines up well with the Wellcraft spec data.

haven't seen the link, but that 230 range might be possible for a 150 hp i/o.

From the data I've read, the most fuel efficient 2 stroke 150hp outboard today is the Mercury Opti Max.

So, assuming it's likely 30 % more efficient overall, it bumps the cruising range from 125 miles to 162 miles..........still way short of the advertized 230 miles.

Maybe as poster stated - the I/0 yields close to that efficiency/ range.

The 96 specs with a 200 MERC lists the range as 178 miles which is about right I would say for a 200 and figuring 60 gallons of fuel. http://wellcraft.com/index.php/resou...IG_V_21_96.jpg

The 150 OPTIMAX would increase your range pretty significantly though probably pushing you out to the 230 miles or so.