How often do you run your boat Wide Open Throttle (WOT)?

Sarge

This question may seem counterintutive for those of us who bought a boat described as a 'trailerable trawler' but I have my reasons for asking.

Do you try to go WOT at least once each time you have the boat out (within reason...not in 4' waves)?

Do you go WOT on occasion? When you're in the mood?

Do you rarely go WOT?

Thanks in advance,

-Sarge/Carl

Captains Cat · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 9:31 am Post subject:

I usually try it for a minute or two each time we go out, just to make sure it will do it. That's how I discovered a problem with my stbd Honda BF-45. It won't go over about 4800 while the port one will do 5700. Haven't got it in the water this year yet, soon. If I can't figure it out quickly, I'll try to find a traveling mechanic to visit.

Charlie

Island Ranger · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 10:08 am Post subject:

According to the Yanmar manual for the 4JH4-HTE (turbo,intercooled 110 hp - the engine I have), they recommend running WOT for 5 minutes out of every hour during the first 50 hours. After that, they say the engine is designed to run no more than 5% (30 minutes out of every 10 hours) at WOT (3000-3200 rpm) and should be run at 2800 rpm or less for less than 90% of total engine time. They also say you should rev the engine ( 5 times if I remember right), take the engine out of gear) before shut down if you've been idling for a while..

Mac

Cutty Sark · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 11:16 am Post subject:

I have a suzuki 115 on my 22, and any time the conditions allow I run full throttle for a couple minutes and the back off for a while and then open her up again. But I like to go fast, and probably run faster on average than most 22's do. Alot of the places I fish take awhile to get to and I'm impatient. I wouldn't run full tilt all the time with it but then with the conditions we get up here you can't anyway.

Notayot · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 1:03 pm Post subject:

I'm with Charlie. I run full throttle for a minute or two sometime during each run of the day just to "clean things out" and to observe the performance and RPM and speed attained. Sometimes I do a full throttle start too, just to verify torque at acceleration. All of this after the engine is fully up to temperature by running for some time.

C-Hawk · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 1:34 pm Post subject:

I like to run WOT at least once when I go out, for a few minutes. The seas that I run in don't always allow for WOT, so I open it every chance I get.

drjohn71a · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 1:52 pm Post subject:

We routinely try to run wide open for a short time after trolling or alot of slow running. The diesel charters do that to clear the carbon build up.

John

El and Bill · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject:

We're with the others -- usually run a WOT every day or two to check on performance and 'clear out the dust.'

smittypaddler · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 7:23 pm Post subject:

I have over 600 hours and 7000 miles on my twin 2004 Honda 40's. I've run WOT, about 24 knots, whenever the water was smooth enough not to chip my teeth. My engines have never hiccupped even once. The last hundred hours or so have been mostly pulling water-skiers. I guess time will tell if I've been foolish; hope not.

thataway · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 9:28 pm Post subject:

We take the engines up to WOT at least once every other time we go out. Never for more than a minute or two normally. I have run for 5 min at WOT when experimenting with trim etc. But usually limit the time.

ffheap · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 6:06 am Post subject:

Hi Folks,

This is a little like the "sling shot" effect. Ever notice that when you are driving on the highway, operating at speed limit and passing cars on the passing lane, a car will come up on you and blink their lights to pass. I usually pull over just before the bend where the State Cop will be waiting. The following car then "sling shots" by me, and gets pulled over for running twenty miles over the speed limit.

After working the INN-THE-WATER through the anchorage, I always like to run her WOT to see how she handles. I then slow her down to a comfortable cruising speed. Under most conditions it is about 15 Kts.

Fred

Flip · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 10:51 pm Post subject:

We have twin 40's and each time we go out run wot for about two min. after we are warmed up. We have never been told to do this however it made sense to us see if everything is running as it should. Normally run at about 10 to 12. I do have a question. Do any of you have a problem when you you make quick changes with the throttle or quickly into reverse. We have found that our engines tend to die even if we are warmed up, is that that just the nature of the beast?

thataway · Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 11:08 pm Post subject:

When you shift to reverse, you need to let the engine idle for a second in neutral--not crash from foreward to neutral. It should not be necessary to go rapidly in reverse. Plan ahead so you are drifting in, steering with the lower unit, then applying slow reverse as you come along side of the dock.