Let me weigh in here. I've run at a very light load 44mph with my 150 Pro XS (factory upper limits of the 165hp allowed by the MMNA) on a 2275 RCW with twin elips and strakes on inside and outside of tubes. Typical load is upper 30's low 40's. However, load it down with 6 adults and pulling a tube, and that speed drops significantly. Like mid 30's at best depending on fuel load etc..
Although, the larger motors may not run away from my boat during a light load, the larger displacement, more torque, more HP and as soon as I load my boat with the weights these guys with larger motors have, and the differential between top end increases X. I fall to the back of pack in speed.
The more people and loads you carry / pull, the higher HP motors will do so much better then the smaller V6's. However, you won't see more then a 5-7 mph difference between a High Output 150 (Merc Pro XS, Yammie SHO, E-tec HO) over a 200 / 250 and possibly 300hp motor with light loads. The drag is just too much to overcome with another 50 or 100hp to make that big of a difference.
Just my $0.02 worth.
What really intrigues me is the new Yamaha 200hp being tested on a 2275 RCW (which today can only handle 150hp) which runs 49mph on twin elips.
If TB up's the limit on the 2275 with twin elips to 200hp, that maybe my next boat. I tow tubes a bit, but its not my #1 duty with my boat. We have a twin Yamaha 230 jet boat for those duties.
Todd
Although, the larger motors may not run away from my boat during a light load, the larger displacement, more torque, more HP and as soon as I load my boat with the weights these guys with larger motors have, and the differential between top end increases X. I fall to the back of pack in speed.
The more people and loads you carry / pull, the higher HP motors will do so much better then the smaller V6's. However, you won't see more then a 5-7 mph difference between a High Output 150 (Merc Pro XS, Yammie SHO, E-tec HO) over a 200 / 250 and possibly 300hp motor with light loads. The drag is just too much to overcome with another 50 or 100hp to make that big of a difference.
Just my $0.02 worth.
What really intrigues me is the new Yamaha 200hp being tested on a 2275 RCW (which today can only handle 150hp) which runs 49mph on twin elips.
If TB up's the limit on the 2275 with twin elips to 200hp, that maybe my next boat. I tow tubes a bit, but its not my #1 duty with my boat. We have a twin Yamaha 230 jet boat for those duties.
Todd