Bell Performance Blog

How to Speed up your Boat

Written by Bell Performance | Jun 20 2016

Whether you own a Performance model or just a runabout, you want to get the most out of it, every time you take it out. You don’t need a major overhaul to do this, read on and you'll know how to speed up your boat and reclaim the power that your boat is supposed to give you.

Eliminate Extra Weight

Extra weight means extra work for the engine.

A Clean Boat Bottom Is A Powerful One

Within the boating community, many owners are convinced that waxing the full improves powers. Some of the academics dispute this with claims that water actually clings more to smooth surfaces. I don’t think the academics are going to win this one. But even if they are right, waxing the hull does more than just help you squeeze out horsepower. It protects the hull from UV exposure and hull contaminants in the water. So your hull lasts longer.

Marine Fuel Additives

A good marine fuel additive is a cost-effective consideration that will keep your boat’s engine clean and operating at maximum power and efficiency. It will also make sure your boat is protected against the effects of any ethanol that might be present in the marine fuel.  Ethanol in marine environments is bad news.

The Right Prop Is Essential

Props are crucial for the best efficiency and performance from your boat.  If you talk to a marine expert, they’ll tell you that the right prop for you is one that allows your engine to get up to speed within the band designated by the manufacturer. This is typically within 500 revolutions of the absolute top rpm.

Making the right choice here will make your engine last longer while helping it to deliver the performance it was designed for.   And there's more to it than just this - there are considerations about number of blades, pitch difference, rake, skew, and yaw. Talk to a marine professional - they can give you the best advice on what will work best for you and your boat.

Please check out these other posts on boats and marine: