do you run yur petrol outboard at full power?

[benlui]

[No message]

 

[benlui]

Just a little bit of fun. For me to plane on my 3.1m zodiac i need to run my 4hp on full power but i dont do it often as im sure it cant be good for the engine. I also never run my onboard engine past 2600rpm out of a possible 3600rpm. Am i being over sensible?

 

[Searush]

with a DT2, or a Seagull featherweight, I need full power to keep up with a swimmer.

 

[WindermereColvic]

I know that situation well, but with my yamaha 2 stroke 5hp, so long as the engine is warm and I’ve added a splash more 2stroke oil than the 1/100 recommended ratio, i run round for up half an hour at full power once or twice a day of being onboard, which tbh isn’t all that often in the great scheme of things, i do check the temp of the tell tale water though. i presume the engine is set up in such as way that the full throttle achievable with the throttle leaver isn’t actually the max, or a damaging amount for the engine, after all for small o/bs i think they’re designed to spend a lot of their life at full chat. I don’t allow the propeller to leave the water on the plain though, that extra revving cant be doing it any good As for the diesel inboard, i find a decent cruising speed is about 2100 of 3400. According to the book you can run at full chat for 1 hour of every 6, but i don’t think i would do this unless in real hurry. i do rev her up out of gear for a few seconds though every now and again, if anyone asks im blowing the cobwebs out but between me and you, i rather enjoy it...But yes, a valid concern im looking forward to hearing the opinions of others. Matt

 

[Billjratt]

If it's a 2-stroke and the oil, cooling and prop are correct, there's no reason why not.
A 4 stroke will probably not over-rev either.
I don't as a rule, since it annoys the neighbours, but I think my engine benefits from a good thrash every once in a while.

 

[Anonymous]

Odd poll. The results don't make any sense.

I had to click 'I ALWAYS run at full power' but I don't. I only run at full power when I want full power but if I wanted full power all the time I would not have any problem doing so. These four stroke outboards are said to be fine on 100% power. They corrode away long before they wear out, in any case.

 

[Richard10002]

I run mine at whatever power I need. Usually not full power, but that's nothing to do with preserving the engine, and all to do with circumstance.

 

[planteater]

Mine's bigger than it needs to be so I've never had to run it above half power. Used that way it's fairly quiet and it's nice to have a bit in reserve.

 

[Csail]

They are designed to run at full power and it does the engine good.

 

[christo2024]

Got a 3.5hp 4 stroke on a 12ft dinghy.

It gobbles fuel if I do and is too noisy. 50% throttle is plenty.

 

[mikemonty]

Strange question!
I have no answer that fits the available options.
I wouldn't think about it any more than I'd think about how I control my speed in a car.
I have no problem running at full power, but if I'm running into a chop, ploughing into the back of a wave, coming alongside or in danger of annoying the neighbours, I give it only the throttle that it needs.

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

Surely it depends on the circumstances? My self-designed and self-built clinker-look fibreglass dinghy is tiny, just over 2 metres long. With me on board (78kilos) and the Yamaha 2b running at some 25% power, it easily goes to hull speed with virtually no wake/wash at all. Why would I need more power? Perhaps only if there is someone else with me.

 

[Lakesailor]

If you follow the US outboard forums where they are mainly concerned with larger motors and planing boats, most of the chat is about WOT (Wide Open Throttle) and ensuring the prop will allow maximum revs.
Unless you are uncertain about the condition of the motor, as others have said, it should only be a matter of what throttle you need for the circumstances.