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Boat transmission. What am I missing?
Perhaps the stupid question of the day but…I’ve owned probably a dozen boats over the years, and a few jet skis. I’ve always wondered why only a single speed transmission? Top speed of the boat is purely a function of rpm and prop pitch. Our current boat has a 300hp V8 engine that must run at 5500+ rpms’s to maintain 45 mph. With one gear change, it seems those rpm’s could drop while maintaining speed, using far less fuel and perhaps allow smaller, more fuel efficient engines in boats.
With an automobile, you can shift gears to run the engine at lower rpm while increasing speed of wheel rotation. Even if you only had one gear change, it seems you could cruise along at reasonable rpm while maintaining 40+ mph on the water.
The technology certainly exists. So, what am I missing?
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Mike
“I wouldn’t want to live under the conditions a person could get used to”. -My paternal grandmother having immigrated to America shortly before WWll.
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