How to make a Prairie go fast
- Thread starter cappy208
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
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Nice!
We've been riding a few currents this summer in our Prairie 36 - Hell Gate, Hudson River, St. Lawrence River, Bay of Fundy and Lubec Narrows. Had her up to 11+ knots a couple of times.
Then again, I CAN go 13-15 knots without a current. The first owner put in twin 200HP turbo engines for some reason. I typically run 7.5 knots or so, to keep the fuel burn reasonable.
We've been riding a few currents this summer in our Prairie 36 - Hell Gate, Hudson River, St. Lawrence River, Bay of Fundy and Lubec Narrows. Had her up to 11+ knots a couple of times.
Then again, I CAN go 13-15 knots without a current. The first owner put in twin 200HP turbo engines for some reason. I typically run 7.5 knots or so, to keep the fuel burn reasonable.
OP
OP
cappy208
Guru
Sniff. Sniff. 12. Sniff sniff. I'm crying a little. Tears of happiness for you. Sadness for me. This is the only regret I have about my trustworthy Trawler. Speed.
But, at the sipping amount of fuel usage..... I'll stay mum
Hope you are enjoying the trip. The Erie Canal was amazing.
But, at the sipping amount of fuel usage..... I'll stay mum
Hope you are enjoying the trip. The Erie Canal was amazing.
We gave up a 29-knot boat for this one, so I feel your pain. Except when I go for more than a day without having to fuel up.
Like CaptTom we to have larger motors in our Prairie 36 (240 HP). Tend to run at 8-9 knots to keep fuel burn down, but @ 11-13, the Prairie feels like a freight train! No rolling, it just blasts through the waves with nary a bump
Rick
Rick
FOG
Guru
Are you guys with your high horsepower Prairie 36s on a plan at those speeds? 
If 400 or 480 horsepower doesn't get you up on a plan, what amount of horsepower do you think is required to get you there?
I've read that the Prairie 29 and Prairie 36 are semi displacement hulls. Does that mean they are, by default, also semi planning hulls?
If 400 or 480 horsepower doesn't get you up on a plan, what amount of horsepower do you think is required to get you there?
I've read that the Prairie 29 and Prairie 36 are semi displacement hulls. Does that mean they are, by default, also semi planning hulls?
Not planning at 11 knots. Have to get up to about 14-15 for that to happen. For whatever reason it doesn't really track well at that speed, not to mention the fuel burn.
BTW, all that speed (relatively speaking) came in handy today beating the thunderstorm back to port. Photographic evidence below ??
BTW, all that speed (relatively speaking) came in handy today beating the thunderstorm back to port. Photographic evidence below ??
Old deckhand
Guru
The tracking issue may be related to a condition called keel walking. This can occur when the bottom of the keel is wide enough to be a planning surface. This is why fast lobster hulls have narrow keel bottoms.
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- Had a Clipper (CHB) 34
I've had my Clipper's GPS SOG reading 11.3 kn. on one occasion, literally surfing ahead of a rather large following sea. I was amazed how well she steered. I think courtesy of nearly all the tankage now well aft.
FOG
Guru
I would guess the width at the bottom of my Prairie 36 keel is about 6 to 8 inches. Is that enough to cause the keel walking condition?
I've attached some pics of the keel from the haul out and survey earlier this year for reference.
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My initial thought to the OP's subject line was to put it on a trailer!!
Yesterday I surfed home through Carquinez Strait in my 7.5 kt boat and clocked 11.2 at one point, but the majority was 9.8-10.2 on the ebb. Then I immediately hung a right and entered Mare Island Causeway which was already flooding and got an additional 0.8 kt push on my home stretch. The short transition between the two was full of some very confused water!
Yesterday I surfed home through Carquinez Strait in my 7.5 kt boat and clocked 11.2 at one point, but the majority was 9.8-10.2 on the ebb. Then I immediately hung a right and entered Mare Island Causeway which was already flooding and got an additional 0.8 kt push on my home stretch. The short transition between the two was full of some very confused water!
markpierce
Master and Commander
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Love it when going west on the ebb tide in Carquinez Strait, and then getting the flood going north up Mare Island Strait for home berth (currents typically maximizing at 2.5 knots). Great timing!
Atlantic Rich
Member
Ahoy Cappy208 Slip Away!
Sonic Sea Dog here. We shared cocktails with you at Cutty last Summer.
Hoping we meet up again!!
Atlantic Rich aka Capt. Rich
Sonic Sea Dog here. We shared cocktails with you at Cutty last Summer.
Hoping we meet up again!!
Atlantic Rich aka Capt. Rich
The Other Gary
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With this setup a Ranger tug can exceed 50 knots, your Prairie results may differ.
