If you don’t want to make the investment in coating your boat’s bottom or running gear, here are some other ways to improve performance without touching the engine.
Have your boat’s bottom blueprinted. It’s a fancy way of saying, “Have it perfected.” All the strakes and chines get straightened and sharpened, and any unintended hook is removed.
Scuff your boat’s bottom with sandpaper at a 45-degree angle. It breaks adhesion with the water’s surface more easily.
Have your engine’s compression checked and compare it to the manufacturer’s specifications. If it doesn’t have good compression, it’s not making full power.
Experiment with the number of propeller blades. Most people already know to switch to stainless steel, but playing around with different blade configurations can deliver surprising results.
Weigh your boat. If it’s substantially heavier than the specified weight, the flotation foam needs to be removed and replaced with dry stuff. Not a fun process.
Adjust your drive height. Often raising the drives or outboards higher out of the water improves speed because it reduces drag.
