Help w/ boating terminology

[beginner]

I'm quite new to boating and have recently started viewing this message board. I don't want to sound completely ignorant, but some of the terms I've seen on this board have me scratching my head. First what does 34-36 mph WOT mean? What is does 15% slippage mean? What does the pitch of a prop do as far as speed, acceleration, etc? Why is there such a need for speed for some people (other than it can be very fun)?
I'm sure as I read more of the posts I'll have more questions, but these are the ones that come to mind now.
Thanks for any response.
SCG
By the way I'm buying my first boat and have been reading the posts. You guys seem to have more attachments to boat brands than most do about cars. Really keeps this post entertaining!

[Hans]

"WOT" means "wide open throttle".

"Pitch" of a prop means the number of inches your boat would move forward for one revolution of the prop, assuming no slippage. (Think of your prop as a screw - how far would it pull forward if you turned it one turn.)

The higher the pitch, the further the boat will move on revolution.

Theres a trade-off here - low pitch means your engine can spin up the prop faster (acceleration) and get you up on plane quicker, but limits your top speed at WOT. A higher pitch slows your hole shot, but give you a faster top speed.

Slippage is a measure of the "efficiency" of your prop (none are perfect). As an example, suppose you have a 19-pitch prop. If it were 100% efficient, it would move you 19 inches for each revolution. More likely it is perhaps 85% efficient (15% slippage), which means it will move you 85% of 19 inches, or about 16.15-inches per revolution.

Hans

[beginner]

Hans,
Thanks. Now it makes sense. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure a lot of this out on my own, but it's nice to know someone will take the time and respond to a novice.
scg

[curt quesnell]

hans is a good guy, always helpful...
i always thought wot meant "while on trailer" (i've had my boat
to 90 using that formula)

curt quesnell

[FlyBoy]

Some of the "humorous" posts here tend to walk the line of stupid, but this one was really good. We could all tow our boats with high performance vehicles, and see who gets their rig to go faster! :)

Thanks,

John

[Hans]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-20-01 AT 09:52AM (CST)[p]

[Nofish]

Hey Curt,

I use the same formula to regularly get 80 mph out of my 620! :P

As an aside, I was having trouble balancing out my 692 so it towed well behind the dakota I had then. I called the factory and talked to a fellow in the trailer factory. I explained that I was having bad sway problems on the freeway, at speed. When I would crest a hill or navigate a curve the truck would start to sway at the Hitch. He asked how fast, did it do it all the time or just over a certain speed. I told him it starts at about 70 to 72 mph and gets real bad as my rig approached 80.

The guy about had a heart attack! He yelled, "80! Dang boy! You aint supposed to go that fast pulling a boat." I said, "But I gotta get there man!"

Have fun.......R

[EyeBoy]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-20-01 AT 10:38AM (CST)[p]NF;
He/she who gets there fastest fishes first??? OUCH!
One knows that one came into that corner to hot, when one's boat passes going sideways.....
ON_PLANE!!!TOM

Beginner;
Do not be afraid to ask questions, that is what this forum is for. We all had to start from the beginning at some point in our life. The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked.

[Box]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-20-01 AT 07:21PM (CST)[p]Also, "hole shot" means going from basically stopped to getting up on plane on the water, or "out of the hole".

Usually lower pitched props, or props with more blades, have better hole shots but slower top end speed.

Not sure if you knew that already or not :)

Box
MN

[Nofish]

Hey Eye Boy,

Sometimes........sideways is still progress!! :P

Have fun.....R