By removing anything that will not be needed for the trip you can quickly reduce the weight of your vessel. It is surprising what removing 100 lbs or more will do for acceleration and top speed. Packing light is an easy way to get a much faster and better handling boat.

By adjusting where your added cargo is you can change the balance of your boat very quickly. When a boat is balanced it will need less trim and or trim tab. Trim tabs can do wonders for making quick adjustments on boat balance but they can add tremendous resistance and kill your top speed. While rooster tails look cool it takes a lot of energy to make them. Trim is something to play with and find what works best.

This can have a huge impact on top speed and acceleration. There are so many props to choose from that it can be very confusing where to start. The easiest way is to ask other people or shops that have a similar set up size, weight and horsepower. Aluminum and composite props flex and can absorb a lot of power. If you have a smaller hp engine you may be okay but a good stainless prop will be much more rigid and give more push to your boat. Your engine will have a recommended RPM range and it is important that with your average cargo and passengers you're in that range.On average if you go down one number on your pitch will gain about 200 rpm (this does vary a little). Lastly make certain your prop does not have damage this can have big impact on speed and will decrease the lifespan of your lower unit.

An engine that is too deep in the water will have a significant increase in drag. By Jacking the engine up to just before cavitation you can significantly increase your top speed. Remember that if you are jacked up for straight line speed you will be more prone to cavitation while turning. A hydraulic jack plate makes it easy to get great speed while going straight and still be able to lower for maneuvering. 

It is very convenient to leave a boat in the water but this tends to add algae and growth to the hull and lower unit. Keeping a clean hull is key to speed and your best efficiency. If you have a larger boat that stays in the water there are usually companies that you can hire to clean your hull. Best to check with your local marine services for recommendations. If your boat is kept on a trailer, wipe it down within minutes of pulling it out of the water. This should be done before the boat dries. Wiping it down prevents build up and will allow the boat to glide much easier in the water. Keeping a clean hull will equal more speed and better economy.

Keeping your engine running at its best is key. By keeping your engine maintenance up to date you can get more speed and use less fuel. Another way to get the most out of your engine is a performance tune by Outboard EFI. The Outboard EFI tune will get the most safe potential out of your engine and the gains can be amazing. Many manufacturers use the same engine for multiple engine horsepower models and simply detune the ECU and use restrictors to make the lower hp models. A well programmed engine will unlock the hidden power and efficiency you already have.

Pontoons tend to ride very low in the water so there are a couple things that can really help. Planing strakes are little wings on the pontoons that can help them get up on plane. Pontoons that have these will have much better speed and efficiency at higher speeds. Strakes can be added to pontoons but it is much easier to look for them when buying. The underside of pontoon decking also has a massive impact on speed. If you can see the crossbars under the decking so can the water splashing under it. When water hits the bracing it is like throwing out a parachute. If you look at higher end pontoons this will all be smooth and flat. If your pontoon does not have this it can be added by a skilled sheet metal worker or if you know anyone that races modified circle track cars they are usually very good with sheet aluminum.

Let us know what your favorite tips and tricks are email them to us OutboardEFI@gmail.com We love hearing from our customers.