"i had to come back one more t
"i had to come back one more time to post that speed is really not the issue.
The issue is wot. The all important numbers are rpms.
That motor should be between 4200-4600 no more, that is with the throttle all the way down and going balls out.
What ever speed you can squeeze out of it is secondary.
One other little note, you could run it wot and maybe the motor will last and last or it will grenade.
Makers of motor say that the motor should run 3/4 of wot. The last 1/4 left in reserve for avoiding a accident.
Wot should be checked every once and a while and held there for a few minutes, not all day every day.
My friend has a Bayliner cuddy, 18' 3.0l merc 1993
wot just touchs 4600 43-45 mph just me and him on the boat with fishing equipment and maybe the tank half full oh 19 pitch prop. Light boat.
My boat 19' 86' Citation cuddy heavy,heavy boat, 86' 140 hp 3.0 merc. Wot just under 4600, 17 pitch 35 mph top speed.
I have tried a 15 pitch too high a rpm and no extra speed.
I can't take the pounding i run it 3000-3500 rpm, 20-25 mph tops never more.
I check wot every once and a while about a mile from the dock so if it blows i can almost swim home.
Good luck and enjoy it and forget them lies your friends are telling you.
These the same friends that are telling you they are sleeping with Pamela Anderson?"