292 performance

[MikeBo]

I have a 2000 292 with twin 5,7’s, I have had her for 3 years, purchased 3 years ago from a long time friend. The bought the boat in 2003(I have known the boat the whole time). I have read numerous reviews of the boat and they generally say top speed is 52mph. Our boat cruises at 50 easy, and I figured my 20 year old Farris gauge was off, last week it was just the wife and I and I decided to run wide open for the first time ever. Condition was not smooth but I wouldn’t call it rough, mid 80’s and 50% humidity, 3/4 tank of gas and 7mph cross wind.

We were doing 50 on the speedo and 48 on my speedometer gps ap, and had more than a third of throttle left. I slowly opened it up for just a bit and the speedometer went to 61 and the gps 58, I was headed under a bridge and the water is high so put the phone down and and had to pay attention while nervously glancing at the temp and oil gauges, highest recorded gps speed was 62 when I looked later.

I am not aware of any modifications to the boat, I was really impressed with the old girl, she is way faster than the reviews. I have Never driven a boat over 20 feet or one that you have to trim, before this one.I have no idea if I had it optimal, the trim tabs were up...I wouldn’t assume that’s best for speed.

Sorry just a bit of a humble brag on my boat, she looks like new but apparently runs better than new

My wife Amy says “never again” she was in the bow...lol

[Big Block Power]

Very cool. Yep tabs up and just keep trimming til she starts to slow down. Very impressive. Congrats. Brag all you want you deserve it. Any Cobalt over the 54mph wall hats off to them!!
Yea my kids were taking bugs to the face yesterday flying across the lake when I was trying to burn up some gas I called it

[AsLan7]

.
Nice MB. Yes anything 55 and over is VERY fast on the water in my book for runabouts. Trim tabs are only for planing; helping in rough conditions; or to balance the load side to side.

Trimming the outdrive all the way down for planing then gradually up in small amounts as speed is gained makes your hull more efficient on the water. Like bbp mentioned, trim up in small bursts until the bow starts bouncing or the speed drops...then trim down again slightly to stop the bounce. It’s a balance between getting much of the hull (drag) out of the water and too much for the outdrive to hold up and thus the bouncing / speed loss.

Upload a screenshot of your gps speed.
Have fun!




.

[cmattj]

Nice captains report !
And the cruises 50 easy is the best report

[Bdad4]

The tach still not working on our new boat so were cruising at 45 easy...will probably be a different story when we get it fixed.

[AsLan7]

.
Thx for posting that BD4.

[MikeBo]

Very cool. Yep tabs up and just keep trimming til she starts to slow down. Very impressive. Congrats. Brag all you want you deserve it. Any Cobalt over the 54mph wall hats off to them!!
Yea my kids were taking bugs to the face yesterday flying across the lake when I was trying to burn up some gas I called it

Good tip “ have to burn up old gas” will try that!

[MikeBo]

Nice captains report !
And the cruises 50 easy is the best report

Thank you, easy might be a bit strong, but it’s not laboring at all..

[MikeBo]

.
Nice MB. Yes anything 55 and over is VERY fast on the water in my book for runabouts. Trim tabs are only for planing; helping in rough conditions; or to balance the load side to side.

Trimming the outdrive all the way down for planing then gradually up in small amounts as speed is gained makes your hull more efficient on the water. Like bbp mentioned, trim up in small bursts until the bow starts bouncing or the speed drops...then trim down again slightly to stop the bounce. It’s a balance between getting much of the hull (drag) out of the water and too much for the outdrive to hold up and thus the bouncing / speed loss.

Upload a screenshot of your gps speed.
Have fun!
.

Thank you very helpful, I followed that mostly, but i didn’t go to speed loss and back off, so maybe more trim was available.


.

[Holy Smokes]

Hey Mike. Nice run! I can't imagine what it was like up in the bow. Lighten up the fuel tank and I'd bet you'd see a couple more.

My old 293 with Volvo T5.7GSi & duo-prop drives would top out around 58, carrying a genset, AC, head, HW tank etc...

A word of caution though with that hull, a few years ago we were running hard back to the dock to beat a thunderstorm, trimmed up and running upper 50's when all of a sudden it listed hard to starboard. I cut the throttles and turned into the list as it felt like it was going to lay over. Weirdest feeling ever! To this day, I have no idea what caused it. Wasn't all bad though..... wife said I don't care if you sell it. So I did and bought a 343!

[akorcovelos]

Impressive number for a 29’ boat running two small blocks! Remember these aren’t go fast hulls so 60+ is a big deal. Same power in a Fountain would put you into the min 70s.

[MikeBo]

Hey Mike. Nice run! I can't imagine what it was like up in the bow. Lighten up the fuel tank and I'd bet you'd see a couple more.

My old 293 with Volvo T5.7GSi & duo-prop drives would top out around 58, carrying a genset, AC, head, HW tank etc...

A word of caution though with that hull, a few years ago we were running hard back to the dock to beat a thunderstorm, trimmed up and running upper 50's when all of a sudden it listed hard to starboard. I cut the throttles and turned into the list as it felt like it was going to lay over. Weirdest feeling ever! To this day, I have no idea what caused it. Wasn't all bad though..... wife said I don't care if you sell it. So I did and bought a 343!

Holy Smokes, did you happen to see the 343 for sale on Cobalt Boat owners club, 300 hours and twin 525 blue motors? Yours may have had that as well if I recall.

You told me the list story when I picked up that Cobalt cover from you, I have thought of it numerous times...but to this point I have never had any instability at all. if you we’re getting 58 in the 293 then it makes sense, I am sure that configuration weighs significantly more than my boat. I have Volvo duo props as well.

Thanks for the feedback

[MikeBo]

Impressive number for a 29’ boat running two small blocks! Remember these aren’t go fast hulls so 60+ is a big deal. Same power in a Fountain would put you into the min 70s.

Hey but could that Fountain haul 10 people including the gear, food, lemonade, and still look new with no rattles at 20 years old

[akorcovelos]

Impressive number for a 29’ boat running two small blocks! Remember these aren’t go fast hulls so 60+ is a big deal. Same power in a Fountain would put you into the min 70s.

Hey but could that Fountain haul 10 people including the gear, food, lemonade, and still look new with no rattles at 20 years old

Nope!

[Holy Smokes]

Holy Smokes, did you happen to see the 343 for sale on Cobalt Boat owners club, 300 hours and twin 525 blue motors? Yours may have had that as well if I recall.

You told me the list story when I picked up that Cobalt cover from you, I have thought of it numerous times...but to this point I have never had any instability at all. if you we’re getting 58 in the 293 then it makes sense, I am sure that configuration weighs significantly more than my boat. I have Volvo duo props as well.

Thanks for the feedback

So glad you're enjoying your 292. They're definitely sleepers! Hope I didn't scare you with our situation. I suspect we encountered a big gust of side wind that caused us to list.

Seems there's a few more 343's popping up around the country. Those with 525's and 300-ish hours are right about time to have 5 figure top end rebuilds. I ended up selling ours (with 525's) this past winter to a guy in TX and have since found a 360 right at LOTO. I'm much slower and quieter on the water now!