Re: Inboard vs outboard performance
As for torque not mattering - I totally agree if we are only talking top speed. But if we are talking acceleration, that's just not true. Take a 500 hp high reving 4 cylinder and a 500 HP big block V8. Drop the two of them in IDENTICAL cars (yes, add lead weights to the 4 cylinder so the total vehicle weights are the same, and keep the transmission ratios the same). Both will hit the same top speed (assuming drag limited, not gear limited). But the big block (presumably higher torque) will out accelerate the smaller, higher revving 4 cylinder.
Again, everything being equal, wouldn't the same thing be true on the water?
when you keep the same gear ratios the V8 would be far slower since it cannot rev as high as the 4 cyl - it would hit the rev limiter. when you select different gear ratios to reach both engines top power at top speed with significant different engine rpm,s both cars will accelerate roughly the same and the 4 cylinder will have a significant shorter gear ratio.
it is much misunderstood what ENGINE torque is and what it stands for. the only way that two engines reach the same power output but the one has lower torque than the other is that the lower torque engine revs higher.
when it revs higher you can choose a shorter gear ratio which will result that at lower ENGINE torque the torque at the WHEEL is again the same. and finally the torque at the wheel makes your car moving.
power is nothing other than torque x rpm.
go to volkswagen europe and compare a VW golf with a 100 hp petrol engine with 100hp diesel engine. you will find out that the diesel has tons more torque than the petrol but both cars accerelate the same and reach the same top speed. thats because the diesel revs lower so it has to have a longer gear ratio so the output at the wheel is the same again- of course it is, both engines deliver the same horsepower.
ENGINE torque ALONE without considering the rpm,s means virtually nothing.
basicly the same on the water but with the exeption that we have here not many gears but only one so its also important what low end torque the engine delivers for a hole shot performance. an engine which gives a good torque at low end will give a better hole shot. - evinrude markets its direct injected two strokes with superb lowend and midrange torque so they outperform similar 4 strokes at take off having the same topend horsepower.
