Knots or MPH?

[MikeP]

I have always used knots re speed on the water and that's how my chart plotters are set up but the past few days was talking to several people re their boat speed and they were talking in MPH. I asked a dock-friend what the top speed was on his 53MY that was just sea-trialed and he said "21 and change." HOLY MOLY, I replied, a shade over 18 is the best I ever saw out of our 53 and I always thought it ran pretty well.

Turns out he was talking MPH and I was talking Knots.

So now I'm curious...what do most folks use? I realize knots are "traditional" for boats but so are fathoms and nobody I know, including me, uses that depth measurement.

MPH certainly LOOKS more impressive on the speed readout but, sadly, it doesn't get the boat to a destination any quicker.

 

[saltshaker]

I have always used knots re speed on the water and that's how my chart plotters are set up but the past few days was talking to several people re their boat speed and they were talking in MPH. I asked a dock-friend what the top speed was on his 53MY that was just sea-trialed and he said "21 and change." HOLY MOLY, I replied, a shade over 18 is the best I ever saw out of our 53 and I always thought it ran pretty well.

Turns out he was talking MPH and I was talking Knots.

So now I'm curious...what do most folks use? I realize knots are "traditional" for boats but so are fathoms and nobody I know, including me, uses that depth measurement.

MPH certainly LOOKS more impressive on the speed readout but, sadly, it doesn't get the boat to a destination any quicker.

Knots unless you are a freshwater boater.

 

[Blaine Thorpe]

For me, it depends on where I'm at. When we are on the river system I set the chartplotters to statute miles and talk miles per hour. When we were in the gulf, I set the plotters on nautical miles and talk knots. Generally if someone asks about speed I use knots.

 

[bobk]

I mix it all up deliberately. Speed always in knots, distance on the AICW in statute miles because that is how the charts read. So when I have a bridge to time, I have to do a quick mental calculation to get the timing right.... or scroll ahead on Nobeltec and activate a mark. Everywhere else it is nautical miles.

Bobk
Chateau de Mer
Preparing to depart Tuesday for the trip north. This will be trip number 26.

 

[madhatter1]

I use statute so I get better fuel economy.

 

[Pascal]

NM/KT is the only unit that makes any sense being based on a minute of lat. I always use that.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Knots unless you are a freshwater boater.

Wrong! Knots because it matches up with nautical miles and one nautical mile is one minute of latitude and easy to figure on a chart. That's very important on the Great Lakes and the ocean, just not on the rivers.

 

[TopHattandTails]

Knots. When I hear someone use mph, I know they have a small gas boat or are brand new to boating. If you've got diesels or a boat over 15', you speak knots.

 

[av8torrich]

I too use Knots. All of the units on all of my navigation equipment are set for NM/KTS so I try to keep everything uniform, as to not make a mistake in my Time, Speed, and Distance calculations.

 

[Freeebird]

Knots. When I hear someone use mph, I know they have a small gas boat or are brand new to boating. If you've got diesels or a boat over 15', you speak knots.

I'm sorry, but that's just dumb. I mean, seriously?

As previously stated, when running rivers or the ICW, miles per hour is the only measurement that makes sense given all distances on markers and charts are in statute miles. I suppose it could impress the "small gas" boaters if you want to do the math by converting your big boat knots. My guess is that Captain Bubba who is in his 30th year of piloting a tow with 1,000's of diesel ponies and pushing a dozen barges won't be impressed.

 

[Freeebird]

NM/KT is the only unit that makes any sense being based on a minute of lat. I always use that.

Why would you use knots running up and down the ICW?

Oh yeah, it's to impress people. I forgot. LOL

 

[Boatsb]

Why would you use knots running up and down the ICW?

Oh yeah, it's to impress people. I forgot. LOL

I use knots all the time.


Tying my shoes, tying up my boat.

Why use anything else

 

[tom5518]

I use Nautical Miles Per Hour.

 

[Freeebird]

I use Nautical Miles Per Hour.

That's best when you're in brackish water.

 

[krush]

Feet per second.

 

[Freeebird]

Statute or nautical feet?

 

[krush]

statue of liberty size feet.

 

[z28jimi]

End the confusion…convert all distances to Smoots.

 

[bobk]

I use knots all the time.


Tying my shoes, tying up my boat.

Why use anything else

I much prefer a hitch when securing to a mooring.

Bobk

 

[Boatsb]

I much prefer a hitch when securing to a mooring.

Bobk

Some people are afraid of getting hitched