fuel mileage for boat
Aug 14, 2020 20:27:50 #
saltwater catman
Loc: charleston,sc
which is better for fuel consumption running up on plane or just above trolling speed ?? have 17 ft scout with 90 hp 2 stroke.
Aug 14, 2020 20:32:17 #
Welcome aboard there S W. I always run my 16 ft deepV with 60 hp two stroke on plane. Guess it depends how far you are traveling. Salt Water or fresh water?
Aug 14, 2020 20:38:13 #
Saltwater Catman: Well, Hoss, I always ran on plane and assumed that was the best, but never ran a test to check. I would be interested in hearing if someone ran an actual comparison. My last rig was a 18 ft bay boat, flat bottom with 150 Yamaha outboard. Just Sayin...RJS
Aug 14, 2020 20:38:59 #
saltwater catman
Loc: charleston,sc
salt and fresh going about 20-25 mines one way have to carry 6 gal spare to get back trying to conserve fuel
Aug 14, 2020 20:50:22 #
saltwater catman wrote:
salt and fresh going about 20-25 mines one way have to carry 6 gal spare to get back trying to conserve fuel
IDK about in the salt, I always run mine in fresh water. However, at WOT, runnin bout 35MPH back and forth all day runnin from one end of the lake to the other, I'm on plane and I use about a quarter of a tank of gas. Which is about 4 gals. for 20+ miles or so.
All day on 4 gals. is pretty good I think. It's a 2004 60HP Merc. 4stroke, 18 1/2 foot Bass Tracker.
Aug 14, 2020 23:24:06 #
Hours is usually more what fuel is measured in boating. Trolling will obviously usually use a lot less fuel that WOT. Most boats will use same amount of fuel in 1 hour WOT that they would use idling for 4 or 5 hours. But it all depends on water density and temperature. New versus old motor. Newer equipment is much more efficient. Salt water has higher density so should use less fuel because prop gets more traction with salt. Boat floats higher in salt water too.
Aug 15, 2020 05:43:14 #
Aug 15, 2020 07:55:52 #
Aug 15, 2020 14:48:12 #
Aug 15, 2020 17:21:42 #
FixorFish
Loc: SW Oregon
Huntm22 wrote:
Wide open throttle
Thanks...as Spirit says...learning everyday !
Aug 15, 2020 18:40:27 #
You can go to Suzuki website, find your motor size, and your boat, and it will show you consumption. Waves are not good for good fuel mileage. Acts like a wall each time one hits the front, and wind is also bad. I think pushing the throttle down, does not get any more speed, just more consumption. Looking at the charts, some get their best at only 30% throttle, others might be at 80%.
Aug 15, 2020 18:57:28 #
Hull design has a major effect also. In calm water,a flat bottom or a semi V hull will plane much easier than a deep V. It takes more power /fuel to get and keep a deep V on plane. All boats have a sweetspot where they get maximum MPG, or use less GPH. In general the rule of thumb in boats is never go out farther than you can get on 1/3 of your fuel capacity. 1/3out,1/3back,1/3reserve (Wind picks up,Seas get rough, you have to tow someone in,etc).
Aug 15, 2020 19:13:02 #
Fred, you are soooooo right. I also installed a hydrofoil on my motor. It allows me to get on step at a slower speed, and faster.
Aug 15, 2020 19:52:29 #
Harris T. Fudpucker wrote:
Fred, you are soooooo right. I also installed a hydrofoil on my motor. It allows me to get on step at a slower speed, and faster.
Yeah Harris, I've got one on my little tin boat too. It's a Lowe deep V, and it helps a lot. Every style of hull is a trade off. The only way to make a perfect hull would be to make it adjustable to conditions. It can be done, for a million dollars or so.LOL
Aug 15, 2020 23:29:03 #
bottomcoon
Loc: Tahlequah, oklahoma
My catfish boat is a 14 ft bass tracker grizzled semi v aluminum. I had a 15hp 2 stroke Yamaha on it for a while. The boat would not go on plane & it was a gas hog of a small engine. It had a hydra foil. I replaced the 15 hp with a 25 hp yamaha 2 stroke. I also installed a hydra foil. Now the boat planes out like it should & burns less gas than the 15 hp. To add icing to the cake the 25 hp has electric start. If any of you fellow members live to be 55 or older you'll know how I like that push button over a pull rope. As for the 200hp V8 Mercury on my 20 ft boat, it likes fuel. That's all I can say about it.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.