Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnC
. . . If I can run 20-25 with a fishing or diving load and get over 3MPG then I am good with that. I like the idea of making a Bahamas run on occasion too (another reason to put fuel economy high on the priority list). I have gone a few times over the years and I feel the call when the yellowfin tuna are biting. It used to be commonplace to cross in a 20' boat but that is sometimes frowned upon in the last 10 years or so. I really don't have a problem crossing in a small boat on those flat summer days as long as I take a few precautions.
|
John, I think you will at least match Terry's mpg numbers and will probably do better if you're not carrying the huge load that he does. His motor is basically 1/2 of my V-6, so I'm running 2X the displacement, but per the I-Command system which gets fuel flow from computer and speed from GPS, I will get 3.7-4.0 mpg at a normal cruise in flat water and at least 3.0-3.5 running in typical offshore conditions. However the E-TEC is extremely efficient at low speeds when it's running in the stratified charge mode (I burn 0.5 gph at 5 mph and about 900 rpm!), so when you factor in low speed operation (and we do have a lot of idle speed/manatee zones around here!), my overall average is about 4.3-4.4 mpg. On this trip I made a few years ago
http://www.classicseacraft.com/commu...avigation+trip I was really loaded with a couple of big coolers and cruising gear. I actually weighed a lot of the gear we carried and figure the total boat weight, including a couple of average size 175-185 lb guys, was about 3800-4000 lbs, but we still averaged almost 4.4 mpg over the entire ~700 mile trip!
Regarding the Bahamas trip, folks used to say I was nuts to run 160-180 miles to the Abaco's in a single engine 20' outboard boat. My reply was that my spare engine was on that other boat I was running with! The key is to have a buddy boat! Mine was the Moesly 21, the "Unohu". Pics below show a typical Bahamas type load . . . wall to wall gas cans and coolers; the cabin is also crammed full of gear!