Crusing in Europe with a 2 stroke 40 hp. Johnson

[Bill Battle]

I am an American, VERY inexperienced with boats and am currently in Holland. My plan is to buy a small boat and tour as much of Europe as possible before September.<br />I have found a small 7 meter cabin boat that has everything I need.<br />My main concerns are engine relibility and fuel economy.<br />The engine starts ok and sounds good, there are no obvious knocking or other abnormal sounds.<br />The salesman told me that this engine uses about 1 liter per hour at slow speed crusing of about 8 to 10 km per hr.(3.6 liters = 1 US Gal. and 1.6 km = 1 mi.)<br />Does this sound reasonable?<br />As you may know gasoline is expensive over here and I will need to get at least 4 or 5 miles per gallon if I am to stay on my budget.<br />I would welcome any other advice that anyone can give me about living on a small boat.<br />Thanks<br />Bill Battle

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Crusing in Europe with a 2 stroke 40 hp. Johnson

Well, fuel consumption is very much controlled some 15-20 inches behind the wheel.<br /><br />Another way to see it is one liter per nautical mile. This is a rough rule, but it assumes your salesperson is WAY off.<br /><br />One liter per hour sounds like idling. I have a pretty large motor for my boat size and use a 23" pitch with is really like overdrive. I get about 0.7 liter / nm and that is VERY good.<br /><br />A Yamaha test of their 70 hp on a 5,7 metre cabin planning boat shows 0.71 liter / nm at 23,8 knots.<br /><br />European fuel pices are HIGH. <br />Do not worry about spares for the Johnson. It'll most likely run for years.. just remember to allow it to run clean on high rpm regularly. 2-strokes are not too happy idling.<br /><br />Make your calculations.

 

[sproz]

Re: Crusing in Europe with a 2 stroke 40 hp. Johnson

Hi,here's some tips from england! I roughly estimate fuel consumption to be a 10th of your h.p.per hour flat out i.e.a 40hp will use 4gal/hr obviously lowering speed will increase economy dramatically. Fuel around europe varies in price only slightly and is currently around £3.30/gal in the uk ($5??)bearing in mind that a UK gal is more than a US gal (8pts)confusing eh!! A friend of mine runs a 23ft cabin boat with a 40hp mariner on the River Thames at 6mph and seems to go on forever on a 5gal tank!!<br />Spares will not be a problem as a lot of engines here are born in the US anyway.<br />Where are you thinking of cruising??