Fuel Costs????

[-twitch-]

I am looking at buying my first boat and trying to figure out average fuel cost. So at $4.00 a gallon whats an average cost of running a boat for the day with tubes and wakeboards in tow.

I am looking at 18 - 21ft boats with 4.3L V6 - 5.7L V8 motors.

 

[BrianCinAz]

Re: Fuel Costs????

Yesterday, I spent a little over $100 for all day pulling experienced wakeboarders with full ballast tanks and the wedge lowered.

When pulling tubers and beginning wakeboarders, I usually use about $40 to $60 in a day

Your mileage may vary :lol:

 

[-twitch-]

Re: Fuel Costs????

Yesterday, I spent a little over $100 for all day pulling experienced wakeboarders with full ballast tanks and the wedge lowered.

When pulling tubers and beginning wakeboarders, I usually use about $40 to $60 in a day

Your mileage may vary :lol:

What size boat and motor??

We will all suck so I guess it will be cheaper haha:lol:

 

[ricohman]

Re: Fuel Costs????

My 2011 4.3 is fairly economical to run. But then with such a short boating season I don't concern myself with how much it costs to fill the boat.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Fuel Costs????

From 50 to 300

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Fuel Costs????

My 2011 4.3 is fairly economical to run. But then with such a short boating season I don't concern myself with how much it costs to fill the boat.

x2 - fuel is the cheapest part of the whole "boat thing"

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fuel Costs????

From 50 to 300

second best answer. the best answer is the answer for all boating questions: it depends.

You really have to back into it and since you are just starting, you really can't. Boaters can take a "typical day" and crunch some numbers. For example, an 8 hour day in the boat is not, for most, 8 hours at an average speed. Instead it is a series of segments: half hour at 3/4 speed to get to the area you like (x2 for return); drag the babies at low speed for half hour; drag the teens at high speed for an hour; beach/float for 2 hours; cruise explore for an hour; 1 hour tubing. High energy people (who aren't paying for the gas) may ski/tube for 6 hours straight; many enjoy an hour or two session.

anyway, boats are not effcient travel and boating is not economical recreation.

 

[h2odick]

Re: Fuel Costs????

You mean to say, boats run on "gas"? Damn. All these years I've been pouring straight cash into the filler neck! :crazy::lol:

 

[-twitch-]

Re: Fuel Costs????

second best answer. the best answer is the answer for all boating questions: it depends.

You really have to back into it and since you are just starting, you really can't. Boaters can take a "typical day" and crunch some numbers. For example, an 8 hour day in the boat is not, for most, 8 hours at an average speed. Instead it is a series of segments: half hour at 3/4 speed to get to the area you like (x2 for return); drag the babies at low speed for half hour; drag the teens at high speed for an hour; beach/float for 2 hours; cruise explore for an hour; 1 hour tubing. High energy people (who aren't paying for the gas) may ski/tube for 6 hours straight; many enjoy an hour or two session.

anyway, boats are not effcient travel and boating is not economical recreation.

This was helpful thanks

I am not so much concerned with how much it will be more or less kinda want to know what to expect.

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: Fuel Costs????

You mean to say, boats run on "gas"? Damn. All these years I've been pouring straight cash into the filler neck!:crazy::lol:

Most people who don't own a boat believe that they run on "thanks!"

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Fuel Costs????

Our typical day on the water is 6 or 8 hours of cruising, watersports, floating, etc. The boat is a 20.5' open bow with a 5.7L carbed engine. I burn about 20 gallons per day.
Fuel consumption is important as far as "do I have enough not to get stranded?" It doesn't even enter my mind when choosing a boat and engine. I want a boat large enough, nice enough, and powerful enough to make me happy. I will fuel it as required.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Fuel Costs????

-twitch-,

I had a Mercruiser 4.3 liter 190 hp in my last boat and I could pull tubes, kneeboards, etc., etc. all day long and not go through 25 gallons of gas. I would say that you would go through $100 give or take a little. On the average a tank of gas would last me two to three days of boating. You have to figure in that you will not be going all the time and will probably float the majority. That is how the use of gasoline was for me.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Fuel Costs????

I have a 4.3MPI on an 18 footer.
5-6 hours of running around and pulling 4 grandkids on a Tube and some High speed runs and including and hour with the engine off while you get the tube and the tubers/skiers into and out of the water.....
The tank holds 28 gal and I will typically use 15 gallons for ~$50 from the gas station.
I consider it cheaper than "Dinner and a Movie" for just 2 people.

Last year... Launched 30 times for a total of 80 engine hours and 285 gallons of fuel.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Fuel Costs????

... and last year, I probably didn't burn 40 gallons of fuel all summer as we spent most of our time swimmin'.

It's a tough gig to measure out. If you're planning on water sports - factor in a lot more fuel.

 

[Begester]

Re: Fuel Costs????

Watersports, in my opinion, are the most fuel-consuming activity. I try and be as efficient as I can and dont run full throttle all the time and have a prop thats pitched for efficiency. I sacrifice a little bit at the top end, but I'm not going that fast anyways, so its no big deal.

Many states have fuel tax refunds for boat gas. Here in Washington State, its about a 18 cent/gallon refund if you save your receipts and send in at the end of the season. Ususally is good for ~$80-$100 bucks which is better than nothing, especially in my state that taxes everything!

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Fuel Costs????

I always gas up on the way to the lake, as gas at the lake is typically $1 higher than at the gas station. That being said, when I'm at a lake for a week, I gas up at the marina (once that first tank of fuel is gone), because even at a dollar a gallon more, it's a better deal than taking the boat out of the water, and trailering it to the gas station. It always seems like it's a LONG way to the gas station from wherever I'm moored.

 

[jbach]

Re: Fuel Costs????

depends on what you're using it for but usually fuel cost shouldn't even be a consideration when owing a boat. between, food, gas for boat and tow vehicle and a little beer, it's an easy $100-$150 a day. we wakeboard, surf and swim/relax. equal parts of each i'd say.

 

[Natty Light]

Re: Fuel Costs????

I run an 18ft fish and ski with a 2 stroke carb'd 150 outboard. Each full day (bout 7 hours on the water) of running around, beaching, tubing, floating, etc...ends up being about 75 bucks gas a day.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Fuel Costs????

I clocked 164 hours and 328 gallons last year. hoping to use it a lot more this year.

 

[pcrg28328]

Re: Fuel Costs????

In my 21' cuddy 4.3 mercruiser for an average 8 hour day of tubing with a double tube. I have a 45 gallon tank. I normally burn about 30 gallons or 110.00