My boat is being a boat . . .

[alldodge]

Marina prices. . .

AD, what fuel mileage are you getting with the Chappy?

About 2.2 at about 3200 rpm which is 30 mph

 

[Scott Danforth]

$3.29 at local pump. Fuel docks are about $4.75

A 20 gallon fuel cady would fit in your dingy

 

[tpenfield]

About 2.2 at about 3200 rpm which is 30 mph

I'm about 1.2 mpg at 30 mph . . . 3600 RPM.

 

[Lou C]

Well that's good that the coolant overflow issue was really nothing...
the newer boats have a vapor recovery system like cars have had for many years, I guess there can be issues with them, I had a few check engine lights over the years due to that.
Fuel economy, well that's one reason why I still like my small boat with the 4.3 V6-4bbl, with the small primaries of the Quadrajet, it is very economical. If you cruise right at about 3500 rpm, fuel use is really quite low. Maybe 5-6 GPH. Not a high top speed, but here with our normal sea conditions, can't really use it often anyway, it is a nice 25 mph cruise at 3500. Might visit the fuel dock tomorrow and see what it is selling for in Long Island NY.

 

[alldodge]

Well that's good that the coolant overflow issue was really nothing...
the newer boats have a vapor recovery system like cars have had for many years, I guess there can be issues with them, I had a few check engine lights over the years due to that.
Fuel economy, well that's one reason why I still like my small boat with the 4.3 V6-4bbl, with the small primaries of the Quadrajet, it is very economical. If you cruise right at about 3500 rpm, fuel use is really quite low. Maybe 5-6 GPH. Not a high top speed, but here with our normal sea conditions, can't really use it often anyway, it is a nice 25 mph cruise at 3500. Might visit the fuel dock tomorrow and see what it is selling for in Long Island NY.

Switch to a 14 ft Jon boat and 10hp OB and get even better fuel economy

 

[Scott Danforth]

Y'all own a boat with motors. If you want economy get oars or sails. My boat gets many smiles per gallon.

Fuel is usually the cheapest part of boat ownership

 

[flashback]

I did the sails for a long time and sails are expensive....

 

[tpenfield]

I did the sails for a long time and sails are expensive....

Sails tend to cost more than the boat. When I had my Catalina 22, I did enjoy using just 5 gallons of gas per year

Sailboats are about the journey
Powerboats are about the destination

 

[tpenfield]

Fuel is usually the cheapest part of boat ownership

Yup, I figure that it is only about 35% of the annual cost of ownership. I usually try to put about 80-100 gallons in on land before launching and then do some replenishment from jugs.

With $1.50/gallon extra at the marina, there is a bit of an incentive to do the schlepping.

 

[Dubed]

I'm about 1.2 mpg at 30 mph . . . 3600 RPM.

That is why I still run my 3.7. Lol. I can run all day for $75
Back when I had my 392 Silverton with the twin gas guzzlers, it was no joke paying for fuel.
My next boat will be a 23'ish center console with an outboard. As I get older, I just want to fish and have an easy time running and repairing a boat. Crawling around in a bilge or engine compartment is no longer fun.

 

[barryztom]

I am still old school, 2 stroke outboard!!! Started first crank on last years stabilized left over fuel. Battery was at full charge from being left on a maintainer all winter....this is about as technical as I get!!

 

[tpenfield]

Quick update . . .

The Admiral gets discounts on fuel with a loyalty card at the grocery store (Stop & Shop), and she sure buys a lot of groceries. Well the 'points' have accumulated to $1.30 off per gallon for 20 gallons.

So . . . we'll be getting 20 gallons in jugs today, which will bring the cost of the latest 'batch' of fuel down to about $4.12/gal

 

[nola mike]

Quick update . . .

The Admiral gets discounts on fuel with a loyalty card at the grocery store (Stop & Shop), and she sure buys a lot of groceries. Well the 'points' have accumulated to $1.30 off per gallon for 20 gallons.

So . . . we'll be getting 20 gallons in jugs today, which will bring the cost of the latest 'batch' of fuel down to about $4.12/gal

Yeah, I think you picked the wrong boat for cheap ownership. At least it was cheap to initially purchase, right Maybe focus some more on the whaler. I'm trying to find a destination that I can boat to, walk to a super close gas station and fill jugs. As it is I have to drive 8 minutes to the nearest gas station, which isnt as much fun as a boat ride.

 

[flashback]

Sounds like me, I can't remember the last time I visited the gas dock. Then again I don't take long trips in the boat and I don't need to ferry the Jerry cans in a dinghy and to be perfectly honest I haven't developed enough faith in my boat yet to go far...

 

[Lou C]

I have a 15 gallon gas caddy that I bought right before Hurricane Sandy but no way am I lugging that thing out to the mooring. The best gas cans I have found for filling boats safely are the VP vented racing cans with the optional gas spout. Expensive but worth it.

 

[tpenfield]

Cheap ownership went out when I got rid of the sailboat ️.

It is more of a fun thing to try to control costs

 

[Lou C]

We have a real economy boat. A 10’ Walker Bay dinghy with a Suzuki DF2.5. You can run all day on a gallon of gas! Just have to stay in the protected bays.

 

[Scott Danforth]

My canoe gets about 2 miles per beer

 

[Lou C]

Human powered by carbohydrates

 

[Scott Danforth]

Human powered by carbohydrates

With some methane discharge