On Wed, 11 May 2005 21:26:39 GMT, Gene Kearns
wrote:

On Wed, 11 May 2005 16:50:28 GMT, Shortwave Sportfishing
wrote:

I had a debate with a friend this morning concerning miles vs gallons
per hour.

I contend that gallons per hour is a more reliable method of
determining how far and fast a boat can/should go. Obviously, my
friend took the opposite viewpoint.

What is the collective wisdom concerning these measure of fuel
efficiency?

Hmmm.. there seems to be some games with semantics, here, but my take
is that an engine can be expected to consume X gallons of fuel per
hour to develop Y horsepower. One may then calculate the "miles per
gallon" figure, but I fear it is of more interest to the marketing
department than the practical boater.

For example, a boat traveling into a 15 mph current at 15 mph could be
expected to get 0 miles per gallon, but would reasonably be expected
to burn Y gallons per hour developing the requisite horsepower to
maintain 15 mph....

So, Tom, I'm with you on this one, since we are traveling in a movable
liquid and at the mercy of the wind. Get a totalizer... at least
you'll know where you stand and how far off shore you are likely to
run out of fuel....

I think the GPH side has won the day.

Therefore, I RULE!!! :)

Later,

Tom