I truly do not know how much fuel it uses but am saying 1-1.5 gal/hr as
a maximum. I have major problems filling it as the fuel backs up and
tries to backflow even though I have unclogged the breather line.

As far as finding time to sail, I am blessed with loving my work and
really cannot decide if I would ever really want to go sailing for long
periods.

wrote:
I truly do not know how much fuel it uses but am saying 1-1.5 gal/hr as
a maximum.

Ah, OK. It may be that your engine and prop aren't so well matched and
you really are burning that much fuel. It's worth looking into.


... I have major problems filling it as the fuel backs up and
tries to backflow even though I have unclogged the breather line.

Kink in the filler hose, maybe?


As far as finding time to sail, I am blessed with loving my work and
really cannot decide if I would ever really want to go sailing for long
periods.


There you have it. Do what you enjoy best. But many people confuse
"sailing" with "travel by boat under schedule contraints" and they're
not the same thing. Personally I most enjoy sailing hi performance small
tippy boats, which is a passtime of a few hours.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King

On 23 Feb 2005 12:08:23 -0800, wrote:

I truly do not know how much fuel it uses but am saying 1-1.5 gal/hr as
a maximum. I have major problems filling it as the fuel backs up and
tries to backflow even though I have unclogged the breather line.

As far as finding time to sail, I am blessed with loving my work and
really cannot decide if I would ever really want to go sailing for long
periods.

It seems you are well passed the speed you want for fuel economy.
My boat is about 36,000 lbs (46') and my big 85 hp burns between 1 and
1 1/2 gph at 6 knts.
You might try a self-pitching prop like the Auto-Prop. You can
still use sail power and the prop will self-pitch to still give speed
at slower rpm. Take a look at their web site. Over time, the fuel
economy will pay for the prop. You'll also get a real prop in reverse.

On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 21:22:37 -0800, Skipper
wrote:


It seems you are well passed the speed you want for fuel economy.
My boat is about 36,000 lbs (46') and my big 85 hp burns between 1 and
1 1/2 gph at 6 knts.
You might try a self-pitching prop like the Auto-Prop. You can
still use sail power and the prop will self-pitch to still give speed
at slower rpm. Take a look at their web site. Over time, the fuel
economy will pay for the prop. You'll also get a real prop in reverse.

A friend has a 35 hp Volvo from the late '70s pushing an 18 ton ketch
with an AutoProp. He loves it and says the efficiency is huge as is
his control. His heavy displacement full keeler now docks like a
minivan parks, and he's getting more knots from the same revs.

He says that investing in the Autoprop (around $4K Cdn.) saved him
from repowering to 55 or 85 HP ($20K-$35K). Yes, he's a liveaboard and
knows he's got too heavy a load, but he was sailing here in Toronto
yesterday and today...in February...so overbuilt steel has an upside.

His one caveat is that he feels he should install both an AquaDrive
and a shaft lock to better protect his transmission.

As I may buy his boat one day, I keep track of all his mods.

R.