Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

We just replaced the ancient o/b with a 6 hp, 4-stroke Mercury. What are
some typical per hour fuel consumption numbers for a 6 hp 4-stroke Merc
o/b ?

I'm asking because we're about to make the crossing out to Santa
Catalina Island the day after christmas and I want to make sure I carry
enough fuel in case the winds should completely die down. I'm _guessing_
1/2 a gallon per hour at 3/4 throttle ?

Thanks,



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

For starters, how big a boat are you pushing??

--
Dale Gillespie
http://groups.msn.com/FishWishersHomePage

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"Sven" wrote in message
...
We just replaced the ancient o/b with a 6 hp, 4-stroke Mercury. What are
some typical per hour fuel consumption numbers for a 6 hp 4-stroke Merc
o/b ?

I'm asking because we're about to make the crossing out to Santa
Catalina Island the day after christmas and I want to make sure I carry
enough fuel in case the winds should completely die down. I'm _guessing_
1/2 a gallon per hour at 3/4 throttle ?

Thanks,



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

In article ,
"FishWisher" wrote:

For starters, how big a boat are you pushing??

Doesn't matter (within error bars).

Just running at 3/4 throttle, regardless of hull shape or size, Mercury
6 hp, 4-stroke.

Thanks,



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

I'm an inland boater, but seems you are talking about a pretty small motor
for the Pacific. I'd want more than that on any lake in down-state Illinois.
Maybe I don't understand your application, but you are looking at a very
small power source. Not much help against the whims of Big Momma Nature.
Just my $0.02 worth.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

In article i4aGb.64$_A5.19@fe10, "Eric H"
wrote:

I'm an inland boater, but seems you are talking about a pretty small motor
for the Pacific. I'd want more than that on any lake in down-state Illinois.
Maybe I don't understand your application, but you are looking at a very
small power source. Not much help against the whims of Big Momma Nature.
Just my $0.02 worth.

I'm just looking for typical hourly fuel consumption of a 4-stroke, 6
hp, Mercury outboard running at 3/4 full throttle.

Thanks,



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

Sven wrote:
In article i4aGb.64$_A5.19@fe10, "Eric H"
wrote:


I'm an inland boater, but seems you are talking about a pretty small motor
for the Pacific. I'd want more than that on any lake in down-state Illinois.
Maybe I don't understand your application, but you are looking at a very
small power source. Not much help against the whims of Big Momma Nature.
Just my $0.02 worth.


I'm just looking for typical hourly fuel consumption of a 4-stroke, 6
hp, Mercury outboard running at 3/4 full throttle.

Thanks,



-Sven


Good rule of thumb for 4 stroke petrol is 1 ltr/hr = 3 HP (or 0.27 US
gals/hr = 3 hp).

The tricky thing is to know how much HP the prop is actually consuming
at 3/4 throttle because HP consumed is NOT linear on a fixed pitch prop.
i.e. the prop will consume more than 3/4 power at 3/4 throttle opening
because the prop will allow it to rev higher than 3/4 max rpm.

1/2 a US gal/hr should get you a fair bit of the available 6 HP so your
guesstimate is probably realistic in the premises.

It might be just as easy to take a short test run on a full tank,
refill after a known time & see what fuel was used, then repeat at WOT
(only for a short time!!! you can multiply the results) to see how much
the engine is capable of using in a worst case scenario & even then
allow a good margin because in offshore water you will definitely use
more even on a calm day:-)

K

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

Sven,

it depends. good luck NOT becoming a statistic.

"Sven" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"FishWisher" wrote:

For starters, how big a boat are you pushing??

Doesn't matter (within error bars).

Just running at 3/4 throttle, regardless of hull shape or size, Mercury
6 hp, 4-stroke.

Thanks,



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

Good luck not becoming a statistic? Why the hell would you say that?
Just have nothing else to say? I guess you think Sven must be such a
foolhardy mariner for not putting a more powerfull outboat on his
SAILBOAT.....duh.
John C.

On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 14:40:48 GMT, "DownTime"
wrote:

Sven,

it depends. good luck NOT becoming a statistic.

"Sven" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"FishWisher" wrote:

For starters, how big a boat are you pushing??

Doesn't matter (within error bars).

Just running at 3/4 throttle, regardless of hull shape or size, Mercury
6 hp, 4-stroke.

Thanks,



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

In article ,
WaIIy wrote:

On Tue, 23 Dec 2003 21:59:42 -0800, Sven
wrote:

In article ,
"FishWisher" wrote:

For starters, how big a boat are you pushing??

Doesn't matter (within error bars).

Just running at 3/4 throttle, regardless of hull shape or size, Mercury
6 hp, 4-stroke.


Actually, it does matter.

What's the big secret here, Sven?

While it is true that a harder-to-push boat would probably result in
lower rpm and thus lower gph fuel consumption at a fixed throttle
setting, that is within the error bars.

Just running at 3/4 throttle, regardless of hull shape or size, Mercury
6 hp, 4-stroke.

Thanks,




-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

"jchaplain" wrote in message
...
Good luck not becoming a statistic? Why the hell would you say that?
Just have nothing else to say? I guess you think Sven must be such a
foolhardy mariner for not putting a more powerfull outboat on his
SAILBOAT.....duh.
John C.


please go back and read the original post, and the first few response. I was
adding a bit of sarcasm, but this person asked a very open, somewhat boating
illiterate question and when others came to try and help by asking him for
more detailed information, the guy just blew them off. if it was not for his
two responses, I would not have said anything. twice he responded and never
answered the original question. other people were trying to help, and if he
choose to be so ignorant in his response, I would pretty much guarantee he
is the type who has a pretty high probability of becoming a statistic.

I may not have been clear, but I was thinking of a statistic in terms of
getting towed home because the captain in this case failed to adequately
plan his trip. I think he might be foolhardy to expect anyone else to know
his fuel consumption based solely on the engine. it has nothing to do with a
more powerful engine, just simple physics. is it a 20 fter or a 60 fter, it
would have a HUGE impact on the calculation of fuel consumption.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

In article ,
"DownTime" wrote:

is it a 20 fter or a 60 fter, it
would have a HUGE impact on the calculation of fuel consumption.

Not if stated in gph, which is what I asked for.

PLONK




-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

Duh, - YOU please go back and read the original post!

He didn't ask how far he could get on a gallon of gas, he was asking
for ENGINE RUN TIME per gallon.

And now you've said...
"this person asked a very open, somewhat boating
illiterate question."

You're way off base. I'm sure you're eager to help other boaters, but
you need to be less judgemental of the skills of other boaters based
on the absolutuely nothing you know about them, and read the question
better before sounding off like a Wally-know-it-all.

John C.




On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 17:45:04 GMT, "DownTime"
wrote:


"jchaplain" wrote in message
.. .
Good luck not becoming a statistic? Why the hell would you say that?
Just have nothing else to say? I guess you think Sven must be such a
foolhardy mariner for not putting a more powerfull outboat on his
SAILBOAT.....duh.
John C.


please go back and read the original post, and the first few response. I was
adding a bit of sarcasm, but this person asked a very open, somewhat boating
illiterate question and when others came to try and help by asking him for
more detailed information, the guy just blew them off. if it was not for his
two responses, I would not have said anything. twice he responded and never
answered the original question. other people were trying to help, and if he
choose to be so ignorant in his response, I would pretty much guarantee he
is the type who has a pretty high probability of becoming a statistic.

I may not have been clear, but I was thinking of a statistic in terms of
getting towed home because the captain in this case failed to adequately
plan his trip. I think he might be foolhardy to expect anyone else to know
his fuel consumption based solely on the engine. it has nothing to do with a
more powerful engine, just simple physics. is it a 20 fter or a 60 fter, it
would have a HUGE impact on the calculation of fuel consumption.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

In his original post, he said he needed this information in case the winds
completely die down. Let's say his estimate of 1/2 gallon per hour is dead on.
Without knowing the speed of the boat at 3/4 throttle, how can you tell if you
can cover the distance? Fuel consumption per hour is meaningless by itself to
determine the range he will get with his existing fuel tank. He also said he
just replaced the motor so unless he has already checked the speed at 3/4
throttle (and if he did he should already know the fuel consumption) it is
impossible to determine the range. Also, someone pointed out the effect sea
conditions can have and on a rough day it could reduce the range by 25% or more.

If he had included the size and type of boat - that he clearly doesn't want to
reveal - he might get a better answer or even a first hand report from someone
with the same configuration.


jchaplain wrote:
Duh, - YOU please go back and read the original post!

He didn't ask how far he could get on a gallon of gas, he was asking
for ENGINE RUN TIME per gallon.

And now you've said...
"this person asked a very open, somewhat boating
illiterate question."

You're way off base. I'm sure you're eager to help other boaters, but
you need to be less judgemental of the skills of other boaters based
on the absolutuely nothing you know about them, and read the question
better before sounding off like a Wally-know-it-all.

John C.




On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 17:45:04 GMT, "DownTime"
wrote:


"jchaplain" wrote in message
. ..

Good luck not becoming a statistic? Why the hell would you say that?
Just have nothing else to say? I guess you think Sven must be such a
foolhardy mariner for not putting a more powerfull outboat on his
SAILBOAT.....duh.
John C.


please go back and read the original post, and the first few response. I was
adding a bit of sarcasm, but this person asked a very open, somewhat boating
illiterate question and when others came to try and help by asking him for
more detailed information, the guy just blew them off. if it was not for his
two responses, I would not have said anything. twice he responded and never
answered the original question. other people were trying to help, and if he
choose to be so ignorant in his response, I would pretty much guarantee he
is the type who has a pretty high probability of becoming a statistic.

I may not have been clear, but I was thinking of a statistic in terms of
getting towed home because the captain in this case failed to adequately
plan his trip. I think he might be foolhardy to expect anyone else to know
his fuel consumption based solely on the engine. it has nothing to do with a
more powerful engine, just simple physics. is it a 20 fter or a 60 fter, it
would have a HUGE impact on the calculation of fuel consumption.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

Okay, if you think an engine will push the Queen Mary and use the same
amount of gas as pushing an inner tube.

It will run ( roughly) the same amount of time per gallon of gas,
which was the question...geez, don't you know how to read? Someone
helping you type?



I see your response was very helpful to Sven With the Secret Boat.

And your helpful response was? Letsee...how big is the boat?

OK, Sven, next time, when dealing with morons here on rec.boats, maybe
you need to say...

"attached to a dock, how long will the motor run on a gallon of gas."

They'll probably ask how big the dock is though...sigh......

John C.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

If he had included the size and type of boat - that he clearly doesn't want to
reveal - he might get a better answer or even a first hand report from someone
with the same configuration.

I think he should have included the information on which way the tide
was going as well. He must be keeping that a big secret too.
Yuh, that's the ticket, Sven is trying to trick us with his devilishly
tough questions...how long does a 6hp engine run on a gallon of
gas....duh.....

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

Hi John,

In article ,
jchaplain wrote:

They'll probably ask how big the dock is though...sigh......

:-)

Thanks for the valiant attempts to step in with some logic.
Unfortunately, half the population will always have below average
intelligence. A good killfile is the most painless way of dealing with
the problem.

Have a good holiday !



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

Is "duh" your answer?

You are a stupid foch.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

I guess I'm in the stupid half.


yup

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

"jchaplain" wrote in message
...

If he had included the size and type of boat - that he clearly doesn't
want to
reveal - he might get a better answer or even a first hand report from
someone
with the same configuration.

I think he should have included the information on which way the tide
was going as well. He must be keeping that a big secret too.
Yuh, that's the ticket, Sven is trying to trick us with his devilishly
tough questions...how long does a 6hp engine run on a gallon of
gas....duh.....

How much prop? Is it a Bigfoot? Load affects fuel consumption.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

"jchaplain" wrote in message
...

Duh, - YOU please go back and read the original post!

He didn't ask how far he could get on a gallon of gas, he was asking
for ENGINE RUN TIME per gallon.

And now you've said...
"this person asked a very open, somewhat boating
illiterate question."

You're way off base. I'm sure you're eager to help other boaters, but
you need to be less judgemental of the skills of other boaters based
on the absolutuely nothing you know about them, and read the question
better before sounding off like a Wally-know-it-all.

John C.

i was trying to be a little less judgemental until you jumped in. how 'bout
this, you and Sven go on the trip and report back with your findings. deal?

as I stated, had he been willing to offer up a ltitle more information, he
could have had more meaningful answers. engine run time per gallon means
nothing if you do not equate or factor in the distance and here is the
tricky part for you, the weight of the boat. in case you might still be
confused, the bigger (i.e. longer) the boat, typically the more it weighs.
not every single case, but a good rule of thumb.

untill then, Happy Holidays to all.

p.s. I know my range and consumption!

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

"Sven" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"DownTime" wrote:

is it a 20 fter or a 60 fter, it
would have a HUGE impact on the calculation of fuel consumption.

Not if stated in gph, which is what I asked for.


so what if the boat runs for 1, 2, or 10 hours per gallon? if you do not
factor in weight and distance, the calculation is meaningless.

p.s. PLONK yourself, better yet, invest in towing insurance.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

The answer is worthless.
Duh...

jchaplain wrote:
If he had included the size and type of boat - that he clearly doesn't want to
reveal - he might get a better answer or even a first hand report from someone
with the same configuration.


I think he should have included the information on which way the tide
was going as well. He must be keeping that a big secret too.
Yuh, that's the ticket, Sven is trying to trick us with his devilishly
tough questions...how long does a 6hp engine run on a gallon of
gas....duh.....

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

A very revealing question.

It didn't answer the stated question but it sure exposed a lot of
ignorance.

No wonder so many sail^H^H^H^H folks need to subscribe to vessel assist.



-Sven

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

No wonder so many sail^H^H^H^H folks need to subscribe to vessel assist.

If a guy in a sailboat doesn't sink, run aground or run out of drinking water I
can't imagine why he needs "vessel assist".
You might be late for dinner but the wind will come up eventually.
Compared to the dozens of things that can go wrong with a power boat, sail is
pretty reliable.

Typical gph for a 6 hp Mercury 4-stroke ?
 

We traveled over 800 miles this past summer on a 25' sailboat and over 95%
of that was under power with a 6 hp 4 stroke Yamaha. The mileage per gallon
varied depending on wind and current but it averaged out at over 15 MPG or
about .43 gal per hour. I mostly ran the boat at or just below 6 MPH which
was about .7 MPH below WOT. Our friends on a 26' with an 8 HP diesel did
even better by about 20% I have nothing to back this up, but I think I'd
have done even better with my 7.5 HP Honda motor which may have allowed me
to back the throttle off even more and to have driven into a few really
strong head winds better. I opted for the 6 because it was almost new and
the Honda is 20 years old.