Do a tune up once in a while.

"Jeff Rigby" wrote in message
...

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
I'm writing a "filler" with some fuel saving tips.

With a boat as economical as mine, I don't dare save too much fuel or it
will
begin increasing in volume and pouring through the vents. :-)
As a result, I haven't made a real thorough first hand study of fuel
saving
techniques.

So , I'm shamelessly trolling for ideas to add to the few I have already
thought to include.

So far I've got:

1. Make sure bottom is clean
2. Make sure boat is correctly propped
3. Make sure engine has been tuned up and serviced
4. Take excess gear off of boat to reduce weight
5. Reduce cruising speed, (without falling from plane if a planing
hull).
6. Plan cruise consistent with tidal currents when applicable and
possible

Any other good'ns?

7. Leave the wife at home (as unnecessary gear) to reduce weight grin
8. Move people around in the boat to balance

a. Don't take any fat chicks out in the boat with you
b. Since water is heavier than alcohol, take only beer to drink
c. When launching or recovering, just tie up boat directly to the ramp
dock-don't idle around to another out of the way location
d. Buy a boat with a Force L Drive so you will usually be under tow and not
running your engine
e. Don't swerve to avoid the lake lice
f. Insist women wear bikinis instead of one piece swim suits to save weight


"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
I'm writing a "filler" with some fuel saving tips.

With a boat as economical as mine, I don't dare save too much fuel or it
will
begin increasing in volume and pouring through the vents. :-)
As a result, I haven't made a real thorough first hand study of fuel
saving
techniques.

So , I'm shamelessly trolling for ideas to add to the few I have already
thought to include.

So far I've got:

1. Make sure bottom is clean
2. Make sure boat is correctly propped
3. Make sure engine has been tuned up and serviced
4. Take excess gear off of boat to reduce weight
5. Reduce cruising speed, (without falling from plane if a planing hull).
6. Plan cruise consistent with tidal currents when applicable and possible

Any other good'ns?

a. Don't take any fat chicks out in the boat with you
f. Insist women wear bikinis instead of one piece swim suits to save
weight"

As long as a and f are both rigorously enforced, I'm with ya Bomar! ;-)

- Michael

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
I'm writing a "filler" with some fuel saving tips.

With a boat as economical as mine, I don't dare save too much fuel or it
will
begin increasing in volume and pouring through the vents. :-)
As a result, I haven't made a real thorough first hand study of fuel
saving
techniques.

So , I'm shamelessly trolling for ideas to add to the few I have already
thought to include.

So far I've got:

1. Make sure bottom is clean
2. Make sure boat is correctly propped
3. Make sure engine has been tuned up and serviced
4. Take excess gear off of boat to reduce weight
5. Reduce cruising speed, (without falling from plane if a planing hull).
6. Plan cruise consistent with tidal currents when applicable and possible

Any other good'ns?

When going upstream, especially in swift rivers, avoid fastest current when
possible. Of course, this is within safe boating practices including
keeping on the correct side of stream, in deep enough channel, and other
rules of road. But there's quite a bit of runnig that can be done in
relatively weak current like inside of bends and other natural slacker
areas.

Opposite principle when going down stream -try to maximize your time in the
stronger current.

"Gould 0738" wrote in message
...
I'm writing a "filler" with some fuel saving tips.

With a boat as economical as mine, I don't dare save too much fuel or it
will
begin increasing in volume and pouring through the vents. :-)
As a result, I haven't made a real thorough first hand study of fuel
saving
techniques.

So , I'm shamelessly trolling for ideas to add to the few I have already
thought to include.

So far I've got:

1. Make sure bottom is clean
2. Make sure boat is correctly propped
3. Make sure engine has been tuned up and serviced
4. Take excess gear off of boat to reduce weight
5. Reduce cruising speed, (without falling from plane if a planing hull).
6. Plan cruise consistent with tidal currents when applicable and possible

Any other good'ns?

7. Spend more time making political posts on rec.boats and less time
actually out boating...you know, like basskisser.
8. Balance the weight so trim tabs don't need to be used as much...which
creates excess drag
9. Use proper trim on outboards and outdrives.

actually, it's pretty simple, go slower

"Florida Keyz" wrote in message
...
actually, it's pretty simple, go slower

Slower than what? Planing hulls going slower than planing speed are much
less efficient.

Slower than what? Planing hulls going slower than planing speed are much
less efficient.

Actually, i am not so sure about that, I have a 44 marine trader with twin 270
hp lemans, I cruise at 9 mph (knots are for sailors with lots of time on their
hands) and average 1mpg., as do most of the reports I see from the great loop.
Whats better??

"Florida Keyz" wrote in message
...
Slower than what? Planing hulls going slower than planing speed are much
less efficient.

Actually, i am not so sure about that, I have a 44 marine trader with twin
270
hp lemans, I cruise at 9 mph (knots are for sailors with lots of time on
their
hands) and average 1mpg., as do most of the reports I see from the great
loop.
Whats better??

In my quick and dirty testing of my new flow meter this weekend - about 50
miles total in a variety of lake and river conditions - the sweet spot that
maximizes miles per gallon definitely is at planing speed. I'm not sure
exactly where yet, but it didn't even appear to be at slowest planing speed,
but more testing is needed!

The bad news is that I'm not going to get more than 2 mpg and often a little
less, it seems.

Cam

Slower than what? Planing hulls going slower than planing speed are much
less efficient.

Actually, i am not so sure about that, I have a 44 marine trader with twin
270
hp lemans, I cruise at 9 mph (knots are for sailors with lots of time on
their

Your 44 Marine Trader is not a planing hull.

It's a semi-displacement trawler.

At what rpm do you make 8 kt? (about 9 mph)

Experiment with slowing down to 7 kt, and you might realize a 25-30 percent
increase in fuel economy. I have experienced that kind of results in the past,
in a smaller hull with similar characteristics.

Caveat: Running a diesel engine too slowly for an extended period of time is
not generally recommended. As you know, they thrive on exercise.