What should I expect?

Chromaflage · 05-03-2006, 04:45 PM

I'm wondering if anyone would know what I should expect my fuel burn rate to be at cruising speed - 26.5' Cuddy boat, OMC Cobra with a 5.7 V8. I don't have a Navman or a flow meter, but I was thinking for the first time out, I'd fill the tank, note the chronometer reading, then refill after being out a while and note the end chronometer reading. Any thoughts?

Thanks

CrF

tracker · 05-03-2006, 06:27 PM

Completely depends on sea state and wind and how many people in the boat, and so on. I burn about 13gph at 25mph. Just shy of 2mpg. But that is loaded for tuna! On the otherhand I have only squeezed out 1mpg on a bad day! 26' striper with 225hp yami!

KillerBeee · 05-03-2006, 08:09 PM

I'd vote for a flow meter. Navman around $100 I think and easy to install. Made me feel a lot better. What's your fuel capacity?
Beeee

Chromaflage · 05-03-2006, 08:49 PM

153 gallons.

Draggin' Bait · 05-03-2006, 09:13 PM

Dang! I'd have to ask for a promotion and raise to fill that tank! Unleaded regular here is $3.49. Hmmm...how much are they paying for blood and body organs this year?

Chromaflage · 05-03-2006, 09:20 PM

I think a fill from E to F will be a once in a life time event. I intend to break out a Cuban once the needle hits the F line. :grin:

KillerBeee · 05-03-2006, 09:33 PM

A full tank is a happy tank. Once you have it full, top off after every trip. Builds confidence in range and you never have to wonder if your guage is accurate. After a few trips you'll get the feel of daily consumption by distance and conditions. Do you tralier that boat?
Beeeeee

Chromaflage · 05-03-2006, 09:41 PM

yes, I trailer the boat. Curious - why do you ask?

KillerBeee · 05-03-2006, 10:19 PM

Better fuel prices at the pump vs. at the marina.
The thought that if you had to pay for marine fuel every time you returned from a trip may lead you away from keeping your boat topped off.
I'm just a firm believer in always starting off a trip with a full tank whenever possible.
My questions for you and ramblings have nothing to do with your initial question about fuel efficiency, but I was trying to get a feel for your boat and it's abilities.
With 153 gallons you should have pretty decent range in good conditions. Perhaps I've missed how long you've had your boat. Sounds like a nice ride.
A mentor of mine always keeps a log of miles traveled, conditions, and fuel consumed on each trip. I have taken up this practice and find it to be most enlightening, espescially after a few trips logging the info, I really became familiar with my boat and it's capabilities.
Beeee

Chromaflage · 05-03-2006, 10:26 PM

Thanks for the input. Even though not on the specific topic, it makes me think about other issues. I appreciate that.

I just got it a few weeks ago. Currently in the process of rgging and outfitting it for the pond. I'm just a pup at this stuff and I'm learning a lot in a fairly short amount of time. Here are a couple pics of the ride. It's a 26.5' Cobia Odyssey. I've had it on the Columbia once so far - went a total of about 40 miles. I was really pleased with how it handled and performed.

CrF

KillerBeee · 05-03-2006, 10:30 PM

Oh yeah,
I did see it. Looks like a great deep hull and a very cozy ride. Take it easy on the speed, keep your cruise RPM low, and you'll go a long way. I hope to see you out there, and better yet, I hope to bum a ride on that nice looking vessel!
Beeee

Ryan Pultz · 05-04-2006, 02:09 AM

Wow Chromaflage that boat looks very nice. I did not know what to expect from what you had explained to me. But wow that is a nice ride. rp

fishtales · 05-04-2006, 08:09 AM

With your fuel capacity you should have no trouble fishing for Albacore or Halibut. I agree with some of the above posts, Consider a flow meter at some point and ALWAYS fill it up after every trip. There is no room for condensation in a full tank and you won't have to worry, should something happen to force your staying longer than expected and or returning to a port you did not expect to run to.
Even without a flow meter after a few trips you will get to know your boat and its little secrets! They all have their own traits.
On another note it is always a good idea to have a wing when you fish very far off shore.
Just my two cents for what it is worth.
Humbly, FT

Pilar · 05-04-2006, 09:24 AM

Chromaflage .. nice ride. I would expect anywhere from 1.5 to 2 mpg. Several have told you about flow meters, here's my $0.02.

Get one today. Don't wait and here's why. The fuel gage on your dashboard does little but tell you that your ignition is powered up. They are notoriously inaccurate and often fail to work at all.

The main reason is that you will be able to max out your economy. I have learned so much about 'Kismet' and her quirks by using the Flowscan meter we installed right after we bought the boat. Here's a little about that.

The boat has two *modes* for want of a better term.

1st is displacement when the hull is deep in the water. Max speed is about 8 kts. If you try to go 9 kts, fuel use climbs quickly as the boat begins to climb up on step. At 8 kts the fuel use can be as low as 5 GPH or as high as 12. You absolutely can't tell without using the flowmeter. A very small adjustment of the throttle post makes a huge change in flow when you get at the threshold of climbing up on step. In displacement mode steering is very sluggish and the wind has a big effect. You won't have this problem as you lack a flybridge but canvas tops can act like sails too.

2nd mode is on step. The hull is out of the water almost all the way. The boat banks on turns and steers much nicer. Fuel burn ranges from 16 to 24 gph, depends on speed, trim and load. On step is at about 17 kts but at 20 kts or better you never fall off when you climb a swell. The same thing happens though. Slight changes in trim, list and load distribution make major changes in burn rate and speed. I climb up on step and trim for minimum burn rate for a given RPM. You can tell when the trim is sweet because the boat speeds up without touching the throttle. Then you just back off the throttle to bring rpm back down. Burn rate drops when you do this.

I don't know if you have trim tabs or not but you should. I can get from 1.3 to 1.5 mpg using the trim and the flowmeter. Or I can stay down at 1 mpg or less by ignoring it.

You will also know to the gallon what you burned after just one or two trips and adjustments are made. I bought the flowscan because I like the analog gage and for the reputation. About $300. The Navman has a digital readout which to me is harder to read and it is only $100 or so.

Good luck and get the best instruments you can afford .. it makes your boat easier to manage and gives you confidence.

Chromaflage · 05-04-2006, 09:30 AM

Thanks all for the info! Pilar - very informative. I appreciate it. So, where can I pick up a Navman locally? (portland area).

Thanks,

CrF

Triple C · 05-04-2006, 09:41 AM

I installed a Lowrance Flow meter $149.00 last month. It
has a lot of features and will tie into other Lowrance
systems. It was easy to install and easy to program and
use. I run a 26' Striper with EFI 5.7 280 HP @ 33-35kts
it burning 12.5 GPH. I need to do a little more
experimenting with throttle settings and sea conditions
to understand the numbers better. This is a lot better than
relying on that fuel gauge.

Phil Layer · 05-04-2006, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Thanks all for the info! Pilar - very informative. I appreciate it. So, where can I pick up a Navman locally? (portland area).

Thanks,

CrF

You should be able to find one at that store that rhymes with "Floater's Swirled."

Chromaflage · 05-04-2006, 09:57 AM

Quote:

You should be able to find one at that store that rhymes with "Floater's Swirled."

Ah, yes - my coffee table book that sits right next to my "270 Deg. Marine" book. :grin:

thanks!

KillerBeee · 05-04-2006, 11:44 AM

Pilar had a perfect close to what I was getting at. My boat is outboard so the comparison seemed inadequate. If you are running Lowrance and the unit is NMEA2000 compatable, then go with the Lowrance unit. It looks like $149 at the Boaters place. I looked and couldn't find that they still carried the Navman unit.
Good luck and keep up the good work.
Beeeeeee

Iwish · 05-04-2006, 12:42 PM

Just to clarify, which Lowrance unit are we talking about here. There is the LMF-200 and the LMF-400. I am also looking at one of these and thought I would ask to see what the majority chose and if there is really a need for the 400 vs. the 200.

Chromaflage · 05-04-2006, 12:49 PM

Well, since I don't have a Lawrance - yet - I'll go with the Navman...hopefully that certain place will have one.

Thanks!

CrF

Orca · 05-04-2006, 12:56 PM

Telling someone about Boater's World is not against the AUP. You just can't post a link or www... or give contact info like phone, address, etc.

Pilar · 05-04-2006, 12:57 PM

CrF

One other thought. Once you get used to the flowmeter and the way your boat works you will be able to tell when it ain't right. Fuel use goes up and power goes down.

Paddler · 05-04-2006, 01:01 PM

Adding fuel flow to the Lowrance is only $49 if you have a NMEA 2000 chartplotter. I got my EP 10 for $43, show price. Makes for a nicely integrated package, everything displays on the screen, and you can overlay whatever data you find most useful.

I don't think it's necessary to top off each trip, depending on your plans. I will for tuna trips, but if I'm only going 10 miles offshore, I'll use maybe 10 gallons for a day of fishing. In my old boat, I'd fish three days on a tank, and put in about 14 gallons to fill the 22 gallon tank at the end of the third day. Bottom line, with the fuel flow gauge and common sense, you shouldn't get into trouble. One hundred fifty three gallons of fuel weighs 900 pounds, so carrying that much fuel for short, inshore trips sounds inefficient to me.

Chromaflage · 05-04-2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

One hundred fifty three gallons of fuel weighs 900 pounds, so carrying that much fuel for short, inshore trips sounds inefficient to me.

Good point. And if that's all I was planning to do, I wouldn't even worry about a flow meter. But I've got plans to take 'er out a ways into the blue water.

thanks!

CrF

Hammer Down · 05-04-2006, 01:43 PM

Kerry,

Pilar hit the nail on the head. Information is key, the little recreational 'gas gauge' is pretty much worthless. The more information you have on the big blue, the better off you are. Especially if that information has to do with the status of the boat. Upgrade all instruments to the best you can afford, and make sure they work.

To your original question: 'what should I expect?' Expect to watch many, many hundred dollar bills disappear into prop wash.

Oh well, that's fishing. And I'll tell you what, If I had to row a bathtub out there I'd probably do that too!
-John