How much fuel?

Fishslayer · 04-28-2003, 09:07 AM

This will be my first year going out for halibuts and other off shore fishing and was wondering how much fuel do you guys carry? I have been between 15-18 miles out of westport for kings and thats about as far as I have been. I belive that the fuel tank in the baot now is apx. 30 gal. I've been thinking of adding a extra fuel cell to the boat and would like to know how much more I need to have due to space limitations. What would you say is the average round trip mileage on a hali trip? Thanks again for all your help. I'm sure all of us salty pups appreciate it :grin:

fish assassin · 04-28-2003, 09:22 AM

Hey pup,

The rule for fuel is the same as the rule for power: NEVER too much, only too
little!! :shocked: :grin: :shocked:

That being said, every engine and hull configuration has different needs and fuel
consumption. We need more information if we want to help you!

-assAssin-

Pilar · 04-28-2003, 09:24 AM

Fishslayer, that is a tough one to guess at or give general advice over. The only way is to run the boat in conditions similar to the ones you anticipate and fill it up on the way home. You can use the pit log on your GPS (paddle wheel speed/distance) to get the distance.

I take 42 gallons built in. But the boat is a 4 cyl. so it is very easy on gas. The distance to the continental slope is about 30 miles all up and down the coast. Most Halibut spots are right on the edge of the shelf and where it drops off to the deep. I would figure on 70 to 90 miles rountrip depending on how much exploring you do and how many times you reset while fishing.

If there is any doubt in your mind about fuel capacity make a test run of at least 40 to 50 miles and find out. Go about 20 - 22 mph like you will on the ocean and load the boat the same as if you are making the halibut trip. That should give you an ideal mileage number to work with. Assume that your tested mileage is better than you will see on the big blue.

Rule of thirds for fuel, 1/3 on the way out, 1/3 on the way back and 1/3 for oh ****!

Miss B Haven · 04-28-2003, 09:27 AM

300 gallons #2 diesel :shocked: :grin: . 30 sound real short (real real real short).
You gotta know the burn rate on your boat before you can ask yourself (or anyone else), how much do I need. Use the rule of thirds, 1/3 to get there, 1/3 to get back and 1/3 reserve for rough conditions or ????? Doesn't account for what you burn while fishing out there.

Either do a controlled distance run and fill the boat before/after or put in a fuel flow meter ( highly recommended) to know what your burn rate is!

Fishslayer · 04-28-2003, 10:43 AM

Thanks for the input guys. I know its a tough question to give a exact answer to. The boat is a 20 searay deep V with a ford 302 engine. Pilar, I'm wishin I had your motor at times like this. Looks like I need to find a place to mount a little larger extra fuel cell. Any ideas? The only thing I can think of is to place one inside one of the new box seats that were making. The only problem that I can see with that is that there will be a weight difference from side to side. I guess that I could counter balance with the gear loaded on the other side of the boat. Man, back to the drawing board

Pilar · 04-28-2003, 10:51 AM

Fishslayer, You have to make sure the fuel ends up near the center of pitch on the boat. The balance point between the fore and aft direction or about where the wheels are on your boat when it is trailered. The center of roll matters too but not as much as pitch. You absolutely cannot put a tank in very far forward of that because the pitching of the boat wil churn the fuel. It can even shock and stress the fuel cell, bursting it if it slams just right.

I am using a 20 gallon red plastic portable tank and it goes right in front of the engine box. When it burns out, I unhook it and toss the empty under the bow.

Short of changing out your tank, go with a temporary for the long trips. You will not need it the rest of the time and it can stay home.

sherry marie · 04-28-2003, 01:07 PM

FishSlayer
Our last trip to the Chicken Ranch last year took 32 gallons fuel. That is for a 24 seasport with 350 displaces about 5200 lbs. We had a big swell on that day. You should be able to do that under the same conditions. However same run the year before in our friends North River jet took 85 gallons. On the first day last year there were several calls answered by the Yaquina Bay Coast Guard office. Most of those were because of insufficient fuel. I believe in the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 rule also..

hope to see you out there
Ray on the Sherry Marie

Fishslayer · 04-28-2003, 01:39 PM

Sherry Marie, how far of a run is that? Are you fuel injected or carburated? Thanks for the info. Pilar, that might be the best way to go. Is that 20 gal tank in addition to the onboard 42 gal? With the fuel tank next to the engine compartment does it create any type of balance problems?

Beer Waggin · 04-28-2003, 02:07 PM

The Ranch is 32 miles out.
Sleds with pumps will obviously get worse mileage. I burned right at 60 gallons in my old sled on one trip. The next trip was 70 gallons plus and I was sweating! I had one can of gas left when we pulled into the dock. Not a very good situation to be in, but it could have been much worse. I told myself after that trip, "Never Again" in this boat.

I wouldn't think the extra 20 gallons of gas would cause you any grief. Your talking about 170# that will almost be gone by the time you reach the fish. Just make sure it's tied down good.

Pilar · 04-28-2003, 03:38 PM

Fishslayer ... the twenny is in addition to the built in forty two. No balance problems. The fuel is right over the center of gravity so full or not it does not affect the trim or handling of the boat. Norrivdave is right about the extra tank. On TUNA! trips the gas gets us to the fishing grounds + 1 to 2 hours of trolling. Once the fish start to stack up the tank burns out and goes forward, empty and very light. We then burn 10 - 12 gallons out of the main and run home on the remaining 30 in the main. The tie downs I use are from a cargo aircraft. A round 'biscuit' goes on the deck. It has a detachable ring that you can bungee to. The tank goes up against the engine cover forward and the 'biscuits' are on the deck forward of that. Then we just run a bungee across the tank in two places to hold it down. When it burns out, the tank, hoses, rings and bungees go away and leave a clear deck. The tank was $130 at West.

If you get out away from the center of gravity with a heavy weight you create a pendulum. The boat will hop. Try putting something heavy as far forward as possible. You will see a tendency for the boat to hop or porpoise. Going further aft is usually not possibility due to the fact that the CG is pretty far aft already and boats in general are tail heavy already.

Fishslayer · 04-28-2003, 04:30 PM

Great info guys. I think I will have enough info to make the right decission. Looks like I need to have between 70-80 gallons of fuel on hand. Time to figure out just how big my tank is now and add on from there. Once again you guy rock! Thanks. See ya on the big pond.