Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

[BugsBunnyBoater]

After days of reading how a lot of people get in trouble on the water I see a common theme. A lot of boaters have run out of gas.
Thinking back I have dealt with this with friends. Bfore thee days of GPS friends and I stayed on the water to late and had a hard time finding the ramp. At night on a river all docks look alike. We made to it to the truck on fumes and wishes.
On another forum a boater asked about going to rigs in the gulf and person after person talked about be sure you have enough gas to get there and back.

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I don't run out of gas, I am a pilot, don't run out of gas there either. That is pilot error always. My boat carries 60 gallons, that is close to 300 mile range. I never leave dock if I don't have enough fuel to get me where I am going and back to the dock and an alternate safe harbor plus 50%.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

1/3 out, 1/3 back 1/3 spare.
Gas guages are an estimate. 1/4 means empty.
consider carrying a 1-2 gallon can as a reserve.
Running out anytime, esp at night, can be very dangerous. Sometimes, too, you use more gas coming home if you are against wind/current.
The anchor prevents running out of gas from becoming a tragedy.

 

[mattpyle]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

1/3 out, 1/3 back 1/3 spare.
Gas guages are an estimate. 1/4 means empty.
consider carrying a 1-2 gallon can as a reserve.
Running out anytime, esp at night, can be very dangerous. Sometimes, too, you use more gas coming home if you are against wind/current.
The anchor prevents running out of gas from becoming a tragedy.

x2. And ya carrying a spare gas can is always a good idea. I always leave a full 2 1/4 gallon can in my boat just in case.

Oh...and yes I always carry paddles too. At least with them, I'd be able to get somewhere instead of just helplessly sitting there if I were to run out.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I have not run out of gas on the water yet. I do keep a very close eye on the guage even though it doesn't help anything at all. I have calculated my fuel use for different activities so i have a good idea of what my estimated fuel consumption will be for each outing.

That being said, where do you guys keep the extra gas can? I can't think of any place on my boat that i would consider safe to do so.

Thanks!

 

[Shadow66]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I did on Memorial day, then it started to rain. I found a boatload of drunk guys on a large party boat and they towed me at 5mph 4 miles back to the dock. Man I loved those guys, they were hilarious.

I figured I got that one out of the way.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

1/3 out, 1/3 back 1/3 spare

yep, that's the way i was taught too. and nope, i've not run out of fuel, yet. i'm pretty aware of what i think i have though. which is no more than 18 gal. to start with.

i'd like to carry spare fuel in cans onboard. but i've not done that for the fear of no where to store it onboard that i feel is safe..

 

[rp23g7]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Running out of gas is my worst fear, in a car or a boat. Ran out once in a car, found out no one cares. Not gonna run out in my boat.

I fill up before i go out. I have a 24 gallon tank in my 17' Starcraft.

I checked the tests and they got 4 mpg at 3000 rpm. So i figure a conservative estimate i can go 100 miles on a tank. I would really have to try to go 100 miles though. Usually cruising around Lake Washington, the ship canal and the waterfront. Usually thats only a 30 or 40 mile day.

Pulling my tube or skiing and cruising around half the day i have only used up 8 gallons at the most a few times though.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Where to put a spare can: Depends obviously on boat design. Space is tight on "sofa" boats. I put a 1 gallon plastic can in a bow seat compartment on one boat; inside center console on another. If you are really concerned about it being inside you could tie it to the swim platform. But if you think about it, people put the red 6 gallon tanks everywhere and they have to be vented open to be used.
Paddles: every boat <22' should have one. period.
Miles per gallon: While MPG is how we think about cars; with boats GPH (gallons per hour) is a better number to use. There are performance charts that show GPH and MPH at varying speeds and RPMs. Of course it's all an estimation--just like the fuel guage is!
If you have a new-to-you boat, pay attention to the guage as you fill it to get an idea of what it means by "half" or quarter or in between. My 80 gallon drops to show about 3/4 after 10 gallons are used. I have a thin 20 gallon tank on another boat that shows half when there's about 4 gallons left and 1/4 when there's about 2, so I know what to do when it starts moving. It's not worth fixing since all operators know the drill and we are never more than a couple of miles from the dock. As is the case with most old boats--you just got to know your boat.

Also they fill differently on the trailer than in the water due to leveling so you can get a "false" full reading/top off.

 

[david_r]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

i wasnt for sure how to vote this one............. i have ran out of gas unexpectedly------sort of.

i was trying to see how long i could run at various speeds on a tank of gas, i had a lil 6gal with me, but i did run out before the fuel gauge was empty....... and it was at a bad time.

i was on the arkansas river going against the current, at the edge of the channel, too close to a marker buoy, and a barge coming up the channel. it wouldnt have been so bad if my little tank was in better condition. it was an old metal tank and the connector kept popping off and leaking air.......... i almost hit the buoy, i would have if it wasnt for my minn kota, but i drifted/trolled far enough away from the channel to have to worry about the barge....... i did hit a stump with the prop when i did finally get the eng going ........ i had to pour the gas from the little tank to the big tank........ did not spill a drop.... in the water that is....... i used my shirt, my buds shirt, and my fishing towel to help keep the gas from getting in the water.

i have never ran out of gas since........ i do the 1/3 there, 1/3 back, and 1/3 in reserve trick...... i do keep 2 paddles and an extra starter/deep cycle battery fully charged just in case......... i also adjusted the sending unit to read empty with about 1.5-2 gals in tank.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

My boat only has a 25hp and a 6 gallon tank. I can run all day and probably another on one tank. But, I do stop and and check the tank at least once or twice. I have carried a spare 5 gallons of gas with me before when I first got the boat. I also have a trolling motor. If I run out, I can run the trolling motor until that battery is dead, then use my cranking battery if I have to. But, where I boat you are never more than a mile at the most from a landing. I can paddle that if I really have to.

 

[BBK1]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Never even came close. I have a 32 gal tank and have never seen it at 1/4 tank.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Sure have!

Once in a little fishing boat with 6.6hp looking at the boat ramp and once when a friend forgot we only had enough for the planned ride not the extended lets go to the inlet.

It's all how you handle things- no big deal.

Oh and why do people only buy one paddle?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

One time when I was little I was going out fishing in a little row boat with my dad and a 4HP motor. We only had a splash of gas left for the motor but my dad figured it would get us to the fishing spot and at least most of the way back and then he would row it. Well sure enough it did make it about halfway back when it ran out and we started rowing. Then an oar broke! That sucked. We got a tow from someone.

 

[WTR4FUN]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I have but it was a calculated plan. On memorial day weekend, I was out tubing with a couple of other families and it was approaching the end of the day. I know I was very low on gas, but I also knew that I was close to the dock, and my buddy was only a short distance away if I needed a tow. So I decided to just go for it and see how long I could give rides for until I ran out. It didnt take long.

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Having a pontoon boat, I have 3- 6 gal tanks. If I run all three empty and having to change the fuel connector each time, there's something bad wrong w/ my short term memory!!!! And I never leave the shore w/o all 3 tanks full, ya never know what's gonna happen that day!!!
Mike

 

[tlynch99]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I have three 6 gallon tanks as well, use them to follow the 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 rule. Do a lot of boating on the CT river, and have to pay attention to current, because that definitely makes a noticeable difference, have not run out of gas yet.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

yep, that's the way i was taught too. and nope, i've not run out of fuel, yet. i'm pretty aware of what i think i have though. which is no more than 18 gal. to start with.

i'd like to carry spare fuel in cans onboard. but i've not done that for the fear of no where to store it onboard that i feel is safe..

Same here -
I do have a trolling motor & never leave home without a fully charged battery just for it Running out of gas is not the only reason you might need "Plan B"

 

[Bluepike]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Yes.

How about an 80 degree day in late October on Lake Erie? Everyone and their brother and myself out for that last cruise of the season a couple of years ago. Gage says half full on a 70 gallon tank sitting at the dock so off we go. Ten miles from shore and the tank says I am empty.

Two hour wait for the towboat to bring five gallons of gas. I didn't have towing insurance at that time so it cost me sixty dollars a gallon (three hundred bucks to bring it out).

I don't believe the gage anymore and go by the hours on the boat to fill up now. And yes, I got the towing insurance.

 

[southtexas]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Running out of gas is my worst fear, in a car or a boat. Ran out once in a car, found out no one cares. Not gonna run out in my boat.

I fill up before i go out. I have a 24 gallon tank in my 17' Starcraft.

I checked the tests and they got 4 mpg at 3000 rpm. So i figure a conservative estimate i can go 100 miles on a tank. I would really have to try to go 100 miles though. Usually cruising around Lake Washington, the ship canal and the waterfront. Usually thats only a 30 or 40 mile day.

Pulling my tube or skiing and cruising around half the day i have only used up 8 gallons at the most a few times though.

Where did you "check the tests"? I've been looking for one for my outboard (Yam 115 four stroke on a 3000lb flatbottom fully loaded/fueled) but can't find any anywhere. All I get are answers that are miles apart (11 gph vs. 3 gph at equal rpm). And these answers both came from certified Yam dealers!!

And, of course, my fuel gauge is broken--not sure I've ever seen one that actually works. Therefore, I have never run out of gas, because I fill up pretty much every time I go out. I never run at a constant speed--always stopping starting, slow, fast, etc; so I can't figure a way to gauge my consumption.

Anyone have any suggestions on this one??