Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

[xxturbowesxx]

The boat is a Wellcraft 1987 sport fisher 23' with a 99' mercury 200 saltwater(carb).

I am in fort lauderdale and will spend most of the time putting around at idle up to 2k rpms(mostly manatee zones).

Most of the reefs around are less than 5 miles offshore.

The gas tank is 128 gallons and the boat weighs around 3000lbs with motor(minus gas/people/equip). I would venture a guess of an average 12 miles per outing.

Any advice/info into how much fuel I would use typically?

 

[Natty Light]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

I would guess around 2 mpg at 2000rpms, perhaps 2.5 mpg around 1500 rpms

 

[agallant80]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

128 gallons on a 3,000lbs boat?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

figure 2 mpg cruise and then double it for your figures... warm up time currents wind waves no wake zones... a safe number for your wallet would be to bank on 1 mpg and hope to get better for the whole trip
soo count on 15 gallon and be happy if you come in under that

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

128 gallons on a 3,000lbs boat?

That figure comes from the boat weight plus engine.. fuel alone will weight 700lbs on top of that(not counting people and 4500 seems about right(loaded).

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

I have owned a similar boat/engine combo before, and often did similar trips to what you are describing. It was nearly always between 10 and 20 gallons i would burn per trip.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

A Wellcraft 230 is #3300 w/o motor. By the time you add in motor, batteries and gear you’re pushing #4200 w/o fuel. A full tank will put another #1000 on you.


I run same size and weight boat with a 200 HP outboard. On smooth water, I’ll get ~2.2 mpg @ 4400 rpm (27 kts). If it is rough, you can cut that number in half.

When trolling @ 1000-1100 rpm, I burn ~ 2.5-3 gph, which comes out to ~ 1 mpg.

You can throw the 5 miles out the window. Five miles on the water looks like 1/2 mile on land. You'll find yourself 15-20 miles out of port before you know it. Pretty easy to burn $100 of fuel and oil in a morning. Pretty easy to burn up $200 in fuel and oil in a good day.

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

A Wellcraft 230 is #3300 w/o motor. By the time you add in motor, batteries and gear you’re pushing #4200 w/o fuel. A full tank will put another #1000 on you.


I run same size and weight boat with a 200 HP outboard. On smooth water, I’ll get ~2.2 mpg @ 4400 rpm (27 kts). If it is rough, you can cut that number in half.

When trolling @ 1000-1100 rpm, I burn ~ 2.5-3 gph, which comes out to ~ 1 mpg.

You can throw the 5 miles out the window. Five miles on the water looks like 1/2 mile on land. You'll find yourself 15-20 miles out of port before you know it. Pretty easy to burn $100 of fuel and oil in a morning. Pretty easy to burn up $200 in fuel and oil in a good day.

I understand but living where I live I have access to 3 reef fishing spots and backwater spots within 5 miles.. Of course I could run 15-20 miles offshore but dont see the point.

1mpg seems about right.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Considering purchase.. want to know what I am getting into fuel consumption wise.

I'm have easy access to some of the best surf fishing in the world, yet I have a boat. Why? For the same reason the chicken crossed the road. :lol: