Fuel consumption

[BackWoodsTracker]

OK, my dad's boat now runs good, but the gas usage is somewhat disturbing to us. We go through about 15 gallons(U.S.) for 3 hours of trolling. This is a Mercruiser 228 in a 22' 5,000lb. boat. 5 gal. an hour sounds way out of whack to me. What is the average fuel usage for you guys that fish?

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Fuel consumption

sounds a bit high...but not astounding. That a two stroke outboard? If so, then they don't really idle well..very inefficient in fact. Let alone they tend to foul up the plugs when idled for extended times.

Ian

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Fuel consumption

sounds a bit high...but not astounding. That a two stroke outboard? If so, then they don't really idle well..very inefficient in fact. Let alone they tend to foul up the plugs when idled for extended times.

Ian

I dont think it is a 2 stroke outboard, i think it is a 5.0L mecruiser, wheich should idle fine for 5 hours..... but that is a heavy boat and maybe it uses that much,

my 4.3l uses about 13 gallons after 4-5 hours of skiing/tubing,

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Fuel consumption

I dont think it is a 2 stroke outboard, i think it is a 5.0L mecruiser, wheich should idle fine for 5 hours..... but that is a heavy boat and maybe it uses that much,

my 4.3l uses about 13 gallons after 4-5 hours of skiing/tubing,

Yeah, not familiar with the HP of the V8's, but we do agree, doesn't sound odd for a boat of that size.

Ian

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Fuel consumption

I have a 5.0 228 in my 4,000lb boat and we go through about 20-25 gallons in about 5-6 hours of use. Now this is sking cruising and trolling.

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Fuel consumption

If he had a DFI Evinrude ETec or Mercury Optimax (both are two stroke outboards) he would use hardly any fuel, they get excellent fuel economy, far better than most I/O.

I can troll for hours and the fuel gauge hardly moves with the two stroke Optimax engine.

Your fuel burn sounds rather high to me, 5 gallons per hour at trolling speeds, wow.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fuel consumption

That's way too high.

I'm running one "don't really idle well..very inefficient in fact. Let alone they tend to foul up the plugs when idled for extended times." 2 stroke outboards on a #5000 - #5500 boat.

Per fuel flow monitor, 2.5 -3.0 gallons an hour on the troll.

FWIW: I have never fouled a plug and it purrs like a kitten at 1100RPM

 

[Apollo75]

Re: Fuel consumption

Hello;

How fast are you guys trolling ?

I troll usually 2 to 3 hours at idle on each outing --- I had half of a tank -- I put in 5-gallons two weeks ago --- 5 - gallons last week --- crossed the lake a few times about 25 - MPH --- took the wife completely around the lake at a slow 20 to 25-MPH. Hayden Lake not very large.

A little below half a tank now so I used a couple of gallons more than I put in for about 4 to 6-hours of trolling and joy riding.

So, maybe 12 to 13 gallons for average 5 - hours of trolling and joy riding.

1975 Apollo 19-foot with 888/Ford 302.

OFM

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Fuel consumption

Not outragous IMO-
My little 16' Deckboat with 2 people aboard uses 8 - 10 gals (110 Johnson) in about 5-6hrs just running around the lake

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Fuel consumption

That's way too high.

I'm running one "don't really idle well..very inefficient in fact. Let alone they tend to foul up the plugs when idled for extended times." 2 stroke outboards on a #5000 - #5500 boat.

Per fuel flow monitor, 2.5 -3.0 gallons an hour on the troll.

FWIW: I have never fouled a plug and it purrs like a kitten at 1100RPM

Maybe yours was much newer then mine...it was easy on gas, but hard on plugs and oil use. Man, I don't miss that thing. However I am well aware that many people prefer them over 4 strokes tenfold! Like a very good friend of mine, but to each their own. Still the general consensus is that it isn't terrible. I know I've only had to fill my little 4.3 once this summer, still have about a half tank. I'll likely have used a full tank by the end of summer (140L or ~37 gallons). The age and hull design of the boat can have a huge effect on fuel usage (and speed).

Ian

 

[pmat1]

Re: Fuel consumption

you guys are lucky; i think my boat burns the most gas. mine can run a full 6 gallon tank dry in 20-40 minuits ot tubing, skiing, or just flying around.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: Fuel consumption

you guys are lucky; i think my boat burns the most gas. mine can run a full 6 gallon tank dry in 20-40 minuits ot tubing, skiing, or just flying around.

And i was thinkin mine drank too much

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fuel consumption

you guys are lucky; i think my boat burns the most gas. mine can run a full 6 gallon tank dry in 20-40 minuits ot tubing, skiing, or just flying around.

The numbers I quoted are at idle. I'd go thru your 6 gallon tank just getting up on plane.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Fuel consumption

Hello;

How fast are you guys trolling ?

I troll usually 2 to 3 hours at idle on each outing --- I had half of a tank -- I put in 5-gallons two weeks ago --- 5 - gallons last week --- crossed the lake a few times about 25 - MPH --- took the wife completely around the lake at a slow 20 to 25-MPH. Hayden Lake not very large.

A little below half a tank now so I used a couple of gallons more than I put in for about 4 to 6-hours of trolling and joy riding.

So, maybe 12 to 13 gallons for average 5 - hours of trolling and joy riding.

1975 Apollo 19-foot with 888/Ford 302.

OFM

The bite dictates the speed but we'll troll anywhere from 2.0 - 4.0 kts. Depending on the tide and wind conditons that typically translates into 1000 - 1250 rpm

 

[pmat1]

Re: Fuel consumption

The numbers I quoted are at idle. I'd go thru your 6 gallon tank just getting up on plane.

My motor is supposed to burn about 7 gallons an hour WOT. it burns almost twice that about 500rpm lower then wot.

 

[Apollo75]

Re: Fuel consumption

The reason I asked about trolling speed is that I thought I was trolling too fast.

I never took fishing lessions --- maybe I need to watch more fishing shows on TV. Other people are always catching all the fish --- and I don't get much fishing done as I am always driving the boat. My wife does well trolling and when we stop and relax in the evening she wins all the games

My idle is 600 rpm --- so when I ordered a prop I dropped two sizes pitch wise and then ordered a four blade prop --- so back up one size.

I have only opened my boat up two times --- once when I bought it --- and once two weeks ago before I ordered a prop to see if I was close to my max rpm range. So, I can't help with numbers there.

OFM

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Are you chasing somebody," --- "Is sombody chasing you."

"Ain't nobody chasing me boy." "Smokey & the Bandit"

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Fuel consumption

I suggest you open up the motor every time you use it. At least give it a decent run.

 

[pmat1]

Re: Fuel consumption

yes it is a good idea to open it up; my boat spends alot of time wide open, depending on conditions; if theres alot of wakes, and im by myself, it is scary wide open. it flys all over the place

 

[Apollo75]

Re: Fuel consumption

I don't have deep pockets and my 888 combo is 34-years old. I do run her 2500 to 3200 rpm but that is the max. Just because the max rpm is there does not mean you need to run it that high --- old marine mechanics just want you to blow her up so they can make some money

I can get on plane and stay there backed all the way down to 2000 rpm. A marine engine is under constant load at any speed and 2500 rpm is a comfortable speed for me and works the engine plenty hard to raise the heat and keep moisture out of the oil etc.

Newer fuels without lead or additives and newer synthetic oils keep an engine very clean inside compared to days past.

Think about your vehicle --- compared to your boat it would be like climbing a hill no matter what direction you travel --- so much of an incline that at wide open throttle the engine will not increase in rpm much past the point where the engine makes the most power. If your engine makes 300 horsepower at 4400 rpm and you are running wide open throttle at 4500 rpm than you are using all 300 horsepower and placing a huge load on the engine. This is why there are so many cooling issues etc.

This is why a marine engine does not last near as long as an automotive engine. The marine engine is running under a heavy load at all times --- your car going down the freeway with the A/C on is making on average less than 15-horsepower.

OFM

 

[Fisherball]

Re: Fuel consumption

I have a 1981 70 hp Johnson 2 stroke that on my old boat, 1961 Larson Deep V 15', ran 1/2 season on 18 gallons of fuel. That's idling, running flat out & everything in between. I'd go out 2-3 times per week. Now I have a 1975 MFG 16' bowrider & it uses that much for 6 hours of fishing. If I don't run it WOT after idling it becomes very unhappy, spitting & stalling. I floor it at least once per trip at the end to burn out carbon & oil & it becomes very happy! I always add Seafoam when I mix my fuel & that helps alot.

If you're running a big V-8 think about it. Muscle car motor, souped up more than most street car motors! Big V-8's suck gas. My motor is 49 cubic inches but runs 70 hp. That's like a Chevy 350 with 525 hp! Most of the fuel consumption, motor restrictions that cars have don't apply to boat motors so they tend to have much more power than their equivalent sized auto engine & suck gas accordingly. Also 4 wheels are less resistance than a hull in water.