gallons per hour

magster65

Commander
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
2,573
After having used our new boat for a few weeks I was wondering about fuel consumption. Our new boat gets a little better economy than we expected. We're just putting around but opening it up once in a while 'cause it sounds cool... average boating I'd say. I've calculated this by the fuel bills / hr. meter so this is including the warm up at the dock (we don't run fast because we can watch the gas guage drop). The sweet spot is 1800 rpm @ 9.4mph (Garmin GPS). We're using 3.9 gal./hr x $3.80 gal = $14.82/hr.<br />1974 26' Tolly / 7.4 merc. / BW / staight shaft<br />
Tolly%20Brochure%20pic.%20small.jpg
<br />How does this compare with yours?
 

Capn Mike

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 10, 2001
Messages
561
Re: gallons per hour

Good grief. Maybe I should have kept looking for the 26' Tolly. I just installed a fuel flow gauge on mine. My 200 hp Johnson is great @ low speeds, but I'm having difficulty finding a fast planing speed that uses less than 13 gal/hr. On plane, I'm averaging between 1.9 to 2.5 mpg. And that's US...aren't your Can gallons larger?!<br />On the other hand, I only paid $1.47/gallon.
 

magster65

Commander
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
2,573
Re: gallons per hour

Yeah, the canuck gallon is a little bigger. Our gallon is 1.2 of yours. It's pretty cheap to run the Tolly at low speeds however... I hope I never have to figure out what it gulps down while cruising at 20 mph. It's thirsty at speed, that's for sure! :eek:
 

Capn Mike

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 10, 2001
Messages
561
Re: gallons per hour

Mag, when do we get to see a photo of your actual boat? I presume the good milage now comes because you had the bottom re-done?
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: gallons per hour

Recent article in Trailer Boats about diesel stern drives. One Proline (26' I think) got 18.sumptin mpg at hull speed with a range of over 2900 miles. Didn't give the size of the fuel tank though. 300hp.
 

masterp

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
84
Re: gallons per hour

Sounds good to me. Does that price per gallon come with health care coverage? I just mailed a $800.00 check to cover this months medical insurance. Canada sounds like a good place to me. The gallons are even bigger! :cool:
 

magster65

Commander
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
2,573
Re: gallons per hour

Around 2 mpg isn't too bad I guess. I'm hoping it'll improve a little more when I redo the bottom nicely. Capn, I know I know, I still don't have any pictures but I'll get one posted soon :) . Solittle, I definately would have bought a 34'-36' twin diesel if I had the money, thier economy vs. size is awesome. We have a relative with a 60' Hatteras sportfish with twin Detroit diesels and it only uses 10 gph @ 10mph! I was going to borrow my sisters digital camera but some dirtbag stole it. My inlaws snapped a couple shots of us from thier boat last weekend, we'll see if those turned out. It's lookin' pretty good, so far we've done;<br />new carpets (teal), <br />re-dyed curtains (teal), <br />rebuilt the head, <br />full tune up, <br />oil change, <br />filters and seperators,<br />total cleanup of wiring,<br />engine compartment detailed,<br />re-sealed stanchions and polished railings,<br />some gelcoat repair (still needs a bit more),<br />removed numerous 'stains' from everywhere,<br />brass fire extinguishers (buddy sells them),<br />new decor (green and teal, looks sharp),<br />had the winch cover made (teal),<br />lubed the cables and purged the steering,<br />cleaned the bumpers... etc.<br />I still want to rebuild the carb, replace the laminates, get the bridge and cockpit biminis to match, redo the bimini poles in stainless like the rest of the boat and finish detailing it. With the weather like this (I was in a t-shirt at the marina), I'll be finished in another week. I'm rarely this motivated so I'm givin'er 'til it's done. C'mon summertime!
 

Solittle

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Apr 28, 2002
Messages
7,518
Re: gallons per hour

magster65 - Was wonderin how well yours tracked a course with the straight shaft? I had a 27' trailerable flybridge with a Volvo I/O and it wandered all over the place at hull speed. Required constant attention and when you looked aft all you saw were "S" wakes. A real pain. Got rid of it.
 

magster65

Commander
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
2,573
Re: gallons per hour

Hi Solittle, The Tolly has about a 9" keel that runs the length of the boat and has a rather large rudder so it tracks dead straight usually. The downside is that when I cross a tidal pool the keel and rudder cause the boat to turn so it's best to speed up when the water is churning like that. My inlaws have a 26' Carver with a merc. i/o and it wanders all over like you described, it doesn't have keel on it.
 

golfer

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jan 5, 2003
Messages
99
Re: gallons per hour

I get about 2 miles to the gallon, varying wot, cruising, idling, average about 30 miles per hour...So, about 15 gallons an hour, gas right now for premium is $2.00/gallon (hopefully will be less when the ice is gone :) ), so about $30 dollars an hour to run :( ...Probably would be better mileage if I didn't have an HP500 (470 Horsepower). The really bad part about this is when I run wot at 73 MPH GPS, I am costing myself $73.00 an hour (over $1.00/minute)...
 

magster65

Commander
Joined
Sep 1, 2002
Messages
2,573
Re: gallons per hour

73 mph? Cool! You'd be at your destination before I left the harbor :) Those are pretty respectable numbers for that power and speed. I have a friend with a 27' CC Scorpion with twin 350 magnums (68 mph) that uses triple that. I'll pay for a ride!
 

charleswmoore

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Oct 30, 2002
Messages
105
Re: gallons per hour

73 miles offshore one way (146 miles)at 23 knots<br />plus eight hours of fast trolling for tuna, (Not including backing down) was 67 gallons of fuel in a 27' eastern with a Volvo 5.7 duo prop. Boat loaded weight of 8600 lbs. Hell yall make me feel like I just got a pay raise. What is hull speed,<br />kinda like sailing isn't it? <br />Charlie
 
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