Gas Hog???

[cajumjim1]

How bad do you think gas would be on a 19' VIP Victory with a 350 Mercruiser V8 5.7L?

I am worried on spending more on gas than anything!?

 

[QC]

Re: Gas Hog???

350 Mercruiser V8 5.7L?

What year and what model? No matter what, you'll probably get 3 - 3.5 MPG unless you run her wide open all the time, or just at/under planing speed. In that case you'll get 2 MPG . . . She might . . . might get 4 MPG at her most efficient cruise speed if you keep her very lightly loaded. They are usually most efficient between 3000 and 3500 RPM. This is a boat thing only, the engine gets better efficiency at other points, but plug her into a boat with one gear, and that's where they work best . . .

 

[cajumjim1]

Re: Gas Hog???

its a 93 model.

Is it worse than a mercury 150 outboard? or does it even compare?

 

[aerwin]

Re: Gas Hog???

if the merc outboard is a two stroke then the 350 will use less gas. this is the way I look at it. im not rich, I don't have a pile of money, my boat is 26 yrs old. I don't give a rats #^ how much fuel I use. I even out premium in it because it runs better. a boat is about fun and enjoyment and relaxation. unless were running miles and miles the fuel consumtion really doesn't matter. also a four cylinder will not use any less fuel in the long run and will wear out much faster. stick with the v-8 you will be glad you did. remember FUN

 

[woodrat]

Re: Gas Hog???

Let me offer another perspective on fuel consumption. I do make long trips to get to far flung fishing grounds and fuel consumption can make the difference between getting to where the fish are or not. My bellboy is a great deepwater boat, but it only gets about 3.5 mpg or so and only has a 12 gallon tank so that makes it hard to get way out in the ocean and still make it back. I am going to put extra tanks in, but I am also going to try to squeeze every mpg out of it that I can, because I like making big trips out to fish. When I went after halibut a few months ago, we were going 40-50 miles in one day in the Valco. That one has a 26 gallon tank though.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Gas Hog???

When you get a boat, ya do it for fun..not gas Knotage...I get ten feet from the dock, shut it off, and float the tide for 5 1/2 hours, and damn, in 5 1/2 hours, I'm back!

 

[jastacey]

Re: Gas Hog???

If your worried about fuel usage, boating is not for you, there's too many if's in boating that affect fuel consumption, but once you get over the fuel issue, boating is a fun hobby.

 

[Robj]

Re: Gas Hog???

If you are worried about fuel $$, then buy a sailboat.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Gas Hog???

I had a 79'- 24' SeaRay Cuddy, with a 260 Mercruiser, a lot heavier then your VIP, and used to take short trips with it, at all speeds, in the Great South bay for maybe 2hrs or so on a 5gal can of gas, longer trips, I'd fill 2-5gal cans it never was much of an issue, just get the VIP they're a beautiful boat!

 

[wvit1001]

Re: Gas Hog???

I had a bayliner with a 125 outboard for my last boat. My current boat has a '95, 5.7l with a four barrel carb. The two use about the same as far as gas per day.

 

[wire2]

Re: Gas Hog???

It makes a huge difference what you're going to use the boat for.
If you have people learning to ski, you will go through a tank of gas FAST.
On the other hand, bring it up on plane with moderate acceleration, then cruise a bit faster than minimum planing speed and you will go a long ways. A faster speed gets more hull out of the water, = less friction, more efficiency. But only up to a point.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Gas Hog???

My boat is a 24ft boat by todays standards. I have the 5.7L and it does pretty good on gas if you don't let the 4bbl kick in. Running off the 2bbl and 2800 cruise speed she does well.

 

[wire2]

Re: Gas Hog???

I just worked out some specifics. We have the Trent-Severn canal running from Lake Ontario, right through central Ontario cottage country, and ending at Georgian Bay. It's a total of 240 miles long, and dotted with 45 locks.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trent-Severn_Waterway
I can fuel up at the cottage, drive from 8:30 am, go for a 98 mile round trip through 10 locks, with 4 adults and a youth in the boat plus food/drinks, be back for 5 pm and have burned 30 us gallons of regular. About 15% of the trip is at a 6 mph speed limit due to bank erosion issues.
19' Glastron, 5.7 OMC

 

[MikDee]

Re: Gas Hog???

I had a bayliner with a 125 outboard for my last boat. My current boat has a '95, 5.7l with a four barrel carb. The two use about the same as far as gas per day.

Check my signature, I'm finding this to be true also, only the outboard requires 2cycle oil also, so you're actuially better off with the inboard.

 

[backwater dawg]

Re: Gas Hog???

Just remember---ya can't put a price on a good time--if $$$ is the issue--buy a blowboat!!!!

 

[aerwin]

Re: Gas Hog???

when it comes down to it, how do you want to spend you money? if you are worried about using fossel fuel to power you boat and an enviromentalist then boating probly wouldn't be your thing. because burning fuel and having fun is not what an enviro thinks we should be doing, "destroying the earth" and crap. my 18 1/2' ft, with a 305, burns a 30 gal tank about 3 average outings, not bad for a v-8. a two stroke or a small 4 cylinder would do a tank every outing

 

[slia67]

Re: Gas Hog???

I have a 50+ gal tank in my 20' w/ 5.7L. We do alot of water sports, with usually 3-4 adults and 3-4 small kids in the boat (so pretty heavily loaded). In a 5-6 hour outting I will easily go through $50-60 in fuel @ $3/gal, easily.

Like others have said, if you are worried about the cost of fuel, either look for a smaller engine or reconsider boating as a hobby (not trying to be a smart-arse). But the way I look at it, what kind of a price do you put on good memories and fun with your family and friends.

Doug

 

[QC]

Re: Gas Hog???

I have a 50+ gal tank in my 20' w/ 5.7L. We do alot of water sports, with usually 3-4 adults and 3-4 small kids in the boat (so pretty heavily loaded). In a 5-6 hour outting I will easily go through $50-60 in fuel @ $3/gal, easily.

Like others have said, if you are worried about the cost of fuel, either look for a smaller engine or reconsider boating as a hobby (not trying to be a smart-arse). But the way I look at it, what kind of a price do you put on good memories and fun with your family and friends.

Doug

Abso-damn-lutely!! And if you really stress about it, and buy based on fuel efficiency instead of power and fun etc., you can save 10% . . . and in the above example that amounts to . . . Drum roll please . . . $5 or $6

 

[95yj]

Re: Gas Hog???

Let's not forget that fuel is practically free when compared to everything else you spend on the boat, mooring charges, insurance, and ugghhh. . . maintenance.

 

[slia67]

Re: Gas Hog???

Let's not forget that fuel is practically free when compared to everything else you spend on the boat, mooring charges, insurance, and ugghhh. . . maintenance.

After all, BOAT is an acronym for... Break Out Another Thousand!!!


Doug