I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

[jonmyrlebailey]

Hello:

I am looking for a used cuddy (an I/O sport model with a swim platform): 19-22 foot with the engine/prop combination that yields the LOWEST GPH consumption at 50 mph? Would a fuel injected V-6 be my best bet? Volvo Penta, MerCruiser, other? What is the minimum size/HP/number of cylinders EFI motor needed to push such a boat at 50 mph the cheapest on gas?

The conspiracy here is 50 statute miles per hour. I am aware that lower speeds do better on gas but which hull/motor/prop combo does best on gas right at 50 mph?

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

LOWEST GPH consumption at 50 mph? Would a fuel injected V-6 be my best bet? Volvo Penta, MerCruiser, other? What is the minimum size/HP/number of cylinders EFI motor needed to push such a boat at 50 mph the cheapest on gas?

fuel sipping at 50 mph? are you feeling ok? did you mean 50km/h?

just look for the lightest hull. if you want best economy at 50mph it'll be a pretty flimsy boat.
if your range is 19-22 foot, and you want lowest gph at 50 mph, change your criteria to "17 to 19 foot"
small is going to win everytime.

Regardless, any V6 powered hull that is safe to run at 50mph is going to use about 20 gallons per hour at that speed. You are looking at a range of about 60 to 90 minutes between fill-ups.
If you can afford $100/hour in fuel, why are you concerned about economy?

 

[blouderback]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

You'll never find a cuddy with a V6 that'll hit 50MPH, no matter how much gas you throw down those cylinders!

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

You'll never find a cuddy with a V6 that'll hit 50MPH, no matter how much gas you throw down those cylinders!

actually that's not that tough to find, the Bayliner 1851CB with a 4.3 mpi will go low 50's.

My 1851CB with the little 3.8 V6 got to 47 with a 3 blade stainless (only goes 45 right now because i have the 4 blade prop on it)

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Stingray 195CX or CS with a 4.3 volvo or merc will top 50 easily.

I was at 51 on GPS with a 23P 3 blade prop, not even at WOT (close, though) because I was still in break in. And, this is a carb'ed 190hp engine we're talking about, not the 220 or whatever that the MPI's produce... Hell, Stingray has radar graphs on their website of 195C's doing 46mph with 3.0L's.

But, everyone is right... Nothing sips fuel at 50mph or WOT.

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Stingrays are always crazy fast top end in any boat tests I read.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Stingrays are always crazy fast top end in any boat tests I read.

Its the hull design and light weight. And yes, there is a trade-off in ride quality.

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

I'm pleased with a 1987 196 Thompson Sea Rage 3.0l mercruiser Cuddy Cabin Day Cruiser .

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

I'm pleased with a 1987 196 Thompson Sea Rage 3.0l mercruiser Cuddy Cabin Day Cruiser .View attachment 170932

those 3L's are the kings of economy, but no way are you getting anywhere near 50mph, .... I'd guess WOT is around 38mph

and they use the same fuel at WOT as a 4.3 going 38mph at 3/4 throttle so the economy is really perceived, and exists in the limiting of the driver's need for speed

 

[bekosh]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

19-22 foot with the engine/prop combination that yields the LOWEST GPH consumption at 50 mph? Would a fuel injected V-6 be my best bet? Volvo Penta, MerCruiser, other? What is the minimum size/HP/number of cylinders EFI motor needed to push such a boat at 50 mph the cheapest on gas?

If you want a 'cruise' speed of 50mph, you'll need a boat that runs 70-75mph WOT and that means a V8 & lot's of ponies.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Are we talking 50 mph gps or 50 mph speedo? Its amazing how many people's boats will do 50 mph on one but not the other, at least not with anyone watching to witness it!

anyway, 50 mph with a cuddy? Yeah, fuel economy isn't a term you even need to talk about.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Everything we've already discussed aside, I would be interested to know the OP's reasoning for wanting to move at 50mph all the time, in something other then a dedicated go-fast boat...

 

[laserbrn]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Yeah, I'm not really sure what you are trying to achieve here. If you want to sip fuel in a cuddy, go about 7mph, that'll put you on track to saving some gas. If you want to cruise around at 50mph it's going to require alot of $$$. Gas $$$.

 

[QC]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

What you really need to consider is that the difference between cheapest on gas and worst at 50 MPH is maybe the difference between 2.5 MPG and 3.5 MPG. That's just the way it is . . . What do you plan to do with this boat, all day at 50 MPH? Where you gonna go in such a hurry? My boat runs 57 MPH, but I cruise between 35 and 40, and that's IF the water, traffic, people, etc. allow it.

Edit: Your title begs this answer "Well I wannna toilet made out of solid gold, but it's just not in the cards now is it?", Austin Powers.

Welcome aboard John

 

[theteacher]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

It's the OP's post NUMBER ONE !!!!! He has no idea what he's asking, obviously, and probably knows even less about boating. His first question on here for his first post on here, should have been,,,,,,,,"where and how do I sign up for a boating course."


I sure don't want to meet him on the water with his new 50 mph boat !!!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

A nice cuddy with a 25 hp outboard should do it.

Whatever you gain in economy, you'll sacrifice in performance. A nice .75 liter inboard at half throttle will be very economical.

If you can afford a cuddy, you can afford to feed it!

... or maybe you really need a 1232 aluminum jon boat?

 

[jonmyrlebailey]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Hello:

I am looking for a used cuddy (an I/O sport model with a swim platform): 19-22 foot with the engine/prop combination that yields the LOWEST GPH consumption at 50 mph? Would a fuel injected V-6 be my best bet? Volvo Penta, MerCruiser, other? What is the minimum size/HP/number of cylinders EFI motor needed to push such a boat at 50 mph the cheapest on gas?

The conspiracy here is 50 statute miles per hour. I am aware that lower speeds do better on gas but which hull/motor/prop combo does best on gas right at 50 mph?

1. There are a lot of cheap, nice PREOWNED cuddies for sale in California for under $10,000, such as a 1998 Monterey 21-foot I/O cuddy with new 350 motor, trailer, swim platform, the works. This does not mean I am rich enough to own oil futures. Boats depreciate at the speed of falling rocks, usually.

2. I want to make a round-trip from Sacramento, CA to Monterey Bay, CA using as LITTLE fuel as possible. I guess I will have to be going somewhat slower to achieve that. I don't row, paddle or set sails.

3. I have read that a MerCruser 3.0/135 HP Alpha One can achieve 8-9 MPG but I don't know what speed that would be in a typical cuddy PLANING hull as a Bayliner Discovery 192 or a Stingray 195 CS. Perhaps about 30 MPH?

4. I need a boat suitable for my two dogs.

5. Most of my boating will be on inland waters. I will brave the California Coast near the shore about once or twice a year for coastal trips up to about 50 miles. I understand those light cuddies are the softest-riding things on the ocean and perhaps I should be going slower than 50 statute miles per hour in one of those things anyway when the water gets choppy.

 

[jonmyrlebailey]

Re: I want a fuel-sipping cuddy!!

Hello:

I am looking for a used cuddy (an I/O sport model with a swim platform): 19-22 foot with the engine/prop combination that yields the LOWEST GPH consumption at 50 mph? Would a fuel injected V-6 be my best bet? Volvo Penta, MerCruiser, other? What is the minimum size/HP/number of cylinders EFI motor needed to push such a boat at 50 mph the cheapest on gas?

The conspiracy here is 50 statute miles per hour. I am aware that lower speeds do better on gas but which hull/motor/prop combo does best on gas right at 50 mph?

Please forget above what I said about 50 MPH. I don't know that much about boats except they are expensive holes in the water especially at the fuel dock.

I have done some studying on boats this afternoon and have decided that 50 MPH in a boat with Honda Civic rivaling fuel economy is simply out of the question. Compared to similar-size/speed/weight/capacity automobiles, boats are most HORRIBLE on gas. 9 MPG in a boat weighing between 2 and 3,000 pounds at about 30 MPH would be damn good on gas, actually, for something that moves over water. In the bank account, I can handle 8-9 MPG on gas once a year on a 300-400 mile boating trip.


1. There are a lot of cheap, nice PREOWNED cuddies for sale in California for under $10,000, such as a 1998 Monterey 21-foot I/O cuddy with new 350 motor, trailer, swim platform, the works. This does not mean I am rich enough to own oil futures. Boats depreciate at the speed of falling rocks, usually.

2. I want to make a round-trip from Sacramento, CA to Monterey Bay, CA using as LITTLE fuel as possible. I guess I will have to be going somewhat slower to achieve that. I don't row, paddle or set sails.

3. I have read that a MerCruser 3.0/135 HP Alpha One can achieve 8-9 MPG but I don't know what speed that would be in a typical cuddy PLANING hull as a Bayliner Discovery 192 or a Stingray 195 CS. Perhaps about 30 MPH?

4. I need a boat suitable for my two dogs.

5. Most of my boating will be on inland waters. I will brave the California Coast near the shore about once or twice a year for coastal trips up to about 50 miles. I understand those light cuddies are the softest-riding things on the ocean and perhaps I should be going slower than 50 statute miles per hour in one of those things anyway when the water gets choppy.

 

[jonmyrlebailey]

I have a boat like this in mind.

I have a boat like this in mind.

<a href="http://s1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/roysummers85/?action=view&current=jonsperfectboat.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/roysummers85/jonsperfectboat.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


1. yes, I would name my boat "Jon's Perfect Boat" and have neat, simple custom paint and graphics done aftermarket.

2. my boat would be a good Northern California sport cuddy in preowned condition for no more than 1/3 the price of spanking new.

3. sport cuddy means I/O marine motor layout and a big swim platform in back: a fish/ski/day-cruise model: 22 foot maximum

4. an engine cheap on gas (for boats that is) as a MerCruiser 3.o w/ EFI

5. combination GPS/sonar/fishfinder: compact unit that mounts neatly in or near dash as a Garmin or Hummingbird

6. portable toilet

8. possibly, a fuel management gauge that gives instant MPG

9. trim tabs and/or a whale tail if needed

 

[jonmyrlebailey]

Re: I have a boat like this in mind.

Re: I have a boat like this in mind.

I am thinking of getting the boat sometime over the next year.

Try this link to see a picture of my concept.

http://i1252.photobucket.com/albums/hh579/roysummers85/jonsperfectboat.jpg