Merc 200 EFI SW Fuel burn

[penit]

I'm looking at purchasing a rib with twin 2004 Mercury 200 EFI Saltwater motors fitted, I'd like to know if there are any concerns worth knowing about with these motors? Also I'm trying to find out how much fuel they would use, does anyone have any ideas where I could find the information?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Merc 200 EFI SW Fuel burn

Fuel consumption is quite variable since much depends on the type of vessel the engine is mounted on. If one can pick an "average" boat with an "average" hull for any given given engine size, with an "average" load, a 200 HP engine will burn somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 gallons of fuel per hour at wide open throttle. For any engine you can simply put a decimal point one position left in the HP rating. While not a precise measurement, it gets quite close. I have a fuel flow monitor on my walleye boat powered by a 75 HP Merc and it burns 7.5 gallons/hour at WOT and around 5 gp/h at 4000-4200 RPM. You can visit Yamaha's web site and view performance tests for virtually any boat/Yamaha motor combination. They include very detailed fuel consumption data that would somewhat parallel the Merc. I don't recall many RIB tests however so data might be lacking in that area.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Merc 200 EFI SW Fuel burn

At $2.25 per gallon for the gas plus oil that works out to about $100.00 per hour. While that may seem outrageous most folks won't run at WOT. I look at fuel consumption as gallons per fun day.

If I burn 40 gallons with the $100.00 ticket to take 4-6 people out for a day then compare what it would cost to eat at a family resturant (with no "drinks") and take in a movie the $100.00 does not seem so bad.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Merc 200 EFI SW Fuel burn

All depends on where your priorities are. If you BYA all week and go out with the family on the weekend and have a great time, get up Monday morning relaxed and refreshed, ready for another week of it, that's what it's all about.

Now if you don't have the bucks, you can still do it, just do it at a lower level. But if you do, why not.

My wife, kids, and I spent many hours on the water when they were growing up (like every weekend if we could and sometimes Sat and Sun) and just today my youngest son is taking delivery of his first boat, an 18' Pro-Craft with a 150 Merc. He is so happy.

He told me (recently) what our outings meant to him and now he is able to buy his own and take his family out. He said that he had wanted to do this for as long as he could remember. Was news to me. You just never know! :%

So, what's money?

Mark

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Merc 200 EFI SW Fuel burn

You're on the mark, Texasmark!

My dad had me in the boat from six weeks of age. Set up a playpen in the back of their Arkansas Traveler and watched me pitch toys into the wake of the ol Evinrude 33hp (Skitwin, Fastwin? can't quite remember).

Anyway, I was handling boats by age five and out on "my own" in our little bay by age seven with my trusty Springbok aluminum and 7.5 Merc (much to the horror of other parents).

Can't thank my dad enough for that and now I'm just getting my own four year-old behind the helm of the very same boat. The look on his face is priceless as he realizes that he's in (almost) complete control of our course and speed. At no other time in his daily life is this true.

er..sorry -- what was the question again? :$