New Boater Question about range Please help!

[BoozeMonkey]

Hey everyone, I hope to be picking up my very first fishing boat this weekend it is a 01' 2002 Trophy with a 150 Merc outboard engine. It has a 85 gallon fuel tank. What kind of range(estimated) will a boat like this have? assume all conditions are good i.e weather and well maintained boat/engine. I dont want to fish near the shore all the time i'd like to be able to go out 10-15 miles and not have to worry about running out.
thank you so much in advance
Gill

 

[QC]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

She'll probably get around 3 MPG so figure on 2 MPG to be conservative and you should be OK. You can verify this on your first couple of trips if you have a GPS and fuel her before and after. Sounds like 170 miles to me . . . Welcome aboard, just don't let that Monkey take the helm

 

[BoozeMonkey]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

Thank you QC. the monkey will definetly stay on shore
Is there any way of improving that number? such as different prop size etc...

 

[jennis9]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

welcome...

we had to test our boat when we went out the first few times. we did the math on our 20" aluminum bowrider 4cyl. we are getting about 2 miles per gallon. When you go out for the first time, be conservative and mark your mileage with your GPS (it may have a fuel sensor/guage that reports this info depending on the model)- then top off when you get back to the dock and make your calculation.

Have fun!

 

[marine4003]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

When doing your calculations...ALWAYS figure on allowing a minimum of 1/4 tank reserve,which means if your calculations have you using 70 of your 85...DONT GO. Offshore cruising or fishing (10-15 miles) conditions can go bad quick..and having that safety margin can save your life..It did mine.

 

[Nandy]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

Is there any way of improving that number? such as different prop size etc...

Not for much, 3mpg is the average with the proper set up.

 

[BoozeMonkey]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

When doing your calculations...ALWAYS figure on allowing a minimum of 1/4 tank reserve,which means if your calculations have you using 70 of your 85...DONT GO. Offshore cruising or fishing (10-15 miles) conditions can go bad quick..and having that safety margin can save your life..It did mine.

Thanks for the info. I have been reading on the ol' 1/3 to get there, 1/3 to return and a 1/3 for emergencies.I dont want to get stuck in any sticky situation.

I am really interested in sqeezing out all i can for GPH/MPG out of this thing any tips would be great.

 

[DRIFTER_016]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

You didn't state wether your motor is 2 or 4 stroke.
If it's a 2 stroke replace it with a DFI 2 stroke or 4 stroke and you can almost double your mileage.

 

[BoozeMonkey]

Re: New Boater Question about range Please help!

I believe that the engine is a 4 stroke w/carb. I dont think i have the $$$ for the Dfi