Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

[Woodnaut]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Once I ran out of gas as we were pulling up to the dock. I mean we were right alongside - it just couldn't have been any closer. It was like a scene out of a movie. :redface:

Never again.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

No, never, first thing I always do when I get on the boat is look at the gas.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Where did you "check the tests"? I've been looking for one for my outboard (Yam 115 four stroke on a 3000lb flatbottom fully loaded/fueled) but can't find any anywhere. All I get are answers that are miles apart (11 gph vs. 3 gph at equal rpm). And these answers both came from certified Yam dealers!!

And, of course, my fuel gauge is broken--not sure I've ever seen one that actually works. Therefore, I have never run out of gas, because I fill up pretty much every time I go out. I never run at a constant speed--always stopping starting, slow, fast, etc; so I can't figure a way to gauge my consumption.

Anyone have any suggestions on this one??

Start a new post with your question, you'll surely get good responses, I'd tell you but I don't know.
But I do know my guage works because I just installed a new one with new sender, a dead engine can be dangerous.

 

[wajajaja02]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

FIRST outing in my new to me boat as a new boater, on the local lake, gauge was way off, or not working showed full, after that, fixed the float , and always carry a plastic tank on that boat, as a reserve, outboard, so its easy to switch lines, Cruiser holds 40 gals and gauge is new and appears accurate.

 

[orion25]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Never happens. I refill the 29g tank at the marina at the end of every other trip out. I do not trust my gauge at all.............

 

[Djan]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Made it to the marina on fumes at 6:30 a.m. one morning. I was very relieved to have made it and was whistling a happy little tune as I tied up next to the gas pump. Wasn't quite so happy when I looked up and saw the sign on the door that said the marina opens at 8:00 a.m. Missed an entire morning of fishing, but I learned my lesson.

 

[mickjetblue]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I admit it happened to me, once. Like Cookin' said, the wind and waves can
take their toll, and that's what they did on the fuel for the last few miles in.

Lucked out, though, I was slowly paddling the last 1/2 mile, and got a tow
from a good samaritan in a house boat. They would not accept a payment,
and I have not when I have helped a boater out with a tow or assist.

Now carry a little extra in a fuel can, all the same.

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I ran out towing a broken down boat back to the docks. We ended up swapping batteries and he pulled me the rest of the way. I believe I would have made it back with plenty of gas to spare if I wouldn't have stopped.

Brian

 

[dorelse]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Well, I haven't, BUT, my wife did when she was bringing the boat to the launch ramp...so it was actually 10x worse for me!

Our fuel gauge was way way off and we didn't know it. Boat runs out of gas, gas gauge says its 1/4 full...it was the first time we'd ever run it that empty, so I'm not taking 100% blame on that one.

Since we had about an 800 mile tow trip home, I wanted the boat as light as possible...guess I got my wish that trip.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I have a 40 imperial gallon tank and I always make sure it is full before I head to the west coast of our islands to fish. (about 25 nautical miles) I have a two stroke 150 hp so I burn about a quarter of a tank to get there. While I'm fishing I use a 9.9 four stroke which sips the gas and it is on a seperate 5 gallon tank which is extra insurance in case of fuel problems with the main tank.

I usually come home with about half a tank left.

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Yes, and also had to replace the electric fuel pump while on the water too, had to do it yesterday Sat. 7/18/09

 

[larry35hp7]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Back in the early 1980's I owned a pontoon, the "Sunken Drunk" on the Coralville Iowa reservoir, and a 18" Century 165/IO ski boat. We were having our weekend party, and a friend was driving the pontoon, and I was shuttling friends from the potoon to the beach. At the time, Hayden Fry, the new Iowa football coach, had an older boat with a even older Johnson motor, that he brought with him from Texas. I was halfway on a shuttle when the IO quit. We were in a part of the res that not many boats went to, so the first boat that came along, I flagged down. Who should it be, Hayden Fry. He was with his wife just cruising the lake. He asked "Do you need any help?", I said "Sure, I have a pontoon coming up river, could you tow me to there, it's about a mile?". He said "Tie on, and jump in with us." Who could refuse one of Iowa's best coaches. We did, and jumped in. He said "Were here relaxing, no football." With that he asked obout the res and history of it, and the 20 minutes felt like hours. Luckily I knew everything about what he was asking and engaged with a good conversation. But believe me, when we pulled up to the 16 drunk people on our party boat, Hayden just had to laugh. I offered him money or beer which he both declined. Great memory, glad I ran out of fuel.

 

[Bigdave196]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I have never ran out of fuel in the boat on the water, but I see it appen every day out here at Utah Lake in Utah. Seems like everytime We glance over to the entrance of the marina we see the Sheriffs towing in a boat, or when were putting in oor pulling out there is someone walking their boat to the trailer and the story is the same.

One of these seems to be the main reasons.

" I had half a tank when we went out.....Didn't think we would be out this long..... I usually only use about 1/3-1/2 tank every time out....Didnt think the tube would cause me to suck down so much fuel.....(and my most favorite)...I knew I should have filled it up when I was at the station getting drinks and snacks."

Dad always told us that you make sure you fill it up when you go out, and make sure that its full when you bring it back.

We usually stay near the marina on day trips out on the lake, when we go to Powell for a 3-5 day trip, we take a jon boat and tow that with fuel cans for the boat and sea-doos.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Yes/No yesterday

Before heading out I thought about fuel but didn't worry about it since the farthest I normally go is a 3 miles run back, 1/2 of a 3 gallon tank was plenty for that. I ended up trolling 7 miles south of the marina and on the trip back the outboard sputtered 1/2 mile from the dock. Oooops... luckily the tank has a reserve so I tipped it to one side and continued on the last 1/2 mile.

Ehhh, I had a trolling motor so no worries either way.

 

[seedlings]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I've only taken the boat out 4 times with a 6 gallon tank. The first 3 times I had an extra gallon tank full on-board. After replacing the original gas tank, I don't have "room" for the one gallon, but after rereading this thread, I'm going to make room.

6Gal + 70hp = 15 minutes out + 15 minutes back + 15 minutes reserve

If that's way off, LET ME KNOW! Because that's what I go by. Haven't put it to the test yet, though.

CHAD

 

[pmat1]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I wasnt far from the dock, and i ran out. there was a bit of gas in there but not enough for the pickup, so i chugged my drink and put the little bit of gas in my Pepsi bottle and took the line off my tank and it got me back

 

[BugsBunnyBoater]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

07-30-09

Locally we just had two boaters that the CG has to save after they ran out of gas on the water.

 

[KaiBlaed]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

Yep, first time I took my boat out, thought it was running well, went through 4 gallons of gas in about 1 hour, by the time I checked my tank I was over halfway there and only half of what I had left. I ran out of fuel about 100ft from the marina, luckily I had a paddle, I dont have anywhere to mount it, but I always bring my trolling motor now. I'll figure something out if I must.

 

[Thad]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I will openly admit I have run out of gas more than once.

Not for a great number of years though. My new boat holds 50gal. If I run that out in a day, I deserve it!

 

[Tahoe 55]

Re: Running out of gas on the water. Happend to you?

I picked no,............., but should have picked:

No, I got a big azz tank and never let it get below 1/2 full....