Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel costs.

[saxrulez]

I'm saving now to buy a 30'ish boat in about 6 years and just starting to do some research. The boat will get used probably about 2 times per month during the spring/summer on weekends. It will be used in the Gulf to do bottom fishing.

I really want to have somewhere to relax on the boat out of the sun so I have been looking at sport fishers that have decent cabins. What I really want to know is how much fuel does a 30'ish foot boat use on a trip to ~15 miles off shore, fishing for a couple hours and then back?

I'd like to get a very rough idea between say a 26' boat with outboards vs a 30 ft with gas inboards vs a 30'ish ft with diesels.

I know my question is pretty vague, but I have no idea what kind of fuel consumption I'm looking at right now! Just some very rough ballpark figures of anyone and their setup would be really helpful for me. I'm not concerned with speed, just kind of ideal numbers for all of them. I know the diesels are the most efficient, just want to know how much of a difference.

Thanks!

 

[45Auto]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

Go to Boattest.com and look at some tests.

You're looking in the neighborhood of 1 MPG at best cruise.

Figure 15 miles out, 15 miles in, possibly running at a speed other than best cruise for a few minutes (running from some weather, etc), a little bit of no wake zone, you're probably looking at around 40 gallons per trip.

If you want to relax out of the sun in a cabin in any comfort, you're talking about a generator and air conditioning.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

From the little bit of research I've done in the same size range - I'd say gas inboards and outboards are similar, around 1 - 1.2 mpg. Diesel will be not quite double that, around 1.8 - 2.2 mpg.

Of course that all depends on layout, weight, hull config, number and size of motors, etc.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

You can figure if you have twin inboards at 3000rpm's you will burn about 8 gal an hour per engine.1700 rpm's burn around 4 gal's an hour per engine. When you get above 3000 you will see a dramatic increase in consumption.I have twin 5.0 and fuel meters.Fuel consumption is GPH(gallons per hour) on a boat not mpg.

 

[high'n'dry]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

If you have to ask about fuel economy that is an indication you might want to reconsider that size boat. The fuel expense will be significant as will be the upkeep of two engines. The fuel tank on such a boat might be in the range of 120 gallons. That would be at the typical 3.50 to 4.00 dollars per gallon price just shy of 500 dollars per fill up. I figure twin 200 horse engines you could easily suck down 40 to 60 gallons per trip. So, twice a month times 40 gallons at 4.00 dollars per gallon would be 320 dollars per month on fuel alone. If you did this 10 months of the year, that would be 3,200 dollars in fuel for the year.

 

[ssobol]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

Also remember that the price of gas in 6 years is unknown. Depending on who you believe the price could be anywhere between the current price and $10/gal. It is highly unlikely that the price will be less that it is now. Right now in Europe the price of gas is between 6 and 9 dollars a gallon (depending where you are).

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

If you have to ask about fuel economy that is an indication you might want to reconsider that size boat. The fuel expense will be significant as will be the upkeep of two engines. The fuel tank on such a boat might be in the range of 120 gallons. That would be at the typical 3.50 to 4.00 dollars per gallon price just shy of 500 dollars per fill up. I figure twin 200 horse engines you could easily suck down 40 to 60 gallons per trip. So, twice a month times 40 gallons at 4.00 dollars per gallon would be 320 dollars per month on fuel alone. If you did this 10 months of the year, that would be 3,200 dollars in fuel for the year.

I can easily swing 200ish per trip although less is always better! I just wanted an idea of what I was getting into. I'm going to pay cash for the boat, so I can use what would have been a boat payment on gas each month.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

My 29'er has twin inboards. She takes 200 gallons of fuel, and although I don't have floscans yet, I'm guessing at about 24-25 mph she is burning about 20 gallons per hour combined. If your only going 15 miles out, your probably looking at 25-30 gallons of fuel, which seems to be within your budget. Keeping up with twin motors can be twice the cost on most things also. Having a place to get out of the sun, use the head, store stuff, etc... is a nice option though.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

Not in Florida as much as the past but, the trend for a catamaran has been on the upswing. Seems like the next thing/fad to go to after the 4-stroke motors. Could be a boat you should look into. Day boat, some protection (small cabin), best fuel economy, and the gulf, all point to a cat. Hopefully someone can give us some real numbers.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

Your numbers will very extensively pending on sea conditions.

On a good day, with a single 200 HP outboard on a 22? boat I get just over 2 miles per gallon at 4000 rpm. If I?m forced to run off plane by the condtions, at 3000 rpm I'm getting ~ 0.9 miles per gallon.

Note: These are figures for a single motor. Twins would cut these figures to less than half.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

Don't get the floscans,it might scare you what your really using

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

I figure that w oil changes and fuel it costs me about $5.00 per minute that my engines are running.... That figures in a little extra for the fuel I use with the genny

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

From my years in the car business, if someone ever asked what MPG a luxury vehicle got, they probably couldn't afford it.

Boats are even more so. Fuel is just a minor expense of boating when you consider docking, towing, upkeep, interest, initial cost, depreciation . . . . .

And, like it was said--who knows what the future holds for fuel costs.

I don't know how the many guys on my lake afford to feed their twin engine offshore racing boats. I can't imagine them hauling 15 five gallon plastic gas cans from their trucks to their docks--only to get 1 hour running time. And, they run their boats wide open for hours on end on weekends. ? ? ? ?

 

[BonairII]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

Your doing research NOW on a boat/engine that you'll be buying in 6 years???? In 6 years, they may have an outboard that runs on hydrogen or some other fuel.

Nothing wrong with daydreaming...but a lot happens in 6 years.

In the meantime, check to see if your HMO covers OCD.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

Some call it OCD, I call it smart financial decisions!

I pay cash for all my vehicles/toys. Boats, motorcycles, cars, all paid for up front. The 6 years is b/c I am moving away from the coast(to Kansas) in October and will be back near the Gulf ~6 years from now.

Thanks for the information though. I was just simply curious as to what the fuel costs were.

My ACTUAL next boat I have picked out, planning on picking it up this winter in Kansas for Lake Milford. Probably going to be a 19-20' Hurricane Sundeck or something very similar to that.

 

[slag]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

I boat in Kansas on Clinton Lake near Lawrence. Milford Lake is nice, as is Tuttle Creek which is just a little northeast. Its muddy water for the most part, but enjoyable nonetheless.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

nothing in the world wrong w asking "how much?" or any other question...... so many folks run out and buy these big boats and then just leave em in the marina because they cost so much to run.... My experience is that fuel cost, if I use it regularly, will be the single biggest cost of ownership.

I've had salesmen tell me that if I have to ask, I can't afford it..... My response was always, "noooo it's you that can't afford it" LOL

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

I'm looking to move up into a mid 30' sedan/sportfish and have been asking about cruising speed, RPM and fuel consumption. It's all part of the boat buying experience and doesn't instantly mean you can't afford it. If I was torn between two boats and one got .5 mpg, while the other saw .9 mpg, I would be inclined to go with the more fuel efficient boat.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

I'm looking to move up into a mid 30' sedan/sportfish and have been asking about cruising speed, RPM and fuel consumption. It's all part of the boat buying experience and doesn't instantly mean you can't afford it. If I was torn between two boats and one got .5 mpg, while the other saw .9 mpg, I would be inclined to go with the more fuel efficient boat.

A sedan/sportfish is going to be right up my alley for what I will use the boat for. Fairly regular weekend trips to the beach, sleep on the boat, maybe cruise, and some bottom fishing once or twice a month off the first shelf/reefs.

I am so disappointed that I'm moving so far away from the gulf, I can't wait to get back!

I'm probably going to look for something just shy of 30' with gas engines. If I go over 30' into the mid 30 range, I think I will be shopping hard looking for diesels.

 

[haley]

Re: Starting to save up for a ~30' boat. Would like some information about fuel cost

In 6 years, they may have an outboard that runs on hydrogen or some other fuel.

This is true. But if you look backwards has there been much change in the lastsix years? I do not think that type of boat has changed much.

I started shopping for my current boat way before I sold my last one. Every question I asked, every ad I looked at, every boater I talked to helped educate me. And my choice was still not perfect - just the best compromise.

When I was bit by the 30+ bug I considered it a boat AND vacation property. As you know, aside from fuel you want to think about dock fees, insurance, maintenance, etc. I remember trying to do the fuel cost calculations for cutting 80 miles across lake Ontario to the Thousand Islands. It was expensive to go there, turn around and come back. But if you went there - stayed a week puttering around and then came back the costs were comparable to staying in a hotel.

jh