Too Much Power Question

[captaindale]

A friend has an Avenger 226 bay boat with a 300hp Yamaha 4 stroke on it. I do not have a boat yet but had planned on getting a 17 or 18 foot rig with a 90 or 110 outboard on it. I know this is a much bigger engine than I planned to buy and am worried about the gas consumption. The deal seems good since he is asking $21,000 to start out. It has a walk through windshield that interests me. I am sure the Yamaha is a great engine. I guess with that much power you would not have to run it at full throttle and it would be reasonable on the gas. I do not know all of the details of the boat yet as to how old the boat and motor are.

 

[JB]

Re: Too Much Power Question

What is the max power rating of the boat? Safe and wise power would be from 70% to 100% of that rating. Over 100% would be unsafe and unwise.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Too Much Power Question

You can find out exactly what fuel consumption will be by going to the Yamaha web site and looking at "Performance Bulletins". On the opening page you pick the engine (2 or 4 stroke) then the HP range, then the boat type, and then the manufacturer. If your exact boat has not been tested, pick one that is about the same length and weight. Then click view test report. They list fuel consumption at various speeds, engine rpm, noise levels and MPG as well as GPH (gallons per hour). Be aware that any engine will burn fuel at a rate that is roughly 10% of its HP. Therefore, a 300 HP engine will burn roughly 30 gallons of fuel per hour at wide open throttle. No! You don't have to run wide open but the design of the boat and an engine of that size it will not be an economy champ. If you are concerned about fuel economy, you are advised to lower your sights a bit. Good engine or not, fuel costs are just the beginning. Maintenance of a large engine is not for the faint of heart (or faint of wallet). Think this over carefully,.

 

[captaindale]

Re: Too Much Power Question

Very good and informative advice; I am retired as of recently and your last statement made good sense; finances are tight now and I am part of the "faint of heart" type financially...think I will stick with a much smaller rig.
Thanks