Fuel Comsumption??

[ywhat2000]

Newbeee here need to ask looking for average estimates of fuel consumption a new 2005 21.2BR w/ 305 5.0L MPI 3-4 adults average speed 15-30 cruising around. Not 30gals a day i hope????

[merwin10]

If you can get 30 gallons for a eight hours of running you will be in the minority! Usually boats are messured in gallons per hour. You will find after the newest wears off and you get to know your boating area and your favorite spots, we all have them, your run time is two to three hours per day.

You will find depending on the weather, sea conditions, weight of the boat at the time, trim and how fast you want to get where your going you will use about 5 to 7 gallons per hour. So yes it could cost you $30 per hour or more to run the boat!

Mike -  

OH since you are new to boating let me tell you now B. O. A. T. means Break Out Another Thousand!!!!

[Nauti-Dayze]

I went on a river trip 2 years ago. I had a 212 Festiva Cuddy with a 350 carbed. I went for 111 miles most at or near WOT. The boat had a 42 gal tank. The only problem that I had was the gas station was 113 miles away!

[nwaring]

It all depends on conditions.  Last year I went 114 miles and used 52 gallons on one trip.  On another trip I went 85 miles and like Nauti I used the whole tank...75 gallons.  At the end of the season I installed Merc's Smartcraft system and it will tell me my burn rate (gph) and any given point and it will show gallons used since last reset of the system (fill).  

Niles

[ywhat2000]

Thanks to all for the input being a newbe any input is knowledge.

[merwin10]

Well I guess you got an answer!! First the measure of fuel is not miles per gallon rather gallons per mile. Next it depends on conditions!!! Finally, when you run out of gas it just is not as simple as get out and walk to the nearest gas station. You just can not be so la-di-da about fuel on a boat you need to know how many hours you are going to be running the boat! My suggestion is to start with 12 gallons an hour, and work down after you get some history. To start out without a full tank is asking for trouble!

Mike -  

[Nauti-Dayze]

Good advice! After I ran out and called the marina to have them bring me a $10 gallon of gas, I filled up everytime we got to a marina. Even if I had over 1/2 a tank.

[Talon]

yep - we fill up every weekend, regardless of how full the tanks are.

[BigSioux232]

We sort of doubled on on posts on this subject so I'm cut and pasting what I posted in the other thread.

We just sold our 21 footer with a 5.0 EFI last april. It's a great power match for that boat. I could run right along with the 350's and consumed about a gallon per hour less at constant cruise. We had a carbed 4.3L in an 18 foot Glastron before that. There really isn't a big difference in fuel consumption between these engines at cruise speeds. Whenever you get above that 3000-3500 RPM range, your consumption jumps no matter which one you have. I usually figured around 8.5 gallons per hour at a constant 3500 rpm on my 5.0, which tranlsates to about 4 miles per gallon. I would run for 2.5 hours on the river and would have to add 21 gallons. Again, this is almost constant running...no jackrabbit starts to pull anyone up. We'd stop once or twice to empty the bladder.  

If you go to http://www.boattest.com, there is a complete rundown of a 2005 Rinker 212 with an EFI Volvo 5 litre.  Click on the test results tab and there's a complete fuel consumption breakdown.

A 4.3 isn't going to be that much less, maybe 7.5 gal per hour for the exact same boat.  

We hardly ever burned a full tankful on a lake pulling tubers and recreational skiers.  You spend over half your time idling or with the engine shut down.  

Dave

[Ronnie]

Yep & don't forget the 1/3 1/3 1/3  method...   1/3 tank out 1/3 tank back & 1/3 reserve

[ywhat2000]

Went to boattest.com and for $7.95 i was able to get some spec's on this unit 21.2BR. @ 30mph w/305MPI 260hp the boat uses approx 5.9 GPH. Now @ 52mph it uses a tad bit more 20.9 GPH WOW need to watch my speed. So i figured on a average day goofing around i will probably use 8.0 gph. Great site boattest.com thanks for the heads up. Do they ever beat a boat up they seem to be honest i guess no one builds crap.