THE BURN FACTOR

Tips for keeping your vessel fuel-efficient

- CAPT. RICKY WHEELER

It's no surprise to boaters that fuel costs are up. If you want to go fishing, take a family cruise, or even travel, there's no way to avoid the pain at the pump. Seasonal long-distance runs along the Eastern Seaboard can also have you burning some unnecessary fuel. I am a big fan of chugging at 9 to 10 knots on long runs, which gets me optimal fuel burn when I compare the miles-traveled ratio. So, this leaves me wondering: How much fuel does a particular boat really burn?

If you've had your boat for some time, you're likely pretty in tune with its idiosyncrasies, and you also probably have a good idea how much fuel you burn per hour both at different rpm and speeds. But factors such as how you use the throttle, whether your boat is overloaded, if it's propped and trimmed properly, and the cleanliness of the bottom will all affect your fuel burn day to day.

Your engine's electronic engine displays are designed to give you a wealth of information in real time, and there is plenty of accessible information that might help you on a number of fronts, with fuel-flow rate-or fuel burn in gallons per hour as one of the most utilized. If your boat does not have a flow meter, I highly recommend that you install one if you want to enjoy optimal fuel savings. Using the tools you already have can easily help you figure out what your most economical cruising speed is, as well as what you're burning at different rpm. Finding your boat's best speed-to-fuel-burn ratio will radically affect your wallet.

TRIM IT, PROP IT