Ok, its time has come

[FAST FRED]

"gets about 28.6 nautical miles per gallon of Diesel fuel running at its most economical speed of 10.5 knots"

Sounds good since the boat was about 20 ft the S/L is about 4K, so economical at a S/L of 10.5 is still a S/L of 2.5 (or so) .

Scale that up to a waterline with S/L of 2.5 at the speed desired.

And the ability to run much faster (if needed with a bit poorer fuel burn) would still suit a Get Home situation.

FF

[Man Overboard]

I don't know if I can even fathom what (well actually I can,its just numbers) what those 50 or 60 ft triple engined giant block supercharged boats cost to run at their 55 knot or whatever cruise...

I met one of those guys on a run across Lake Supiorior. His boat got 2 to 2.3 MPG it was 55 feet long, and had 2 supercharged big block motors. It actually gets worse mileage going slow.

My fathers 22 foot Boston Whaler gets about 5 mpg at 35 knots. (4000rpm)It runs a new four stroke Yamaha (350 I believe). I know this is not the type of boat you are looking for, but I can testify that the Yamaha is quite, fuel efficient, smooth, absolutely a beautiful motor.

[FAST FRED]

and had 2 supercharged big block motors. It actually gets worse mileage going slow.

A guess would be 40 to 50gph PER engine at 400hp .

FF

[dem45133]

You sure he didn't say 2-2.5 GPM (gallons per mile)? But then he is covering the distance pretty quick... so maybe.

Still more than I could even think of. I need to be in the 1-2 gallons per hour slow class.. as in hull speed... 6.5 knots according to bayliner.

To that end I did buy a cruser sailboat this past week... a 27 ft Bayliner Buccanner off ebay. Affectionately known of in sail circles as a water winnebago... but thats just fine... all sail is slow (sorry racer fans... ther're slow too, by planning boat standards... my background).

Converting a old low cost 7000 lb cap trailer for it now (will up it to 9000 suspension)... need to haul it home from northern WI.

It'll live in my shed... not a marina's with an "auto lean" on them all the time... not going that route. Only marina cost I want is launch fees and maybe a couple weeks slip here and there... paid in advance. I'd rather eat the fuel cost to tow it... yea 7 mpg... but then we can go any where we want then too. If we can't afford to go ... its not eating anything here.

Its an outboard version... which I wasn't crazy over... but will be a good test to see if my wife is into it as much as she says... if not... I'll only be into the boat (kept ready to sail), motor (running), and trailer for about $2100 including the fuel to get it home (1400 miles RT). Your going WHAT???

800 for the boat and motor (78 Bayliner Buccanner 270, 12 hp Chrysler OB)
300 for the trailer (a preaviously modified old flatbed a guy used for a 9000 lb 26ft displacment cruiser for while... yea he was pushing it on a pair of 3500 lb axles and spring set... surprisingly nothing is bent).
400 into trailer mods (I can fabricate anything in steel... be like a factory unit when I'm done, some material I already have)
50 acetylene and O2
75 for trailer paint supplies (I'll prep and spray it myself... quicky job.. to keep DOT at bay... they get nervous over rust)
350 into fuel to get the boat home
100 in food for trip.. (sleep in truck... Mickky D's $1 cheesburgers)

Totals $2100 give or take a little

Yup.. a poor man's boat. Will see what the boat needs.... but I suspect just a general clean up... at least for now. Supposedly no repairs needed... sailed this summer. I expect some core issues... some would be minor as the steel fabricator in me says that anything with a balsa core wasn't really relying very heavily on the balsa fot its strength compenent... If it need mains... I'll replace them. 7 knot sail boats likley do not have the critical stringer system a planning hull has... a lot less impact stresses to hold up agaist... not real worried about them.

I'll let you know how this really turns out... a little risky sight unseen... but thats ebay.

Dave
Hillsboro, OH

[Squidly-Diddly]

Save on mooring fees.