To repower or not part 2

Discussion in 'Wooden Boat Building and Restoration' started by rattleandbang, Aug 5, 2015.

  1. rattleandbang
    Joined: Apr 2015
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    Location: Victoria BC

    rattleandbang Junior Member

    It's doable, and even possible to do to ABYC standards, but too much work and not enough refilling options. But here propane is 1/2 the cost of gas.
     
  2. rattleandbang
    Joined: Apr 2015
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    Location: Victoria BC

    rattleandbang Junior Member

    I believe it is the right boat for me, but after 15 years sailing, I prefer slow and economical. The issues is what's the best way to achieve that with a boat built in an era of cheap fuel.
     
  3. missinginaction
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: New York

    missinginaction Senior Member

    A couple of things:

    1. I've seen a couple of people de-mast sailboats over the past few years and use them as powerboats. One of them bought an old one and did a nice job bringing it back. One day a few years ago I heard this thumping in the yard and discovered him smiling as he stood next to this ancient two cylinder Volvo diesel. The kind you could start with a hand crank in an emergency, or a shotgun shell. His boat's done now and he tells me he uses something like a quart of diesel an hour. That's economical but you sacrifice interior space.

    2. Propane is a clean fuel but not very efficient. I work part-time for a transportation (bus) concern. We got money from the government to buy a number of propane powered buses as a test. A diesel bus gets around 7 MPG. Propane? About 4. And it pricy.

    3. I'm still recommending a new carb correctly matched to your boat. These units are warrantied. Have a problem, send it back. I don't think you will though.

    MIA
     
  4. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
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    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    What do you pay for gasoline $? by the liter or gallon?

    Cheapest today I seen is $2.28 per US gallon.
    A barbecue tank of propane is $20, I think they hold 4 gallons, so about $5 per gallon.
    http://www.orangecoat.com/the-truth-about-filling-20-lb-bbq-grill-propane-tanks
    I gave up on refilling them cause they always put in less propane and it cost me the same or more than just getting an already refilled tank which is new or like new.

    Anyway double whammy here on propane, costs more and use twice as much.
     
  5. rattleandbang
    Joined: Apr 2015
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    Location: Victoria BC

    rattleandbang Junior Member

    There are a heap of road taxes on gas that aren't on propane. Gas now is $1.23/ litre, and propane is somewhere around .60 litre. But as has been pointed out, propane is less energy dense than gas so you burn more per mile. Not that much though. When I converted my camper van back in the 90's it made a huge difference in operating cost. I recall paying $.25/litre for propane once. I don't recall noticing much of a difference in distance that a tank would take me, nor a power drop with the 360.
     
  6. rattleandbang
    Joined: Apr 2015
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    Location: Victoria BC

    rattleandbang Junior Member

    That's one big improvement I love about this boat over a sailboat - huge space for a 28' boat. We lived aboard for 7 years in a 36 foot sailboat, and although the cruiser doesn't have a V-berth or shower, I swear it has as much liveable room as the sailboat did.

    As I mentioned earlier, I'm not yet convinced a new carb is the way to go. I've rebuilt this one, and just finished replacing the steel tank with a new poly one. New fuel lines as well. I'm going to see how all this works out before deciding which way go. Tune up the engine as well. Then we'll see what kind of fuel consumption I get.
     

  7. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
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    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    Here in VA, we can recover our road tax on gasoline from the state.
    I got $7 back on 40 gallons. They have a convenient online form to fill in. You submit it and they send you a check.
     
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