How's your mileage?

[David Ochs]

Last week I had the opportunity to take a loop on Lake Tahoe. I've never before calculated my boats fuel consumption. Probably a good idea since the fuel gauge isn't worth a crap.
1969-16' 302 w/15x19
Loaded with close to 1000 lbs.,at 6500 ft.
Cruising a steady 3000-3200rpm

2.85 mpg or 6.16 gal./hr.

How do the rest of you do? I can't remember ever having this discussion on the "Registry".

[Walt. H.]

Dave,

Yes your right on the money. I figured the same using my gps for mileage and refilled the fuel after a day out boating. I averaged 3-5 mpg depending how much throttle and wind or tide i'm into.

Remember its like driving your auto all day in second gear pulling a trailer up hill.Then 3-5 mpg isn't all that bad. Its the cost of having fun.

Walt....

[MOP]

Dave have not done the conversion from gal per hour to miles but a 31-3200 I burn 3.2 gph that was figured on a round trip of about 80 miles. Will check the GPS for speed at cruise next run.
302 Ford 23" Viper wheel

[BUIZILLA]

My last outing in the Minx netted me this,,

3200 rpm avg = 40.5 mph avg = 5.95 gal/hr total avg = 6.81 mpg total avg.

J

YMMV wink

[JimG]

I zero my GPS on every fill-up, and I'm getting right at 4mpg, every time! Considering that my flybridge boat gets 1.8 mpg, I'm just tickled! :)

[MOP]

Dave I noticed you are running a 19" wheel at your altitude, what is your top RPM? I'm at sea level also with a 302 running a 23" Viper turning 4600+ -.

Phil

[David Ochs]

Phil,
Actually I usually do run at sea level, this trip at altitude was a new experience for me(in the boat anyway). Oddly enough the rpm's don't change significantly. Both at sea level and at altitude, I could still get 5000 rpm. Mind you I don't run the old boat that fast, generally between 3000-4000. What is noticable at altitude is that it just takes longer to get on plane and the wanted rpm., (no huevos, so to speak). I also noticed that the gps speed for a particular rpm was always less. This is more a result of all the weight on board.
I had a 23" on at one time(at sea level), went back to the 19". The 23" maxed the rpm to about 4600 and the engine ran hot. It's happiest with the 19".