From Guzzling to Grazing: Fuel-Saving Tips

Even though gas prices are high, that's no reason for America's power boaters to trade in their ski boats for row boats. Instead, boaters can keep their engines running by following these fuel-saving tips:

• Keep your engine well tuned. The average marine gasoline engine can log 1, 500 hours before needing a major overhaul, while a diesel engine can log 5,000 hours. If you're not a mechanic, find one you trust who is willing either to teach you the basics of engine tuning or do the job for you.
  

  
  

• Lighten up. Gas weighs 6.1 pounds per gallon; diesel, 7.1 pounds; and water, a hefty 8.3 pounds. While it's important to follow the 3-3-3 rule for fuel supply (one-third to get there, one-third to get back and one-third for emergencies), you may not need to fill all fuel tanks to the brim. Leave water tanks half-full if you're just going out for the day. Don't overload your boat with people or gear, and distribute weight evenly.
  

  
  

• Make sure your propeller is right for your boat, and repair or replace it if it's damaged. According to Bob Adriance, editor of Seaworthy, the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance newsletter, "If your prop is dinged or out of pitch, it doesn't matter how well your engine runs - you'll still use more gas than you should. "Have an expert check your propeller to make sure it's properly tuned.
  

  
  

• Slow down and keep a log to monitor at which rpm your engine performs best. Calculate fuel mileage by dividing distance traveled by gallons at fill up.
  

  
  

• Consider installing a fuel-flow meter. Investing $300 - $350 in a fuel-flow meter to monitor consumption, showing not only how much fuel you've used but how fast you're using it, helps you find your most efficient cruising rpm. Installing trim tabs on a planing hull can also improve fuel consumption.
  

  
  

• If you belong to BoatU.S., you can save 10 cents per gallon at 200 BoatU.S. Cooperating Marinas. You can get a list of these marinas at BoatUS.com and join BoatU.S. there, too. "Some boat owners will recoup the $14 member fee the first time they fill up at a BoatU.S. Coop Marina," Adriance said.
  

  
  

• Keep your boat's bottom clean. Even a slightly dirty bottom can keep your boat from planing or, on a displacement hull, can slow it down dramatically.
  

  
  

• Get your boat up to plane quickly and smoothly, and then throttle back to cruising speed. The fewer turns you make, the less motor load you'll have.
  

  
  

• The shortest distance between two points sometimes really is a straight line. Use your GPS and your charts to get where you're going. If you have a trolling motor, use that instead of the big one if you have to travel just a few hundred feet.
  

Posted: 6-14-2001