Saving On Fuel Costs

Old money pockets, J.P.Morgan, once
said, “If you have to ask how much - you can’t
afford it!” That is easy for the owner of a succession
of yachts, all named Corsair, which
range up to more than 300 feet in length to say.
We all tend to be a little extravagant when it
comes to our boats, but there is no need to literally
“burn money” when it comes to boat
fuel economy.
You should ask how much fuel you are
burning and make every effort to reduce the
amount of fuel you waste every time you take
out your boat. Here, then, are some things you
can do to maximize your boat’s fuel economyso that you don’t need to become a dock
yachter.
(1) Dirty air intake filters and a
poorly-tuned engine will reduce fuel
economy drastically. Make sure your engine
is tuned properly and all filters are
clean. Take a look at your exhaust once
the engine is warmed up. Any trace of
black smoke may indicate a fuel- consuming
problem in the engine.
(2) The condition of your boat’s
bottom is critical. Crusted barnacles and
marine growth can reduce your boat’s
ability to flow through the water considerably.
It takes a lot more effort and
more fuel to push a boat with a dirty
bottom through the water.
(3) A fuel flow meter tells you instantly
how much fuel you are consuming.
With it, you can determine easily the best
cruising speed related to the weight of your
boat and the sea conditions. A flow meter
makes calculating fuel economy simple. It
is also your early warning sign when something
is wrong that is causing higher fuel
consumption.
(4) Every pound you add to your
boat requires power to move it. Cases of
motor oil, chairs you never use, winterizing
equipment that could be stored easilyin the garage, unneeded clothing, those special
fender boards you only use when you go
through the locks, or any other item you don’t
really need to bring along should be removed
and stored, not transported every time you use
your boat.
(5) You won’t find a tugboat captain
worth his salt going up the Hudson when the
tide is running out if he possibly can avoid
it. The reason is that it costs more fuel to
fight the tide than it does to flow with it. Obtain
a tide table and plan your goings and
comings around the tide.