Gallons per hour

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by XCR-700

Thats a really good point!

If you have engines that are EFI, or anything from the last 15 years or so, odds are your engine already has fuel burn data coming out of the ECU. From there it is pretty easy to connect to a NMEA2000 network and just about any modern MFD will display and manage fuel burn data.

Depending on your engine/ECU you might be able to use a generic J1939 to NMEA2000 bridge, or you might need one from the engine manufacturer (more common with outboards).

For older engines, you need a device inline with your fuel feed (eg: https://www.westmarine.com/buy/lowra...nsor--15957285 )

[Descant]

Let's see. There is no place on Winnipesaukee that takes more than an hour to get to at 22 kts. If I add fuel burn monitors ($500 x2?) a new MFD ($4000?) I spend $5000. I can reduce fuel burn from 25 gph to 23 gph(?) and save $12/hour? $12 sounds pretty good, but it will take 400+ hours to break even. If I'm cruising at displacement speeds (where I have never dumped a tray of hors d'oeuvres), my fuel burn is more like 5-8 gph.
Points:
1. Saving on fuel can be expensive
2. Fuel is only a small part of boating costs
3. You don't have to go fast to enjoy boating.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by Descant

Let's see. There is no place on Winnipesaukee that takes more than an hour to get to at 22 kts. If I add fuel burn monitors ($500 x2?) a new MFD ($4000?) I spend $5000. I can reduce fuel burn from 25 gph to 23 gph(?) and save $12/hour? $12 sounds pretty good, but it will take 400+ hours to break even. If I'm cruising at displacement speeds (where I have never dumped a tray of hors d'oeuvres), my fuel burn is more like 5-8 gph.
Points:
1. Saving on fuel can be expensive
2. Fuel is only a small part of boating costs
3. You don't have to go fast to enjoy boating.

Depends on your engines. If you have older engines and need inline fuel flow devices, it's less than $500 for a PAIR, not each.

A basic Raymarine Axiom 7 is less than $600.

A NMEA2000 starter kit is $100.

So realistically you're at about $1200. Unless you already have an MFD purchased in the last 10 years or so, then odds are it has NMEA2000 connectivity.

And of course my original comments were targeted at those who are burning enough fuel to make thinking about managing consumption rates worthwhile. If you're just puttering along at idle speed most of the time, then this whole thread isn't really relevant.

Also by monitoring fuel consumption, and possibly other engine data that you won't get on standard analog gauges, you get a better idea for how your engines are running and potential maintenance issues that can be done early before they get expensive.

[codeman671]

I was watching the Garmin MFD, equipped with the engine gauges/integration in my Finseeker center console this weekend. After filling up at Y and heading back at full speed (as I usually do), I burned 2 gallons getting back to the house. At full throttle it consumes 16-18gph. $12+ bucks each way to the gas station alone...I guess I need to slow down!

[steve-on-mark]

Originally Posted by codeman671

I was watching the Garmin MFD, equipped with the engine gauges/integration in my Finseeker center console this weekend. After filling up at Y and heading back at full speed (as I usually do), I burned 2 gallons getting back to the house. At full throttle it consumes 16-18gph. $12+ bucks each way to the gas station alone...I guess I need to slow down!

and you make fun of me...;-)

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by codeman671

I was watching the Garmin MFD, equipped with the engine gauges/integration in my Finseeker center console this weekend. After filling up at Y and heading back at full speed (as I usually do), I burned 2 gallons getting back to the house. At full throttle it consumes 16-18gph. $12+ bucks each way to the gas station alone...I guess I need to slow down!

To my point above, slowing down might be beneficial to fuel burn, but you might also be surprised to see that it is not a linear relationship.

Assuming your boat is similar to the one tested here:

https://www.boatingmag.com/2020-finseeker-220-cc/

Slowing down to 18.9 knots would yield an increase in fuel economy, but below that pretty much anything down to hull speed is actually going to iNCREASE fuel burn.

[Slickcraft]

Wow, I can’t compete at all with these staggering numbers! Our 22’ Eastern with a Yamaha 115 averages but a piddling 1.8 Gal per hour. Mostly Glendale to Welch and back at maybe 22 MPH. Now I feel guilty especially as my wife holds both EXXON and Chevron stock

Alan