Gas consuption

[Jimmypooh]

I was wondering what everyone is getting in GPH on their boat? What type of pulling/cruising do you do? What type of boat?

[shade]

I don't know how many GPH it is, but last weekend we burned almost 55 gallons of gas wakeboarding behind our Wakesetter 23LSV w/ Monsoon 340. That was using the Wedge and w/ full ballast and several adults in the boat. The Wedge seems to increase fuel consumption quite a bit.

[SacRiverRat]

Did you search on it? This wouldn't be the first time (or the 5th time) we've discussed this topic.

To be "helpful"... here is what you'll find

1) Most people are pretty oblivious to how much gas they burn per hr.. maybe the don't care? They'll tell you how many times they got gas in a one week vacation or something.. or how much it cost them

2) You've got it right, it depends on what type of driving

3) You'll find it averages ~4-6gph a bit higher for the big-block.. so if you assume 5gph, for your estimate on how much you've burned (assuming you track your hours) you'll be able to get close enough

Have fun

[WakingMeHappy]

1 tank of gas = 1 day on the lake.

[DONTW8]

From this post I just realized that us waterskiers are getting by on half the expense that the wakeboard guys spend. About 300 gallons of fuel for 21 skier days last summer. The cost of gas is nothing compared to the initial investment, storage, maintenance, 90 mile round trip towage, a diesel pickup, and water toys.

Wakeboard boats tend to be twice the price of ski boats. Boarders mostly want the new technology wake hull, latest tower and a few thousand dollars of stereo equipment. Skiers get by fine on a light flat bottom hull that can be 17 years old and you can only hear the stereo when you're just floating anyway. My waterski club members do not own only the newest of boats. But the tourists that come out and watch are driving the latest model wakeboat you can find.

Another reason to be a skier.

Just an observation.

[dalt1]

06 VLX 340 Monsoon . I just figured my total fuel and GPH from last year. Used to surf with 750 rear corner ballast plus stock ballast and wedge. Skyski no ballast no wedge. Cruising also. 485 Gallons @ 115 hours. 4.217 GPH. Not complaining here. I had a 21 ft Bryant I.O. with a 5.0 prior to this and got about the same. When I bought this boat the dealer told me my fuel consumption would double compared to my I.O. Glad he didn't know what he was talking about.

Edited June 5, 2009 by dalt1

[Pistol Pete]

It's super simple dude,

When the throttle lever is straight up and down and engine idling = rich

Throttle part way engaged or in the middle = richer

Throttle on the floor cause your trying to beat that X star back to the ramp = richest

[brettpendl]

Well done SacRiverRat.

[AidansDad]

We get about 4.2-4.5 on my friend's 07 Sunscape 21 w/ 2000-2500# and the wedge and 4-8 people wakeboarding. More boarding = more fuel, more cruising = less fuel. Not a whole lot more than his 05 Stingray 195lr (I/O) he had previously, but more than his 93 Sport nautique (DD)

[ed obermeier]

From this post I just realized that us waterskiers are getting by on half the expense that the wakeboard guys spend. About 300 gallons of fuel for 21 skier days last summer. The cost of gas is nothing compared to the initial investment, storage, maintenance, 90 mile round trip towage, a diesel pickup, and water toys.

Wakeboard boats tend to be twice the price of ski boats. Boarders mostly want the new technology wake hull, latest tower and a few thousand dollars of stereo equipment. Skiers get by fine on a light flat bottom hull that can be 17 years old and you can only hear the stereo when you're just floating anyway. My waterski club members do not own only the newest of boats. But the tourists that come out and watch are driving the latest model wakeboat you can find.

Another reason to be a skier.

Just an observation.

[wakeup]

From this post I just realized that us waterskiers are getting by on half the expense that the wakeboard guys spend. About 300 gallons of fuel for 21 skier days last summer. The cost of gas is nothing compared to the initial investment, storage, maintenance, 90 mile round trip towage, a diesel pickup, and water toys.

Wakeboard boats tend to be twice the price of ski boats. Boarders mostly want the new technology wake hull, latest tower and a few thousand dollars of stereo equipment. Skiers get by fine on a light flat bottom hull that can be 17 years old and you can only hear the stereo when you're just floating anyway. My waterski club members do not own only the newest of boats. But the tourists that come out and watch are driving the latest model wakeboat you can find.

Another reason to be a skier.

Just an observation.

I guess it is the same reason we all do not drive the same cars even though we all are going from point A to point B.

[MalibuTime]

I decided that I am going to get a detailed understanding of my gas consumption this year so I added marks on my tank with a sharpie every 1/2". I will record the tank level in the garage and on the lake of the tick marks, along with the hour meter reading, fuel guage reading and # gallons, price and location each time I go or fuel up.

[Jimmypooh]

I decided that I am going to get a detailed understanding of my gas consumption this year so I added marks on my tank with a sharpie every 1/2". I will record the tank level in the garage and on the lake of the tick marks, along with the hour meter reading, fuel guage reading and # gallons, price and location each time I go or fuel up.

Not sure if the tick marks are going to be very accurate. You're better off following fill-ups and watching the hour meter. Although the hour meter I'm told keeps runing if the engine is off and the key is on. Also it wouldn't allow you to track it close to certain type of running condisions.

[SmoothWaterMan]

The only time I watched was when I did lessons. 7.5-8.5 hours a day, typical burn was 17-18 gallons. Without doing the math I recall 2.5 gph.

Something to be said for skiing.

Peter

[MalibuTime]

I decided that I am going to get a detailed understanding of my gas consumption this year so I added marks on my tank with a sharpie every 1/2". I will record the tank level in the garage and on the lake of the tick marks, along with the hour meter reading, fuel guage reading and # gallons, price and location each time I go or fuel up.

Not sure if the tick marks are going to be very accurate. You're better off following fill-ups and watching the hour meter. Although the hour meter I'm told keeps runing if the engine is off and the key is on. Also it wouldn't allow you to track it close to certain type of running condisions.

Why wouldnt' they be accurate? My boat is dead still sitting in the garage on the trailer,and I could measure to within 1/4 inch (or less) of the tank level. That should give me a very good indicator of how much is being consumed. Also, I will rarely get to the very bottom 1-1/2 inches where the tank slopes, so the volume will be consistent through the range I am measuring in.

Edited June 5, 2009 by TheBlackPearl

[Arctic Slalom]

I decided that I am going to get a detailed understanding of my gas consumption this year so I added marks on my tank with a sharpie every 1/2". I will record the tank level in the garage and on the lake of the tick marks, along with the hour meter reading, fuel guage reading and # gallons, price and location each time I go or fuel up.

that makes a lot of sense to me.....figure the inside volume of the tank and convert to gallons .

we used to measure and calibrate spraying equipment for our farm using this same method....and that stuff was much, much more expensive than gasoline.

[Arctic Slalom]

The only time I watched was when I did lessons. 7.5-8.5 hours a day, typical burn was 17-18 gallons. Without doing the math I recall 2.5 gph.

Something to be said for skiing.

Peter

that sounds about right for our 350 carby sunsetter.

we usually ski on satruday morning for about two hours (on the engine)....3 to 4 people. we usually top off the tank in town prior to loading everyone up and going out to the lake for the rest of the day.

we usually have to put about 5 gallons in. last summer it was a $20 spot for the morning runs, this summer only $12, hopefully!

[johnsvt]

My boat is 6gph fully loaded.

Wakeboard pulls are 10/pull in my small circle.

[Ndawg12]

My boat is 6gph fully loaded.

Wakeboard pulls are 10/pull in my small circle.

And by fully loaded, he means full bow ballast damn it!! Can't live without it!!!

[krafty]

VTX and average 3 gph over 2 seasons with quite a bit of surfing. I will gladly take slightly increased fuel consumption for less aches and pains on an out of shape body. (Although I can't give up the ski completely)

[johnsvt]

My boat is 6gph fully loaded.

Wakeboard pulls are 10/pull in my small circle.

And by fully loaded, he means full bow ballast damn it!! Can't live without it!!!

The bow ballast helps with gas mileage

You should drive my boat with just bow ballast and no rear weight(beginner setup)...always interesting to see the front rubrail touching the water coming off-plane.

[Pistol Pete]

This would make your calculations easier. I'm just not sure how it would account for fuel return back to the tank.

[SacRiverRat]

I decided that I am going to get a detailed understanding of my gas consumption this year so I added marks on my tank with a sharpie every 1/2". I will record the tank level in the garage and on the lake of the tick marks, along with the hour meter reading, fuel guage reading and # gallons, price and location each time I go or fuel up.

Not sure if the tick marks are going to be very accurate. You're better off following fill-ups and watching the hour meter. Although the hour meter I'm told keeps runing if the engine is off and the key is on. Also it wouldn't allow you to track it close to certain type of running condisions.

Why wouldnt' they be accurate? My boat is dead still sitting in the garage on the trailer,and I could measure to within 1/4 inch (or less) of the tank level. That should give me a very good indicator of how much is being consumed. Also, I will rarely get to the very bottom 1-1/2 inches where the tank slopes, so the volume will be consistent through the range I am measuring in.

Your best bet would be to mark the tank, when it is low, then fill it up - then you know how many gallons it takes down to that mark... trying to calc the volume, on a tank you can't see the entire size is sorta inaccurate.

Just record the hrs when you fill up, and then the quantity of fuel it takes to fill it up next time - then you can calc your average gph

[Pistol Pete]

Yeah, but don't forget, the octane rating will change some of your consumption.

[Malibuzer]

As my dealer has said to a few people with this same concern. "If you can afford this boat, you can afford the gas!!" I love the little tongue in cheek answer.

I thought that was hilarious.