Distance with outboard

Chris S.

Chris S.

Well-known member
Does anyone have a rough idea of how far a 15hp evinrude and go on 3gal of fuel and about half throtle. I know its a wide open question and there are a lot of factors that come into play. I am wanting to try a new spot that I can only get to at high tide and its a 9 mile run each way. Just wondering if I would have any isues with a full 3gal tank running at about 1/2 to 3/4 throtle. What kinda distance to you guys run and what are your thoughts on say 20miles round trip on 3gal. Thanks

I could always take a 1gal gas can with me if needed
 
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That's quite a run with a 3 gallon tank. I wouldn't consider that without at least 6 gallons.

However now is the time to do it not in December or January.
 
I have a 25 Johnson 2 stroke that will go about 30 miles at near full throttle on a 5 gallon tank. It doesn't answer your question but it will give you an idea. I would take an extra 2 gallon gas can if I were you. You can always top up your tank if you need to. (The time to top it up is before you head out on the return trip.)

Is yours a two stroke or four? I understand the four stroke motors get better fuel economy and I would expect a 15 at half throttle to do better than a 25 at 3/4 or more.
 
I have a 2 stroke. I just read that fuel consuption is about 10% of your hp at 5000 rpm per hour roughly it said. So my 15hp would use 1.5gal at wot per hour. I get about 16mph at wot. So what I just read said I should get about 32 miles with 3gal at wide open throtle at half throtle I should do better. I will take an extra gas can with me for sure. I wanna see if I make it though. Thanks for the info guys
 
I would take an extra prop. You throw a prop on a run like that you're screwed.

I hope that's one hell of a spot to run 9 miles!
 
I like the pilot training motto.

Thirds.

Third of the tank for getting there, a third of the tank for getting home and a third of the tank for "just in case".

Don't forget about the weather and tides...

And like he said- now is the time to try it, not in late December.

I also think it must be a "Hell of a spot" for a nine mile boat trip. I did about five each way. Once. I'm too old to spend that much time driving to and fro...

Jon
 


[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica] I like the pilot training motto.

Thirds.

Third of the tank for getting there, a third of the tank for getting home and a third of the tank for "just in case".

Don't forget about the weather and tides...

And like he said- now is the time to try it, not in late December.

I also think it must be a "Hell of a spot" for a nine mile boat trip. I did about five each way. Once. I'm too old to spend that much time driving to and fro...

Jon [/font]
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X 2 and worth repeating

It is a long walk home if you run out of fuel. As has been mentioned,other factors besides distance, come in to play when figuring boat fuel. Given a choice I always run upstream from the ramp so on the return trip I am going with the current. If you are fighting current or tides on the return trip, you will use more fuel returning than going out.
 
I found this "A 10 HP engine will burn roughly 1 gallon of fuel per hour at wide open throttle. Boat type, load, throttle setting and water conditions will dictate what what any throttle setting translates to in miles per gallon."
 
Sounds like you have a non planning sneakbox hull like me..That motor uses alot of fuel pulling that belly through the water. No way will you get 32 miles on 3 gallons..

I have a fricke box with a 15 2 stroke yamaha. I go through 2/3 of a 3 gallon tank quick, usually in a days hunt. Figure running the motor to pick up birds, set decoys, reposistion,,change spots, scout on the way home or whatever. I always carry a one gallon spare under the deck.

The main thing that would stop me from taking a 9 mile run is the weather. What if the wind really picks up and forces you to take a different route back home? That 9 miles can turn into 12...Thats a long run in the dark,

Just things to consider, be safe, good luck, let us know how you do
 
Lots of sound advice on here Chris. We factor fuel consumption a ton in the summertime fishing 100 miles offshore, the 1/3 rule is the one to live by regardless of how far you are running. The weather factor is another good thing to think about, since you mentioned the tide is it a run that could potentially be wind against tide for a large part of the run? That doesn't make things fun.

I have both a 3 and a 6 gallon take I run in my Fricke. Hunting down the street from my house I run the 3, if I'm going to south jersey where the runs are much longer I bring the 6 and always make sure it's topped off.
 
That's a lot of good advice thanks for the help fellas. Its a trip I will be making with another guy/sneakbox so there will be 2 of us. There is 6 places along the run that come close to roads that if something went bad like a prop or something I could get a prop drop. 85% of the trip is is in a wide creek so its protected most of the way. Thanks for the info
 
Hi Chris,
I made a habit of keeping a spare 2 gallon jug on the boat....... just in case.
When I first go my 25 Yam 2 stroke I figured it would sip gas compared to the
40 Suzuki I had before.
I was surprised when on the second trip, I ran out of gas 1/4 mile from the house but reachable by car.
I was in a canal at the time.
If you took a 1 gallon gas jug and stashed it in the boat it would be cheap insurance.

Good luck this year, George
 
I third the 1/3 rule of thumb. I once got caught out of gas (on the return of a 3rd trip following a full tank of gas), luckily I was close to the boat launch where I could paddle to safety.

AA-
 
Chris,

My 1991 15hp Johnson isn't that good on gas. I've been out 4 times the past two weeks, total of maybe 5 miles and I've got roughly 4 gallons left in a 6 gallon tank.

When I was bass fishing in Arkansas it was nothing to run 10-15 miles with a 115 strapped to your butt. But man...9 mles in a 12' boat at 3 miles per hour where you live? No way! I'd find a closer ramp if it were me. My longest run around here could be 10 miles but I have 5 ramps to chose from.
 
Chris,

Why take a chance, just get a 6 gallon tank. Your only talking about carrying an additional 20 lbs. when I'm scouting I'll cover about 30 miles and there is no way I'm taking a chance on running out of fuel. In addition to my 6 gallon tank I'll also pack the 3 gall in there just in case.
I'm also a firm believer in the 1/3 rule. At times that may not even be enough. I had to tow another hunter in once and thought I had plenty of fuel. With the additional boat overloaded I burned almost every drop of fuel I had. I was within sight of the ramp when my motor started to sputter by reducing throttle and pitching the tank to get every last drop I just putted in the last half mile I was safely able to get both of us to the ramp. When I checked my fuel the tank was almost dry. This was on a day when it was 13 degrees and blowing. The other boater offered his fuel but I didn't want to take a chance that his engine problems were caused by bad fuel.
So in short, the 1/3 rule is a minium guideline. Always carry more fuel than you think you could ever burn in one day.
Another thing you should have is BOAT US towing. I have been a member for over 20 years and it is well worth the money. I blew a motor about a quarter mile from the ramp as the sun was going down on a cold late January day. The nearest boat they had was more than 10 miles away. They had to break is the entire way to get to me, towed me back in and it did not cost me any additional money other than my membership dues. When I received the invoice it was for over $1000! Well worth the investment of membership.
 
For those of us who hunt in areas with big tides, keep in mind that what you anticipate for fuel consumption may be radically different if your schedule changes and you find yourself bucking a tide you didn't plan for.

The Kennebec River near me has nearly 50 miles of tidal river. I usually try to plan my fishing trips to be traveling with the tide and turning around when the tide turns, but if we get into the fish or otherwise diverted, we can end up with a long run against strong tides.

I run a 14 foot Lowe with 2 stroke 15 HP. I also burn a lot more fuel when I have company in the boat than when I'm solo.

I try to follow the rule of thirds, and I keep a full 2 gallon gas can in the boat. When expecting on a long trip, I toss in an extra 1 gallon can. I've never needed to dip into either--and I don't want to.
 
The 1/3 rule is great. The main problem I have with a 6gal other then I would need to go buy one is that 1. It won't fit under the deck of my sneakbox and will take up a lot of room in the cockpit. 2. Other then this long run I would not have a need for a 6gal tank. All my runs are 3to5 miles round trip tops. The spots I hunted most last year were less then that. I have a 2gal can I will take with me if/when I make this run.

Capt. John I had tow boats US for 2 years then when I got laid off from the Casino I didn't reup my membership. It is a great thing to have and good piece of mind out there in Jan.

Thanks for all the info guys.
 
I wasn't quite sure what my "mileage" was for my 23' w/175HP 2 stroke until I filled the tank & ran it 20 miles out & back then filled it again. Found out I get 2 mpg at 3200rpm & do 20-21 mph.

The manufacturer claims 30 mph w/150 hp 4 stroke. I keep it on a moorng so speed is alot less than a trailered boat that doesn't have any growth.

Actually doing a measured trial takes the anxiety out of the process.
 
I wasn't quite sure what my "mileage" was for my 23' w/175HP 2 stroke until I filled the tank & ran it 20 miles out & back then filled it again. Found out I get 2 mpg at 3200rpm & do 20-21 mph.

The manufacturer claims 30 mph w/150 hp 4 stroke. I keep it on a moorng so speed is alot less than a trailered boat that doesn't have any growth.

Actually doing a measured trial takes the anxiety out of the process.
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Gary,

You should talk with your local prop shop or change bottom paints. You should be able to do better than that with a boat of that size and power. I ran my 23' Mako full cabin with a 225 hp 2 stroke at 4600 - 4700 rpm /26 kts loaded with tanks and dive gear and did a bit better than that. It was also kept in the water with Micro CSC Extra bottom paint.
 
Does anyone have a rough idea of how far a 15hp evinrude and go on 3gal of fuel and about half throtle. I know its a wide open question and there are a lot of factors that come into play. I am wanting to try a new spot that I can only get to at high tide and its a 9 mile run each way. Just wondering if I would have any isues with a full 3gal tank running at about 1/2 to 3/4 throtle. What kinda distance to you guys run and what are your thoughts on say 20miles round trip on 3gal. Thanks

I could always take a 1gal gas can with me if needed
Click to expand...

Sounds like a perfect situation for two gas cans!
 
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