Fairline Mirage - shakedown

[Durcott]

Hi All,

finally got out in the Bristol Channel in my Fairline Mirage on Good Friday. I've got a few new problems as a result!

The Mirage is a 29' cruiser with twin Volvo Penta AQ125 petrol motors driving through sterndrives. I'd be grateful for any comments on...

Fuel consumption - 1 mpg - ouch!
Top speed - only 8-9 knots? Seems low - any idea what the max revs should be at full throttle? To be fair - there is a bit of damage to one of the props.
Any idea where I might get a manual for the AQ125? The heat exchanger has a crack- I need to get the thing off, and get the engine settings sorted out.

Other than that - a thoroughly pleasant run /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Many thanks

Jeff

 

[Ifraser]

My boat is a Conway 26 running on a pair of AQ140's which are 125 hp each. I get about 3 mpg at hull speed ( around 6.5 knots ) If you are running above that but below planing speed you will just be wasting fuel hence even lower fuel consumption. My top speed is over 20 kts and I would expect yours to at least get on the plane. The AQ 140's max at about 4200 rpm. If your hull is clean and props good then 9kts top speed suggests a problem to me. It may be as simple as a poorly adjusted cable but could be to do with needing a good tune up / service etc.... With regard to a manual...if you type " volvo sterndrive manual" into google with UK search selected you will get a hit on Amazon for a manual produced by "seloc" I have one of them and they are very good. They cover all the different engines and drives for various years..just make sure you select the one for your year....Alternatively do what I have done and persuade the wife to let you buy a pair of Mercruiser 1.7 diesels on the mortgage!! anyone want to buy a pair of AQ140's and drives!! cheers Iain

 

[Durcott]

Thanks for that Iain,

I think I was probably running too fast and wasting fuel.

Unfortunately, wife now has mortgage if you know what I mean, /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif so new engines will have to wait :-(
Jeff