Faster cruising speeds can save fuel

[Kawasaki]

Amazing thread!
Ideas, Theory's ,Graphs, Drawings, Experiences, more theory's the bleedin lot!

My two penny's worth.
Having been fortunate to drive lots of different boats over the last 2 Years.

Thing I have noticed ref fuel consumption.
With Semi and Planing hulls.

When the boat 'feels' good it is good.
IE, get the vessel to 'feel' good and that's the optimum speed/ fuel burn.
So We are in a 27ft, say, typical sports boat.
Happy speed/ fuel consumption--- dunno!
Say it's a nice day and pretty flat, 24 kts maybe?

Semi Dis boat same day-- 18 maybe, dunno!

See where I,m coming from?

Boats and boating, that's what's so good about it

Not like saying-- 'Me Fiesta does 45 to the Gal.' etc.

This is a Serious thread.
That's why I,m struggling to reply!

I believe if the boat 'feels' ok ref whatever conditions you are motoring in that's the Optimum speed.
Tiss a feel thing.
Not a scientific calculating thing.

Faster Cruising Speed may save fuel was the origional question.
It may, it may not.
So depends on the vessel and sea conditions.
If it feels right it is right.
imho.
So, 'Faster speeds can save fuel'
So, not with displacement vessels as we know.
So, doubt it with Semis.
So, could be with 'Skimmers' depending on conditions.
Conditions , conditions will determine fuel consuption more than anything.

Apart from yer throttle hand /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

[ QUOTE ]
What do folks want - max economy per hour on the water, OR per mile covered?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's the same thing. If you have to travel from A to B, it's the same mileage whether you take 1 hour or 10 hours. Actually I have never thought fuel consumption expressed in terms of litres or galls per hour is particularly useful because, without knowing speed, it doesn't help you much. If you know the speed at which the engine is consuming a certain number of litres per hour, then you can work out much more useful stuff like mpg and range

 

[DAKA]

As Kawasaki say says a mixed thread so lets sum up

A few other passage makers have also noticed an increased speed from 17 to 25 can save fuel.

I havent run tests for boats over 41 ft , I can not confirm that extra speed works for all large flybridge boats.

The 'Boat feel good' factor that Kawasaki mentions I recognise too and it happens for me as the bow settles down which happens also to be 22-25 knots and economic but ignore all of that because the real feel good factor happens 1/4 mile off cowes....... as I burn off all the slower boats attempting to save fuel at 17 knots, further enhanced as I take the last berth before the berthing master turns them away to burn more fuel at 17 knots finding another marina /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

I think you're putting words into people's mouths there DAKA and it does you no favours to insult people who disagree with you even if you put an asterix after the words
I'll say again what I've found with my 46 footer. There is no 'fast speed' or 'feel good speed' at which the boat consumes less fuel than at the hump speed or some other lower speed. The faster you go, the more fuel you consume. Period

 

[DAKA]

wasn't meant like that, I will look to see how to reword /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif