Motor Boat Drive Choice

[scottie]

Coastal cruising, if a few hours per outing it’s easy to bring the petrol in
use a siphon to fill up
outboards are the least hassle

I can still remember the anxiety when watching the rainbow colours on the water from a boat spreading across the marina from some person doing such a dangerous operation. Which was in fact banned in that marina .

 

[simonfraser]

i use one of these, with a bit of thought not a drop spilled
i try not to smoke at the same time

 

[Hot Property]

i use one of these, with a bit of thought not a drop spilled
i try not to smoke at the same time

Me too, it's possible to refuel at sea with care. Just move out of the channel first!

 

[oldgit]

For round the bay, day trips and non tidal waters petrol might still be viable but for any sort of distance cruising diesel should really be the only way to go.
Not merely for economy but due to the difficulties of sourcing fuel.
Having said that we do have a 9m petrol sports boat on our moorings that has done extended trips, including recently 70 mile trip to the Thames.
Do know the boat had to be filled at the first available fuel stop. Shepperton Marina @ £2.35 per litre.
The owners love the boat , it does exactly what they want and have no plans to change despite the fuel costs.
When travelling in convoy the boat does have problems travelling slowly.

My diesel boat on the other hand carries 1000 L
We filled up before going round to the Thames, spent a week up there, came back at fair lick, did 2 local day trips and still have about 1/2 a tank left.

 

[Commercial Dave]

Anywhere east of the solent and up the eastanglia coast will be a challenge and you will end up having to select destinations based on fuel availability rather than some more interesting ones.

Why? Is it because of a lack of pleasure users?

 

[Plum]

Why? Is it because of a lack of pleasure users?

Don't know, but assume so. "Supply and demand"

 

[gordmac]

Perhaps not such an issue in the deep South but, in this part of the world at least, range is also important as you might want to go a fair distance and refuelling places are scarce. Diesel wins hands down in that respect but the extra consumption of shaft over outdrive is also significant.

 

[mm42]

Why? Is it because of a lack of pleasure users?

Storing and handling petrol is a much bigger hassle for marinas than diesel. One marina I use for example has their bunker ashore and runs a floating pipe across to the fuel berth, it's not permissible to do that with petrol.

 

[QBhoy]

Really depends on so many things.
if the outboard is a modern one from the last 5 years and a mercury in particular…there isn’t much a better way. But depends on the boat too.
diesel out drive boat vs diesel shaft drive. Outdrive will be more efficient and quicker, like for like.
petrol out drive…if it’s the usual GM based engine. There just isn’t a more reliable and cheaper to maintain engine than these. They aren’t the most successful engine ever put in a boat worldwide, for no reason. That’s if it’s the usual GM v6/v8 VP or mercruiser. So cheap to maintain and service compared to anything else.
But all this is generalising and not specific. Tell us the actual boats and engine details of each and I’d think there would be a better understanding perhaps.

 

[Bouba]

A good mid size outboard...say a Honda 150hp of recent vintage and loved should be able to cross the Atlantic...they are ridiculously reliable...and, in boat terms, economical (when servicing and purchase price is taken into account). Their power delivery is so smooth...and when you get a rope caught around the prop you will be very glad you have an outboard ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We take petrol to our outboard driven boat in cans. I don’t think I’ve filled up at a marina more than twice in the 6 years we’ve owned her. If a RIB is a her that is. It’s about 25% cheaper at Asda than any marina.