Need fuel question help PLEASE!!!

I studied boating for about a year before joining the Forum. Received some very good advice from it, there are a lot of very experienced people on here willing to take their time to help others. I have found their advice invaluable.

Before I bought a boat, I did some trips with others, I joined the RYA who publish lots of very useful books and publications - not sure of the equivalent in the US but if not try the RYA Website.

I then did my VHF Radio Course, then my RYA Day Skipper Practical and Theory courses (which I had already studied the books for thoroughly) which I thought was really great fun. I then bought my first 34' MoBo.

After a short while I went on to do my Coastal/Yachtmaster Theory and also my CEVNI. I then did RYA First Aid and Sea Survival Courses. All very useful. I then sold the old boat and bought a 43'.

I have around 2,500 hours but compared to many on here that's nothing - I learn something new often and share what I can.

So that's how it worked for me! I have enjoyed every minute of it and hope I can do it for a lot longer, planning my next trip now from Spain to Mallorca!

Others will have taken different routes for sure, it's great fun and will keep you busy and if your bank account is putting on weight, it will keep that lean too for sure.....
 
I always thought that once above 50ft one should expect to MAINLY travel at displacement speed. OK, cannot be bothere to calculate that now, but for a 80footer should be reasonably rapid at over 10knots, no?
Else it's a terrible waste of resources (imho)

good luck with the inverstigations but do consider displacement speeds and their relative LOW fuel consumptions ;)

cheers

V.
 
Galaxy said:
Thanks Dreamer,
That's the kind of info I was looking for. So I guess at that rate it would be about 7 gallons per mile and if I was taking a 1000 mile trip I would be looking at $28000 in fuel one way. That's pretty ugly.
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Hiya Galaxy, welcome.

Having some idea of the cost of fuel is good and I am glad that one forum member realised that there is a difference between UK and US gallons. :p

You obviously have an idea about the remaining time your children need at high school as you stated you would not home-school them, therefore I assume you have an area in which you are thinking of 'parking' your 'ship'? :rolleyes:

Can I suggest/recommend that you pop down to the nearest marina in your area of interest, probably on the ICW, and ask how much it will cost annually for berthing fees and, whilst there, make general inquiries about lifting her out for a scrub and anti-foul.

Another thought, where would you hide her during the hurricane season. You might need to move her with only a weeks notice and you would need somewhere safe to tuck her up whilst the weather passes through.

Hiding an 85 foot ship would not be easy.

The YBW forums can be a little fierce and blunt on occasion but you will in the end get good advice even though it is mainly centered on the UK, unless cruising. :p

My personal thoughts:

I think 85 foot is too large but you are in the correct area for a crew that size. The cost of running the engine and the cost of berthing will be prohibitive, FRIGHTENINGLY SO! :eek:

My yacht is 50 foot and weighs 25 tons. I sail her solo and I know that this size you would not have enough room for you and your crew.
 
I thought it best to quote consumption in litres (albeit to a nm) that way both US and UK can convert! Don't mention km or we will all be in trouble!

US Gallon - 3.7854 Litres
UK Gallon - 4.5461 Litres
 
Thanks for the reply David,

I actually have looked into slips and the location that I was interested in would average to $2500 per month plus electric. That is very doable for us, it's mainly the fuel cost that concerns me more than anything.
I would like to get a smaller boat, but with 8 people I'm really not sure that we would fit comfortably without killing eachother.
I guess a sailboat would relieve most of the fuel problem, and I suppose if I have to go that route as opposed to not being able to do it at all, then I will. I guess I would have to figure out how many bodies it would take to operate the sails and how long it would take me to learn how to sail something that big. I suppose once most of my kids are off to college then I can always downsize to a motorboat.
Thanks for your perspective on the 50 footer being to small, I agree that it probably would be also.
 
John100156 said:
I thought it best to quote consumption in litres (albeit to a nm) that way both US and UK can convert! Don't mention km or we will all be in trouble!

US Gallon - 3.7854 Litres
UK Gallon - 4.5461 Litres
Click to expand...

I have to admit now I really feel like a bit of dummy. I didn't realize that a gallon was not the same UK and US.


...but...your km comment made me chuckle.

This fuel stuff really gives me a headache. :confused:
 
John100156 said:
I thought it best to quote consumption in litres (albeit to a nm) that way both US and UK can convert! Don't mention km or we will all be in trouble!

US Gallon - 3.7854 Litres
UK Gallon - 4.5461 Litres
Click to expand...

I wasn't picking on anyone in particular John but a few didn't realise not only was Galaxy a mom (sic) but that he hailed from the USA and if dealing with a forum member from the USA, it is nice to actually convert whatever into language they can understand without any misunderstanding, in this case with Galaxy from the USA you need to say specifically that it will use xx US Gallons per hour.

I always say 'sailboat', 'vacation' and 'high school' and use the USA way of spelling as well ie: 'mom', 'color', 'meters' etc.
 
I doubt if you will find an 85 FT boat that will do 20 knots, if you do, the fuel consumption will be awsome.

To give a simple idea, my 35Ft boat did 1 MPG at 20 knots. So your looking at around 3 or 4 gallons per mile. (thats English gallons.)

But it dont end there. Less you have many millions in the bank, do not even attempt it.
 
another thought - I was reading a US boating mag a while back and it seems that many US marinas now don´t like liveaboards - may be something to check with your preferred spot.
 
Nick_H said:
He hasn't gone out and bought a boat on a whim, or set off on a madcap voyage putting anyone at risk, he's just asked for advice on a forum. Seems a reasonable first step to me?
Click to expand...

If true, Nick yes. I dont think it is unreasonable for some tho think this is a wind up.
Where is Happy ;)
 
Galaxy said:
Thanks, that is the kind of useful information that I'm looking for.

Yes, I do believe that I am doing the right thing. Most people in their lifetime will never get the opportunity to show see the world as they choose. This will be the greatest adventure.
Click to expand...

Good for you, do it! There are some negative comments r.e. this but could be a touch of jealousy! Your only here once. Good luck :)
 
Galaxy
Sounds fun and good luck with it.

As said above the biggest variable in fuel consumption is speed. I run (or did until I sold it and handed it over to new owners a month ago) and 80 footer weighing 60tons. At slow displacement speed 9 knots it will do 0.9 gallons per mile. If you slow down to 6 knots it will do 0.7 gallons per mile. If you run at planing speed say 20knots it will burn 3 gallons per mile and add some rough weahter and dirt/weed on the bottom and heavy loading you get to 4 gallons per mile. If you got a boat with smaller engines that runs at slow speed only, and a slow speed hull, you can improve on my slow speed figures, maybe 30%. But think carefully about whether you can live with slow speed all the time, with no choice

These figs are UK gallons and nautical miles but boat consumption data is probably only good to +/-20% if you apply it to another boat so don't analyse the numbers too hard

My boat has (had) modern Cat C32 engines, electronically controlled so was as good as it gets AOTBE, and it had computerised fuel data so I'm not guessing the data (it was a 2011 model year boat)

You could manage your fuel costs by slowing down but it can be incredibly boring and so I did 75% of my cruising miles at 20knots. To give you some context, last season, my only full season with that boat, I cruised the med on weeknds (I work during the week in London) plus a couple of 1-2 week vacations and I put 70,000 litres of fuel through the boat

Some other things to think about...
1. Engine service €5000/year
2. Annual haul out €10,000 in the Med
3. Insurance £11,000
4. Other overheads but not crew salaries, crew car, berthing/slip costs and my flights €5000
Sorry to mix currencies

You will struggle to get the accomodation you seek in 85 feet. A big hatteras or similar might do it I suppose. you need to consider seasickness - by the laws of chance someone in your party will be susceptible. In lousy weather boating is nothing like it appears in the brochures and can frighten some people. Try before you buy if possible. A nice upgrade would be a stabilised boat but the hardware is $100k-150k new and so will affect the price of a used boat too

As BJB said, read BartW's threads on buying and refitting his 70foot Canados. He has got a proper high quality mini superyacht for a keen price and fuel consumption that is not significantly different from a new boat (though still high!)

With the size of your party 80 feet is right, to stop you killing each other. I cruised with 8 adults and one or two crew in 5/6 cabins and it was fine, but you wouldn't want to go smaller. A 60er is a lot smaller than 3/4 of an 80er

That said an 80er is tricky to drive in tight slips so you will need training and a mind that works with cntrolling machinery!

Good luck
 
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Me again

stuartwineberg said:
I usually let these threads go over my head so perhaps I am in a grumpy mood brought on by crashed work computers but do we think that someone with the budget for an 85 footer, no sailing experience and thinking of going short handed with his family is real. If so its a heck of a jump into the world of water.

If I have misrepresented the OP I apologise but it seems weird
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I think I was the first sceptic to reply to the OP. I now side with the posts that say that fuel costs are the least of the problem. I have been sailing and motor boating for well over twenty years now - which isnt long compared to some of the people here and safety is the first concern - of myself, other boat users and the poor crew on the lifeboat who might have to come and get me. Your ambitious plan is super and by all means go for it but put in the hard miles first - learn to sail, handle a boat, handle ropes, the rules of the road, preventative maintenance and all the rest of the complexities of a hobby (or life) based around a powerful and sometimes unforgiving environment. You mention crew a few times so perhaps your plan is more to be a boat owner with crew handling the heavy lifting - that is fine as well, but if you are the skipper the lives of everyone on board are morally and legally in your hands
 
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