Raggies and Diesel

[Seastoke]

we are half way around west coast holiday ,full of raggies most always asking about fuel ,then when out yesterday and last week i noticed at least 50% were not using their sail yet here them talk they only fill up once a season ,i dont believe them ,

 

[Lon nan Gruagach]

we are half way around west coast holiday ,full of raggies most always asking about fuel ,then when out yesterday and last week i noticed at least 50% were not using their sail yet here them talk they only fill up once a season ,i dont believe them ,

see how long it takes you to empty your tank at 7 knots....

 

[BruceK]

On the other hand Roy they've come to you seeking advice. A raggie asking a mobo'er for advice is a rare and priceless honour. I'd wallow and bask in the honour for as long as it lasts

 

[Angele]

There are probably two classes of raggies for whom the statement that they only fill up once a year is always true: those who only use their boat fewer than (say) 20 days a year; and those who are content to sail even when boat speed is 3 knots or less, because they have learned to ignore time.

For the rest of us, it very much depends on what the wind is doing on days when we want to make longer passages. And, in this regard, the Summer of 2018 here in the UK has been pretty abnormal. It is rare to have such long periods of wind speeds of F1-3.

For me, F1 or F2 and the engine is on. F3 is fine to sail, unless the wind is behind you. And, the times when I end up consuming most of my year's fuel bill, is crossing the Channel. If I can't achieve a speed of (say) 5 kts, then I am likely to arrive in France too late for dinner and that cannot possibly be allowed to happen.

 

[[2068]]

In a motorboat, it's possible to arrive in time for breakfast

 

[Angele]

In a motorboat, it's possible to arrive in time for breakfast

..... Except you can't afford to because you have to pay the diesel bill when you get home.

 

[burgundyben]

I reckon I've spent less on fuel than I would have done on rope, sails, winches, rigging etc in the last 20 years over the same number of miles and I was there in time for breakfast.

 

[Angele]

I reckon I've spent less on fuel than I would have done on rope, sails, winches, rigging etc in the last 20 years over the same number of miles and I was there in time for breakfast.

Ahh! but that isn't the point. If you view them as sunk, fixed costs, then the marginal cost of sailing is negligible. So it encourages even more usage....

Actually, in 13 years of ownership, I have only had to replace 2 ropes and that was because of unintended abuse (rope getting caught around something which I hadn't seen before applying power via a winch) and the cost of maintaining winches is tiny, since the wearing parts don't wear much at all. Rigging costs limited to one new furler and one new forestay plus a biennial rigging inspection by experts.

I take the point about new sails though.... :nonchalance:

 

[ari]

see how long it takes you to empty your tank at 7 knots....

Are we talking about a motorboat sized tank or a raggie sized tank..?

 

[Nigelpickin]

Well for me, I’m gettting 3.5lph at 6kts using one engine - so I can see how a reasonable size tank could last a season....for us it would be plenty for a trip from Falmouth to say La Rochelle and back with loads to spare for the generator.

It’s far less expensive to run a 45’ sailing catamaran than a 50’ motor boat, based on my experience thus far - even if we have to spend a £1k per year on sails and rope, it just doesn’t come close the cost that we had running our previous boat - and then there the engine servicing - I’m not one to do my own, not yet. The cost of 2 yanmars to service is about 25% of the cost of my volvos or Cummins (albeit PODs).
But back to the OP, probably not lying - I’m still on less than one full refill and we’ve done a lot of motoring and covered 2600nm since December.

Breakfast? Slow down and enjoy eating it on the boat...it’s not a race

 

[Sticky Fingers]

My 12 ton 42' yacht uses about 4 litres / hour at about 6 kts. 200 L tank = 50 hours, ~ 300 miles with no reserve. I'm doing about 50 hours per year so far, one tank worth. As it is I refuel at about the 100L mark.

 

[mcanderson]

That will change with your pending upgrade.

 

[rib]

Not many motor boats go far ,how many yachts go uk to med compared to motor boats or even go far if they start in the med, eh

 

[Sticky Fingers]

That will change with your pending upgrade.

Ha!

 

[rib]

Thats interesting,ive taken a bav 47 around the uk the long way and at 5/5.5 kts she used just shy of 2 lt 2.5 lt per hour,volvo 80hp turbo and supercharged,thats allowing for heater usage as well which was not much

 

[rotrax]

Just back from a 1000 NM cruise in our motorsailer. Took on 436 litres of fuel last Thursday, engine hours 133 since last fill up.

3.27 Litres per hour, passage speed 6.18 kts average.

110 HP Yanmar turbodiesel, 8KW Westerbeke genset used 2 hours per day when not on shorepower-most of the time. Webasto saw some use late last year and early this year.

If passage speed drops below 4 kts we motorsail. Main is normally used as it is a brilliant roll damper. With the sails assisting in light winds they add almost 2 kts to boat speed. In 15 kts true on the beam she will sail well with no motor assistance.

Had very little of those suitable winds so far this season...............................

886 Litre tank, so the way we use her, 2000 mile range.

She will do for us!