Realistic fuel requirement

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Tamer11

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Good evening.

I have an inop fuel gauge.

I need to make a trip from Ridge Wharf in Wareham to Noss on the River Dart. I have x2 Volvo Penta Diesel 200 HP engines, cruising speed is about 20 knots and I reckon I will burn about 30 litres an hour. Fuel capacity is 500 litres.

How much fuel do you think I should load so I do not get embarrassed?

I guess I should leave Ridge on an Ebb tide and get onto the River Dart on the flood, save me a few pennies. Any other money saving tips?

Thank's in advance
 
No, no question is stupid. I can't afford to. So I am planning with minimum fuel. I will only go in ideal conditions.
 
I'm not loaded by any means, but I never leave port without full tanks. There are too many reasons why I might need or use more fuel than anticipated.

Assuming your boat is on legs, which I think I can gather from the little info you have posted, I would calculate on 1.5nm per gallon at 20 knots and then add at least 20% onto the final figure. I would not leave with less than that amount of fuel onboard.

Edit: After a quick and very rough calculation, I make that about 300 litres.
 
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I would imagine an economical trip wold be mostly about flat water, minimum headwinds and the right cruising speed.
Unfortunately, heading to Dartmouth, there is little in the way of fuel stops late in the journey. Brixham basically.
So, look for a forecast with some following wind with some North in it to gve you flat water?

Also is the hull clean? I have seen a few people come unstuck due to a dirty hull using lots of fuel this time of year.
 
Leave with full fuel tanks. A 20 knots or so you will use 300 litres easily but you need a reserve.

If you go at 5 or 6 knots it will use half the fuel
 
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