Quick and Easy Houseboat Mileage Tips for Less Fuel Consumption

April 7, 2014 sarah Uncategorized

With the price of fuel constantly escalating, the houseboating industry is hugely affected. So, any step that could be applied to reduce fuel cost operation is a great bonus to houseboaters worldwide. Check out the following tips and see what works for you.

KEEP ENGINE TUNED: With correct yearly maintenance of the choke adjustment, flame arrestor, ignition, and spark plugs, and timing will pay off in fuel efficiency, engine life, performance, and starting.

CARRY LESS WEIGHT: A heavier houseboat needs more power to push itself through the river or lake. So by taking unnecessary things off board significantly lightens the houseboat’s load, enabling, which therefore allows it to travel more miles per gallon.

PLAN YOUR TRIP CAREFULLY: Planning your cruise ahead of time and getting rid of unnecessary travels can significantly cut fuel consumption cost.

PLANNING TECHNIQUE: Use only just enough power to have the vessel climb up and over the front bow wave, and maintain just enough speed to ride ahead of the wave, just how a surfer rides in front of a wave.

FUEL FLOW METERS: Many houseboats have fuel flow gauges connected to GPS units, which quickly calculate the display the actual consumption on fuel, estimated range, MPG, and remaining fuel. Such investment will pay for themselves in the long run, from savings in fuel.

USE HULL SPEED: The formula for calculating the hull speed get the square root of the waterline, then multiplied by 1.34, equals to the efficient speed to travel. For example, 64 feet waterline, square foot is 4 multiplied by 1.34, equals 10.72 knots.

1/3 RULE FOR FUEL: This rule is about calculating 1/3 of the fuel to get your destination, 1/3 fuel for the return trip, and having 1/3 reserve fuel.

LESS WATER AND FUEL: If one gallon of diesel is at eight pounds, and water is at 10 pounds, by calculating your needs for your trip, and perhaps by having half-filled tanks, your boat could be spared from carrying 500 to 1, 000 lbs, which translates to savings on fuel cost. Be sure that you calculate your fuel consumption so you can use the 1/3 rule, elaborated above.

WARM UP TIME: Minimize your warm up time at the berth before you leave. With today’s boat engines and computerized controls, there is no reason let engines turned on for more than few minutes.

ANGLE AND TRIM TABS: When your houseboat is properly angled, the huge drag that may occur when plowing through the water will be significantly reduced. Use your trim tabs and the Trim and Tilt to get the bow up. But this depends on the water’s condition.

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