22 cruiser with honda 90hp fuel consumption / budget

S

sebastien

New member
My wife and I are planning to purchase a 22 cruiser in the next year or so to do
the great loop and I've been gathering information
on fuel consumption to plan for a fuel budget.
these are some things I've found on this site and others.
does this all make sense? in broad strokes?

6m/g @ 7mph (hull speed) so about 1g/hr
5m/g @ 17 mph
4.5m/g @ 14mph
3.5m/g @ 14-15mph

I know that there are a lot of factors to consider when calculating fuel consumption but if any one has a breakdown of the amount of fuel they used for say a 5000 mile journey or even a shorter journey of "average cruising" that would really help me figure in the cost of fuel for a year-long trip.

PS. I'm more in the camp of cruising at hull speed and smelling the roses rather than on planing cruising speed but I accept that there will be both when the speed demon takes over or there is a good reason to go fast..
-broad strokes-
 
I plan 3 mpg when traveling on my 22 cruiser. Normally we cruise at about 18-20 mph if the water allows it. At that speed the actual MPG is about 3.3.

We generally travel faster so we can enjoy the destination longer or to cover more distance between stops.
 
ssobol":1adw6kn7 said:
I plan 3 mpg when traveling on my 22 cruiser. Normally we cruise at about 18-20 mph if the water allows it. At that speed the actual MPG is about 3.3.

We generally travel faster so we can enjoy the destination longer or to cover more distance between stops.
Click to expand...

Same here. I'd like to get 5 mpg at 17 mph, but I've never had that happen.

I'd also add that I used to obsess about gas milage but I've found that it's a minor part of my annual boating expense. This probably wouldn't be true if I owned a Whaler with twin 225's instead, but I find it true for my C-Dory.
 
Thank you for your replies.
I've been filling my head with numbers reading other's accounts.
I like the idea of planning conservatively so 3mpg at 18mph seems good to plan.
and when cruising at hull speed at about 6mpg is icing on the cake..
it seems that maybe expecting to spend about $1.00 per mile travelled might be a good safe broad stroke to be on the safe side (?)
 
I use 12 GPH for cruise on a "standard" day with an allowance of 10 GPH for startup and taxi. Climb out is 18 GPH, again on a standard day. If the DA is...erp....Oh, wait... sorry. wrong group :) :D :D :D :D
 
Huge factor is how clean hull bottom is. With relatively clean bottom and just myself in boat:

4.1 gph @ 15 ktph
4.5 gph @ 17 ktph
5.5 gph @ 20 ktph

'88 CD22 Cruiser
2013 90 hp Honda EFI
 
Remember that the load in the C Dory, bottom condition, if a Permatrim is present, currents etc make a real difference in "mileage". You will never get what the Boat Test.com or the factory publishes--these are very light boats.

Jonathan Arthur ("irlboater") will give you some of the very best information. Jonathan has done the loop 3x in his 22 "Salty". However he runs a very spartan boat. First time I saw him on the loop, it looked like he was out for a day run!

For example Here is a post on one his his trips and fuel usage. Take the time to search his profile, and other posts. AND visit "Honest John's Fish Camp"!!

I would strongly suggest that you take plenty of time to explore the cities along the way--going slow across large bodies of water, or in high bank canals, often is counterproductive. By far the vast numbers of "loopers" go way too fast--they end up running from one marina to another, and having cocktails with the boats they are traveling with. These people can be interesting--but the real story is the small towns--many shrinking--that you pass thru and their history.

As others noted, fuel is a relatively small cost of travel. You have to change engine oil, lower unit oil. Be sure you carry an extra prop. You will also get slightly better mileage with an injected 90 than with a carburetor engines.
 
Thanks for all the advice and links - I am starting to get a better idea about managing a fuel budget with differing cruising styles.

I completely agree about not "doing" the trip but exploring and meeting people and stoping and smelling the roses along the way. To me that is the lure of the great loop or any other coastal trip on a boat for that matter.
(I grew up on a sailboat around the Atlantic ocean: We started in France and traveled through Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean, up the ICW to Canada and back again (a few times) and my parents settled in Florida and that is how we traveled)

I have a lot more research to do about many things C-dory and C-brats seems to be a really comprehensive place to do so. Thank you for all the feedback.
I really like the complete breakdown of Daydream's and Salty's great loop. If anyone has any more of these types of breakdowns I would love to see them.
 
Back
Top