25 cruiser range/speed

Wild Hair · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:55 pm Post subject: 25 cruiser range/speed

i need a feel for the range/speed of the 25 cruiser.

for example ... how many hours (assuming decent weather ... not perfect ..) to cross between apalachicols to st. pete in s.w fl....

i am trying to maintain some semblance of rationality... but i do have specific desires for the "perfect" boat....

this is all in relation to the upcoming cruise.....

oh, by the way... i am in margaritaville already...lol

randy

Papillon · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 12:39 am Post subject:

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 1:45 am Post subject:

This is one of those "your mileage is REALLY gonna vary" topics... motor choice, sea state, wind, how much throttle, how you trim, loading, etc. We rarely travel light; I plan for 2 mpg, but the worst I've ever gotten has been 2.2 mpg. The best has been while traveling slowly on the ICW, at 3.5 mpg. We find the boat to be comfortable to the mid-20s, and a bit busy feeling after that. I normally cruise in the 15-20 nmph range... but when I figure averages, we seem to come out at around 10 knots for an average speed (figuring miles traveled vs engine hours).

Simple answer: travel light and slow and you will burn less fuel.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

thataway · Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 10:29 pm Post subject:

I am wondering why you want to cross directly from St. Pete to Apalachicola, when there are a number of other alternatives? The risk for the CD 25 is that you can get some rough weather--any time of the year. This is open gulf, and even though the forcast is good, you can get cells which can raise quite a chop. The boat can take it, but you may have to slow down to displacement speeds or very low planing speeds, and make an overnighter, or even worse, arrive after dark!

The "official" distance from St. Pete to Apalachicola is 202 nautical miles. It may be a little less, since this is based on sea lane distance. From Tarpon Springs to Carabelle is: 157, or 164 to Apalachicola. Or you can go up into the "Big Bend" and enjoy some of real "old Florida".

Will the boat do 202 miles? Yes. Time @ 20 knots is 10 hours. But lets say you have to slow to 10 knots for half the time: then you are into 15 hours--and are arriving after dark--which you do not want to do at Apalachicola Government Cut. If I was going to do this, which I would not--I would carry at least 20 gallons of gas extra, in case of bad weather.

Better to go from Tarpon Springs. If it gets bad there are a number of places you can duck into: Crystal Springs, Ceder Key, Suwanne River, Steinhatchee, maybe Keaton Beach, St. Marks etc.

For a sailboat or trawler it may make more sense to take the jump across from St. Pete, since you will probably do an overnighter--and thus leave early morning, plan on arriving mid day, going 7 to 8 knots.

We usually go from Tarpon Springs to Ceder Key, and Ceder Key to Carabelle if we are in a "hurry". (No easy fuel in Ceder key however)

Have a good trip.

Les Lampman · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:40 pm Post subject:

Since I've never seen a fully loaded CD25 that would do much over 2 nautical miles per gallon with 100 gallons aboard I'd certainly be disinclined to make a 202 nautical mile jump. Shocked

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:44 pm Post subject:

Well, I suppose we could do the last two nautical miles on our BF15 kicker - going r...e...a...l s...l...o...w!