Sea Skipper
Joined: 22 Jan 2005
Posts: 36
City/Region: Bend, Oregon
State or Province: OR
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Skipper
Photos: Sea Skipper
Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 12:38 am Post subject:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can see a picture of this prop here:
http://www.c-brats.com/albums/Sea-Skipp ... oard_1.jpg
I have logged 3,033 kn on this prop.
A few comments on performance and fuel consumption:
Last May through August, I kept very accurate records noting actual fuel purchased versus Navman readings & GPS based log. No attempt was made to adjust for current or wind thus smooth lake conditions would be somewhat better. These figures are very accurate for my boat and the way I cruise.
For This period:
Log 1,312.4 Kn
Fuel consumption 546.4 US Gallons
Navman indicated 588.5 or 8% safety factor
Mileage (nautical miles per gallon) 2.40
Mileage (land miles) 2.76
I have tried 6 different props and noticed quite a difference in boat performance and WOT RPM, but not much difference in fuel consumption per mile. I recommended the above prop to Fred of Anita Marie and I believe he bought one, but haven't heard how he likes it.
Best one day run (bragging): 8 Am: Drove into Bellingham, Washington & launched boat @ Squalicum Harbor. Left harbor @ 10 am and tied up at the public dock at Gorge Harbor, Cortes Island, BC just befor 6 pm a distance of 142.1 kn covering the entire length of Straits of Georgia plus - not bad for a slow C-Dory. My original plan was to travel up the east side of the straits perhaps staying overnight at Gibsons, but the conditions were too rough in the south end of the straits for comfort, so I ducked in through Boat Passage (north of Saturna) and checked into Canadian Customs (Canpass) at Horton Bay, Maine Island and then proceed through the Gulf Islands to Nanaimo were conditions had improved quite a bit - so I kept on trucking north between Lasqueti & Texada Islands. Fuel consumption for this leg was 2.35 kn/gal.
Cruising speed: Favorite range and most economical is 19~20 knots (smooth water) but normally 13~16kn (light chop) & 11kn (heavy chop), and as required in rough conditions. Speeds are approximate and vary considerably with wind & wave direction. Boat is equipped with large trim tabs and a Permatrim hydrofoil. The transition from displacement speeds to planing is almost imperceptible. You can happily run the boat at any speed
A note on fuel tank capacity: Maximum fill up under ideal conditions = 97.1 gallons (drained tank last winter with pump attached to fuel pickup hose and tilted boat as required for complete drain. Filled up this spring and again tilted boat as required for max fill to the point where fuel overflows on a hot day from expansion.
_________________
Hank Brooks