C-dory 16' range

D

DoryLvr

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Feb 5, 2009
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C Dory Year
2003
C Dory Model
16 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Litl' Tug
With everyone talking about the great mileage these boats get, I wonder if anyone can share what the range of one of these boats is? I have 4 stroke 50 HP with 13 gal tank on my 16'. The one trip I really wanted to take I was discouraged to chart out yesterday and find that it is about 30 miles one way. Keeping with the rule of thirds, that would mean I would have to get at least 8 miles to the gal which I think is probably not going to happen. At the very least, I will need to carry about 10 gal extra with me. Thoughts?
 
Hello,
I have a C-Dory 16 Cruiser with a 40 HP Suzuki, a 4 HP Yamaha Kicker hanging off the stern, and the bottom is painted, because it sits in brackish water during the season. In the ocean, I get no more than 6 mpg, and use 5 mpg as a safe estimate. Also, like you I follow the 1/3 rule. I know others say they get up to 8 mpg, and I believe them. It's just that with 290 pounds of engines on the stern, bottom paint (creating more drag), and using it in a constant chop (Long Island Sound) -- these are contributing factors toward slowing down the boat.

Rich
 
We have a 91 CD16 Angler, with the original old Johnson two-stokes - a 40 and an 8, which both run great BTW. It came with a 6 gallon gas tank (!), I think the prior owner only took it out on a lake. The first thing we did was install two 12 gallon tanks. The Johnson 40 seems to turn in right around 5 mpg most of the time. I'm sure the new four-strokes will do a lot better, but not even a consideration while the heart of the old Johnson 40 still beats...So, if I wanted to have 1/3 in reserve, I would never plan to go more than about 80 miles (16 x 5). But I also have a separate 3 gallon tank for the kicker, and I certainly would not hesitate to go 100 miles. If I had a trip where the fuel was at, say, 150 mile intervals (like, maybe, Shearwater to Hartley Bay on the Inside Passage) I would definitely carry extra fuel (don't worry, Patty, not actually planning to go back to Alaska in the 16!). In fact, this boat cries out for saddle tanks under the gunwales. The capacity would be greater and the weight distribution would be improved.
 
Mr. Anderson,
I agree with you about the saddle bags. On an extended trip, I carry three, 6-gallon tanks at the stern, and two, 3-gallon tanks under the driver and passenger seats -- that's 24 gallons. Also, I pay close attention to not exceed the 6 gallon capacity. If one overfills a tank, the gas could expand and create a dangerous spillage.

Thanks!

Rich
 
C-Nile":254v89q0 said:
Mr. Anderson,

Rich
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Mr. Anderson :?: Have heard Pat called lots of things here, but that's a first. Gonna put that in the record books!! :lol: :lol:

Maybe he knows you're a lawyer?? :roll:

Charlie
 
O.K., Charlie. I deserve to be ribbed. I have a penchant for the obvious, and tend to be too formal at times. Now you see why my boat is named C-Nile! Thanks!

Rich
 
Our 16 has a Honda 50 and (3) 7 gallon tanks. I would consider our boat to be pushing the limit on weight (see my album) and we can get 35 miles off each tank. Very reliable numbers running 18 mph cruising speed mostly. Don't know what my prop size is, it's not the original.
 
DoryLvr, my 16' Angler with 50 Honda routinely gets between 7.5 and 8.5 MPG. Independent surveys have substantiated 51 miles per 6.6 gallon tank. For curiosity sake, I cruised till the tank went dry. But that's usually done in favorable conditions, not through the locks or Deception Pass.

I carry two 6.6 gallon tanks, which almost always suffice. Anita Marie Fred, bless his heart, kindly gave me a 3 gallon auxiliary tank some time ago, which offers a measure of emancipation. However, evaluations also reveal a correlation between music and MPG. Oddly, Nat King Cole and Bach encourage almost 9 MPG while the B-52's and AC/DC promote more absorbtion. Something about your own private Idaho and jailbreak, I suspect.
 
We have a Suzuki 50hp main & a 6hp kicker. For fuel we carry a 12 gal fixed tank and a 3 gallon portable tank for the kicker.

With "perfect" tide & currents, +5mpg @ 10-18 knots (3500-4200rpm) is obtainable. 4mpg at speed with full load, winds & light chop is the norm.

Gas milage does improve as we burn off fuel. With a fixed 12 gallon tank, our "safe" range under the 1/3 rule is about 20-25nm out. One way, I wouldn't push more than 50nm without extra fuel.

There's also a "fatigue" factor for us at higher RPMs for any length of time. I try to keep single legs of a trip to 4 hrs underway & a maximum of 8 hours per day. Of course, we enjoy staying out all day watching whales at trolling speeds. Don't get anywhere fast, but it is much less noisy and much more comfortable.
 
My 16 with a honda 50 gets around 7 - 7.5. I carry a 12 gallon normally and when I plan on doing a lot of running I also carry a 6. Now that I have moved the battery forward I have room for 2 12's but don't know if I will ever carry that much. If I was to make a run for alaska (I am dumb enough to try it) I would take the 2 12's and probably another 6. The one 12 is good for about 85 miles, a normal weekend puttering around.
 
Carrying an extra 10 gallons of gas for a 60 mile round trip seems excessive based on my experience. But I'm assuming you have twin tanks like our 16 Cruiser.

My daughter and I make a 35+ mile trip for dinner several times during the summer and come back the same distance. This is a coastal run down Lake Erie. With the pair of 6.6 gallons tanks on board we have plenty of fuel for the trip.

I run over on one tank and change to the second for the return trip just to avoid the possilbiity of having to change them in the dark on Lake Erie. But we get home with plenty of fuel in each tank.

-- Chuck
 
Today I picked up on what my issue was, clogged, thrashed carbs not worth rebuilding. I am re-powering this week with an EFI for about the same cost as replacing, should solve my mileage issue with a properly functioning engine.
 
When we talk about mileage is it Knots or statute miles it makes a difference

I would hope the 16 would get 8-9 mpg all around (statute miles)

WE have had the 22 cruiser with 90 suzuki and I got about 4-5 mpg (statute) now we have the cc-23 with a f-115 and we also get about the same depends on use and how much fuel gear etc We have not yet camped out on this boat mostly day trips for now .So she is not fully loaded Our Navman says we use about 5gallons per hour at 4500 rpm going about 23 mph (GPS)So we spend about half the time at 4000-4500 rpm the other half at about 1500-2000rpm using 1/2 gallon or so doing 6-7 mph
 
Hi Pat --- good idea about the saddle tanks, do you know of anyone making customs tanks on the west coast? Rich in Riverside
 
I don't - but if I hear of anybody who is making custom tanks, I will sure pass it on.

fiddlersgreen6":16n0mt7z said:
Hi Pat --- good idea about the saddle tanks, do you know of anyone making customs tanks on the west coast? Rich in Riverside
Click to expand...
 
Where do you install the Navman fuel use gage on a 16 Cruiser?

I bought one a couple years ago, but it's still in the box as I can't decide where to mount it. Would be nice to have working rather than on a shelf in my garage!

-- Chuck
 
Tivo
You may not remember the exchange of emails we had back in March about my planned DelMarVa Loop trip, but I am planning to head out on October 9th or 10th.

Would lik to reopen our email exchange about the trip.

Please contact me at: evorgslapg@hughes.net

Gary Palsgrove
C-SONG
 
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