Extra Gas?

M

MOOSE

Member
We're planning a NW Lake Superior cruise from Thunder Bay to Rossport, Ontario, and back this summer. Paced out on the charts, it's about 100 miles one way. We have twin Honda 40s and two twenty gallon tanks on a 22' cruiser. And we can refuel at Rossport for the return trip. On home waters, I wouldn't think of carrying extra gas for a 100 mile trip; we do it all the time. And somewhere I saw a table for twin Honda 40s that quoted in excess of 5 miles per gallon at normal cruising speeds, which equates to a safety factor of two. But this is Lake Superior. So having said all of that, who among you would 1) not take extra gas, not worry about it, and enjoy the extra room in the cockpit, 2) take extra gas, and then curse yourself for not needing it, or 3) not take extra gas, but hope for following seas?
TX,
Al on the MOOSE
 
I plotted it at 90 statute miles each way staying near the north shore, but I've only got Chart 14500 handy (it's on the wall). Factory fuel data shows 5.3 mpg at cruise speeds.

I've always wondered, how many useful gallons are in those two 20 gallon tanks?

Is the Rossport Harbour Marina in business?

If not there's fuel, but you'll have to lug it in cans :(

-- Chuck
 
Hi,

The Coast Guard recommends the Rule of Thirds. Use one third of your fuel going out, use one third returning, and have one third in reserve for weather or other emergencies. For a one way trip, of course, use two thirds, and have one third in reserve. :D
 
I would probably take the extra gas the first time... Maybe the second too. Then I would adjust accordingly as per the rule of thirds. Having extra cans in the cockpit may be inconvienient, but not having them may be dangerous.
 
Chuck,

Les posted this on another message, hopefully it will help!

"If you switch to the new 20-gallon CD22 tanks you're going to get more than you think as compared to your older 18-gallon tanks. I'm assuming you have the grey rectangular Moeller tanks...they were, of course, mounted directly to the deck and therefor follow its slope and their fuel pick ups are mounted on the outboard end. The result of this is that the usable fuel is quite a bit less than the 36-gallons total in the tanks.

On new 20-gallons tanks the bottoms are sloped to follow the hull contour (the top is level) but the pick up's are at the inboard ends where the fuel runs 'to' them rather than 'away' as in the old Moeller tanks.

The following is not set in stone and YMMV!!! When I fill a new set of "20-gallon" tanks I usually get about 22-gallons in each. I believe that the usable fuel is close to the 20-gallon mark. If this is the case then the difference in usable fuel from the old tanks to the new is pretty substantial (in the range of 8 to 10 gallons). Can some one chime in here (with a newer boat) and say how many gallons it's taking to fill an emptied tank?"

Chivita Dave
 
I haven't been to Rossport for a few years (we used to drive up there every fall), but the last time I was there, the marina and government dock was very much in use and a nice facility. So there'd be no problem refueling there. The MOOSE is a 2001 cruiser with the 20 gallon, see-through tanks. I'll try to take a closer look at them to see how the intake hoses are located. And perhaps I could pay a bit more attention to our fuel usage vs. miles travelled at home on Rainy Lake before we venture out on the big water.
 
Rossport Marina website shows an opening day of 7 May and lists their phone number. A quick phone call them will confirm they're open and pumping fuel.

Should be a no-sweat trip -- especially in sub-40°F water!

-- Chuck
 
Hi Al, I agree with the rule of 3rds. I carry an extra 6 gallons around all summer that ends up in my snow blower and lawn mower at the end of the season. On the Mississippi I can't be floating dead in the channel waiting for a barge to run me down. If you want a copy of the flow and speed chart just go to the factory site and click on C-Dory 22 and then performance. I printed out that chart and carry it on the boat. I sure envy you your trip. We'll have to get on that big lake together some time and you can show me around. Later, Gary on Minnie Swann
 
Thanks for the input, guys. If I could summarize your thoughts, they would be 1) in theory, I would have enough without hauling extra, but 2) go ahead and haul extra anyway. This jibes pretty well with my own belt-and-suspenders mentality.
Al
 
Extra gas ---- that's like cars to fast to much money and girls to pretty.

You never have extra gas when the water kicks up and your fuel consumption shoots way up too. Take all you can and hope you have enough.

Jim
 
With our twin Honda 40's, and twin 20-gallon tanks, we reckon 170 nautical miles as a conservative figure in our computer projections after each fill-up, and that's with some leeway built in to the calculation. A run of 90 nm should leave you with a good third (or more) as a reserve, if you can refill in Rossport. If in doubt, carry the spare fuel -- properly stored, the spare fuel should be no problem. Enjoy the trip and let us know how you enjoy it -- that's a cruise we'd like to take. El and Bill
 
My point was just refuel at Rossport!

It's only 100 miles each way and you have 200 miles of fuel aboard at economy cruise speeds.

-- Chuck
 
Hi Everyone:
I've been looking for a collapsible 5 or 6 gallon fuel tank and was wondering if any of you know of such a product. Our trip to the
Tortugas always pushes the "third rule" a little too much so we carry extra gas but the tanks take up too much room.
 
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