Rough water fuel economy? kicker or main

T

toothy

New member
Hello All

I am looking for some of your collective wisdom.

If you were out and the weather deteriorated, a lot. You had to slog back at low speed (4-5 knots, short chop, head sea) to keep from abusing the boat yourself and the boss, would you

(A) use the kicker at moderate rpm.

(B) use the main at low rpm.

(C) Go flat out and deal with the broken parts and the divorce papers later. :shock:

OK! OK! (C) was a joke! :roll:

Does anyone have any fuel consumption statistics for the main versus kicker scenario in a rough weather situation.

Thanks
Wade
 
Hi Wade

I would never even consider running on the kicker in rough conditions unless I was facing the possiblility of running out of fuel. The boat is going to be much more responsive on the main engine. In rough windy seas you may have waves coming at you from different directions requiring sudden throttle and steering changes.
 
" C " I vote c ccc c ok no...... but I do feel your pain! I would go with the main .....or hold up I have twins :roll: but still I would use both.
 
Ruff water is no place to be fuel concious for the sake of keeping cost down.
When my main motor died 8 miles outside Depoe Bay on the Northern Oregon coast I would have given anything to have it back rather than put along on the kicker. I was only able to make 3mph in the building conditions and it was no where near as comfortable as it was with the main motor.

Make sure you have plenty of fuel. Conserve by installing trim tabs and a fuel flow meter, but be safe out there. You just sacrifice too much control by using the kicker in sloppy conditions. I would definately NOT recommend running on the kicker in ruff water.
 
Thanks for your replys

I understand the control issues and would always opt for the main in those conditions.

I wasn't worried about saving any money. I would have paid a pretty penny, even by todays standards, for a can of fuel. A 40 ft diesel bayliner was running along side us, after we rounded the corner he called the CG for fuel problems, which turned out to mean he was empty adrift and exposed. Got me thinking about my ? So I asked if anybody knew the particulars.

I had some fuel quantity concerns with 50 miles to go and the prospect of the main being possibly to thirsty to make it. As it happened after 4 or 5 miles it laid down some and we could get back on plane with minimal pounding.

I was trying not to get into that as I should have been better prepared :oops: We made it with 10 gallons to spare but if conditions had deteriorated things could have been different.

Just looking to see if anyone had done a comparison of consumption.

Thanks
Wade
 
Definately go with the main. Also there are times with the semi dory hull when you can get up to 10/15 knots, but then back down to 5, work the throttle, and the wheel. You need all of the control you can get. Also the kicker is more likely to cavitate--and perhaps at the wrong instant, you could loose control and broach. The main will use a little more fuel at low power. I don't have fuel flow meters on the 22, but will on the TC 255. I find that in a 28 foot exress with 300 hp, I burn 1.2 gal an hour at idle (4 knots). At 8 knots I burn almost as much as I do on effecient plane which is 1.6 miles a gallon, or 16 gallons an hour.
 
On Sea Angel, CD25, I have found through the NAVMAN 3100 that I have the max range at hull speed of abt 7kts. Next best is just at or a little over planing spd at half the range.

With a full [107gal] tank my max range can indicate from abt 900+NMs at 7kts, depending tides and loads. This is unrealistic and disregards the 1/3rd rule of 1/3 out, 1/3 back and 1/3 for reserve.

Keep a WX eye, leave early and arive safe. By all means keep the main power engaged. If range is in question, slow to hull spd. The kicker is for trolling and emergency only, IMO.

OK, off the 'box', Art.
 
Hidey hole's worked out in advance.

Not even all that ugly just quite a bit less than perfect. Trying to learn what the best option would be if the situation had been worse. As I've said I understand the handling issues with the kicker.

Thanks for the flow meter data, wish it was for a 22, probably similar though. Do you have a kicker hooked up to the flow meter? Does anybody?

Weather broadcasts didn't reach where we were.

No white knuckles, no immanent death, just looking for fuel consumption facts for main versus kicker.
 
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