How to Save Fuel During Your Houseboat Trip

Houseboats Murray River

With the price of diesel/gas constantly escalating, houseboating is hugely affected. So, any measure that could be applied to minimize fuel cost operation is an excellent bonus to houseboaters around the world. Below are some tips and see what can work for you.

KEEP ENGINE TUNED: With proper yearly maintenance of the ignition, choke adjustment, spark plugs, and flame arrestor, and timing will pay off wit regards to fuel efficiency, engine life, performance, and starting.

CARRY LESS WEIGHT: A heavier vessel requires more power to push itself through the river or lake. So by removing unnecessary things lightens the houseboat's load, allowing it to travel more miles per gallon.

PLAN YOUR TRIP CAREFULLY: Planning your trip in advance and avoiding unnecessary travels could lessen the cost for fuel consumption.

PLANNING STRATEGY: Use only just enough power to have the vessel climb up and over the front bow wave, and maintain just enough speed to ride ahead of a wave, just how a surfer rides ahead of a wave.

FUEL FLOW METERS: Many houseboats have fuel flow gauges connected to GPS units, which quickly calculate the display the actual consumption on fuel, estimated range, MPG, and remaining fuel. Such investment will pay for themselves in the long run, from savings in fuel.

USE HULL SPEED: To calculate the speed of the hull get the square root of the waterline, then multiplied by 1.34, equals to the efficient speed to travel. For example, 16 feet waterline, square foot is 4 multiplied by 1.34, equals 5.36 knots.

1/3 RULE FOR FUEL: This rule is about calculating 1/3 of your fuel to get to where you want to go, 1/3 fuel to get back to our origin point, and having 1/3 back up fuel.

LESS FUEL AND WATER: If one gallon of gasoline is at 8 pounds, and water is at 10 pounds, by calculating your needs for your cruise, and maybe by having half filled tanks, you could save yourself from carrying 500 to 1, 000 lbs, translating to savings on fuel cost. Be sure you calculate your fuel consumption so you can use the 1/3 rule, elaborated above.

WARM UP TIME: Lessen your warm up time at the wharf before leaving. With today's engines and computerized controls, there is no reason allow engines to run for more than few minutes.

ANGLE AND TRIM TABS: When your vessel is correctly angled, the enormous drag that could happen when plowing through the river or lake will be significantly lessened. Use your trim tabs and the Trim and Tilt to get the bow up. But this still depends on the lake or river's conditions.

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