DON’T WASTE LONG GREEN ON THE WATER

Beating the rising cost of fuel at the gas dock takes a mite of planning, but it’s worth the effort. And the long green saved will go nicely toward that next canyon run or the family cruise to Cape May. Consider these tips and you’ll smile out yonder and back.

Tune time is the start. No, not singing or even banjo strumming. Rather, make sure your engine is tuned to perfection. Outboard, inboard or I/O, it matters not. An engine set to specs will burn less fuel while delivering maximum performance.

Even a well-tuned engine isn’t enough if you don’t consider weight----what you carry with you and how it’s distributed in your boat. More fuel and water than is needed for the run you plan will take its toll in reduced fuel efficiency. Moreover, carrying unnecessary gear is just as costly. As someone once said, “We get on the water to get away from it all then we take it all with us!”

OK, so you have to take Willie Waddles, your mother’s favorite cousin, with you occasionally. Try to keep him and other excess weight out of the stern so you don’t run your boat “uphill” all day.

Overall trimming as in orientation to water is an important issue also. Trim tabs, for example, can get a planing hull up on the water quickly and keep it there with less fuel consumption than would otherwise be required. Fuel savings over a season could easily pay for trim tab installation.

Don’t overlook the prop. A dinged blade means less performance, which means reduced fuel efficiency. Equally important is the prop size and pitch. Check with your dealer to make sure you use the most effective combo. Ask about the superiority of a four-blade prop over a three-blade version. Any speed sacrifice might be worth it if the four-blader saves you enough fuel money.

Remember, too, to keep the boat’s hull clean. All your fuel efficiency efforts could be for naught if you carry around a small version of the Sargasso Sea.

Finally, if possible, install a fuel flow meter so you can precisely monitor fuel consumption and find the most efficient rpm range for any situation or sea condition.

These few ideas could make a significant difference in fuel costs. Maybe even save you enough to take old Willie for another trip or two. On second thought, maybe you should forget Willie.