Fuel monitoring systems

[chesapeake albin]

Anyone have some advice for long crusing, offshore fishing, in regards to fuel monitoring.

Floscan? opinions or advice?

anyone have some advice for carrying fuel on deck?

Thanks
Travis

[Jeremyvmd]

Fuel bladders for fuel on deck. I've been looking at the atl inc bladders as they seem to have a very good reputation. As for fuel monitoring I don't know but im interested if someone has added a flow scan or similar

[Carl]

Where are you heading?

[chesapeake albin]

I am thinking of heading Lewis or Indian river inlet and then going out 30? miles, doing some offshore fishing.

Looking at what I need to do to prepare for this.

I would LOVE some company so I am going to try to find a buddy boat for the offshore part

Last summer I took the boat to Wildwood NJ but this was all in the bays.
I would like to fill up in Lewis DE and then fish for a few days and head south to Norfolk VA or beyond before getting fuel again
I am guessing this leg is at least 150 miles and that is with no trolling fuel factored in.
So I am thinking I need more than the 130? gallon tank holds to be safe. I could put in in Ocean city if things get rough but I have heard that inlet is tricky in east or north winds and I have never gone through there before.

also, I have been offshore sailing several times but never tried to fish, so I have no clue what I am doing.

any advice is appreciated .

[Tree]

I've managed a weekend away which clocked up 200+ miles and the gauge showing almost a 1/4 of a tank left on return.

First leg was 60 miles with the tide - average speed of 20 knots

Fished for three days which was 8 miles from port both days and all the fishing was on the drift so every time we ran the engine we were against the tide

Then the return leg of 60 miles at an average of just over 21 knots

I would think 220 miles from a tank is a safe number - you can also get three 5 imperial gallon drums in between the batteries and engine assuming you have a false bulkhead separating the engine from the batteries?

A big help would be if you can do the bigger legs of the journey with the tide.

[gerber30]

I installed A Floscan on my 1997 with a 2005 Yanmar and could not be happier. After burning through 75 gallons it might be off by a gallon or two when I fill up. I had to calibrate it once and it's been great ever since. I installed it myself, their tech support at Floscan made it very easy.

[Jeremyvmd]

Which u it you have? How did you install it?

[furball]

I have a Floscan 9500/9600.
Great unit, very accurate. Awesome for maximizing fuel economy and really interesting to see how weight and trim effect MPG. I get either GPH or MPG. In calm seas, you can see how fuel burn is effected in 100ths of a mile per gallon. It surprised me how accurate it is. I burned about 1100 gallons last year and I added 20-30 gallons more than the meter read for the year.

[chesapeake albin]

to you guys with the flo scans,

can you give the rest of us some idea of where we should be running?

I have a 315 Cummins , Like all things with this boat its not quite right, My max is about 22knots,
I generally cruise at 2400rpm moving about 18knots.

where are the sweet spots? is there a slow sweet spot as well? around 8 knots?

[Carl]

I don't have a flo scan, but I have made the trip from Deale to OC MD. 177 miles, 10hrs and between 100 and 110 gals. I have the 315 Yanmar, so not much help. I ran at 3400 rpm the entire time except for the 6 mph zone at Chesapeake City. I took on 40 gallons there, didn't need to but wanted the added weight for the Del Bay just in case. With the tide in the Del Bay I was running 21knts, against tide 16, but most of the trip around 18. OC inlet not too bad, just keep up your speed. We went out to the Jack Spot on a far too windy day, but the boat did fine.

[chesapeake albin]

well Carl that's exactly what I am planning,

do you have any advice on what conditions to look out for or what you think is where the boat would start to have problems out there?

Also, what did you see/catch? where exactly on the spot do you target? I am really new to fishing.


Thanks
again
Travis

[furball]

I have a 315 Yanmar as well. Not gonna be much help with specifics on your motor.
Carl's numbers for the trip confirm my floscan readings. I show 1.68 - 1.73 MPG at cruise. Interesting part to me is, very little difference between 3200 - 3400 rpm's.
These are from 2weeks ago and loaded fuel, water, fishing, etc.
3200. 1.76MPG. 15.2 knots. 8.5gph
3300. 1.73MPG. 16.2 knots. 9.3gph
3400. 1.70MPG. 17.0 knots. 9.8gph
3450. 1.64MPG. 17.6 knots. 10.2gph
I think Carl also runs 1/2 knot or more faster than I do at the same rpm's. So everything is gonna vary.

[gerber30]

My numbers for my 1997 28 TE with the a 2005 Yanmar are right in line with furball's post.

[chesapeake albin]

my boat will only run 22 knots at WOT 2800 RPM which is what I think is right,
should I worry about this?

I think the PO must have put a weird prop on it or something

[chesapeake albin]

Also,

what is a best way to run if not in a hurry?
I feel like there is a spot around 8 knots that feels like I am not pushing water too much but not planeing
where is the most economical place to run if not in a hurry ?

Thanks