4.3L V6 owners - what sort of gas usage do you get?

[loco]

I'm curious to see where my set up stands in comparison to others.

I have a carb V6 in a 23ft falcon cabin cruiser (roughly 2,300Kg/5,292lbs displacement, deep v planing hull). 290DP leg running I think B7 props. She lives in salt water, with a cool thermostat to suit. Fuel is 86RON octane here.

With a clean hull and prop, she'll cruise at 25kts, top out at ~34kts at a little over 5000rpm. Cruising gas usage is around 45-50 litres/hour (11.9 - 13.2 US gallons), and that will go up to 65litres/hour (17.1 US gallons) at WOT (Thirsty!) if my fuel meter is to be trusted.

What are you running, and what sort of gas mileage are you hitting?

Cheers,

 

[Scott Danforth]

most spark ignited motors burn approximately 0.4 lbs of fuel per hp per hour (average BSFC). boating and fuel economy are mutually exclusive. yes, boats drink fuel like there is no tomorrow.

using the formula above at WOT, 0.4 x 240hp (flywheel hp) for one hour is 96. divide by 6.183 (# per gallon of gasoline) and you get 15.5 Gallons per hour. your fuel meter may be a bit out of calibration, however close enough

I personally would want a larger motor in a boat of that size

on another note your drive ratio must be 2.15:1 or so to be able to spin B7 props with a V6 at 5000 RPM I was pushing my boat at 42 knots with a 5.7 at 4800 and the 1.95:1 drive with B6's with a similarly loaded and sized boat.

 

[Senior B]

I would call your fuel consumption "Text book" for a Carbed 4.3 that's working "overtime" pushing a boat that size and weight. I have a 5.7with fuel injection in my 24 ft cruiser that weighs in at just over 6000lbs and also have a fuel flow meter and mine is always very "spot on" as judged at the gas pump. I cruise at 3500- 4000 Rpm and depending on sea state, boat load and prop set I'm running at the time, I average from 10.5 Gallons per hour (rarely but it does happen) to @ 13 Gallons per hour. At full throttle it's 22.5 Gallons per hour. Yes, boats are very thirsty but our numbers aren't near what some of the big boys turn. Friend of mine has an older 43 ft cruiser with twin Carbed 7.4L 454s and he burns closer to 50 Gal per hour when trying to push his craft over 20 knots. I just smile as the fuel hose pumps and the $$$ numbers shoot towards the sky as a good day on the water is priceless

 

[Scott Danforth]

I recently worked on a 50Meter boat that is one of the fastest yachts in the world. at WOT with all 6 turbines spinning pushing 65 knots, they use 13.2 gallons of jet fuel per second. the daily spend on fuel is budgeted at $100,000 USD. the rooster tail is visible from space.

Im glad when I fill up my 75 gallon tank and my daily spend on the water is less than $200

 

[garbageguy]

It's all relative, eh Scott? Thanks for making us all feel (relatively) good.

 

[loco]

I recently worked on a 50Meter boat that is one of the fastest yachts in the world. at WOT with all 6 turbines spinning pushing 65 knots, they use 13.2 gallons of jet fuel per second. the daily spend on fuel is budgeted at $100,000 USD. the rooster tail is visible from space.

Im glad when I fill up my 75 gallon tank and my daily spend on the water is less than $200

What's the name of this boat?!

 

[jeffnick]

My boat is 10,000 lbs w/ 260A. I get between 1.5 and 3 mpg.