Here is one of the pictures Shoaldrafter took of Strider passing near Myrtle Beach with some cropping and processing:
You can see why I burn just about a gallon an hour. I could save quite a bit of fuel by backing off 200-300 rpm but I usually cruise at 2300 which is right at the bottom of the optimum 80% power output for my installation. The long term benefits of running the engine optimally and the short term benefits of salving my impatience are worth the cost at the fuel dock for me. The engine sounds best at this rpm.
Note that the peak of the quarter wave is exactly at the transom corner which means that all available energy is being recaptured from the wave train. Fuel consumption goes way up when the quarter wave peak moves farther back and the boat starts to squat. I'm making 6.2 knots in this picture for a speed length ratio of 1.23 based on the at rest waterline. The effective waterline is longer due to the counter.
I usually let the dinghy out to where it is not going entirely up hill on a stern wave. You can feel a very significant difference in pull if you do this by hand (be careful, it's hard). I found the sweet spot with some trials and can down do it by eye easing the line out through the cleat. She still runs at the bow high attitude but it's the minimum drag. I had the dinghy on a somewhat shorter leash when this picture was taken though.
You can see why I burn just about a gallon an hour. I could save quite a bit of fuel by backing off 200-300 rpm but I usually cruise at 2300 which is right at the bottom of the optimum 80% power output for my installation. The long term benefits of running the engine optimally and the short term benefits of salving my impatience are worth the cost at the fuel dock for me. The engine sounds best at this rpm.
Note that the peak of the quarter wave is exactly at the transom corner which means that all available energy is being recaptured from the wave train. Fuel consumption goes way up when the quarter wave peak moves farther back and the boat starts to squat. I'm making 6.2 knots in this picture for a speed length ratio of 1.23 based on the at rest waterline. The effective waterline is longer due to the counter.
I usually let the dinghy out to where it is not going entirely up hill on a stern wave. You can feel a very significant difference in pull if you do this by hand (be careful, it's hard). I found the sweet spot with some trials and can down do it by eye easing the line out through the cleat. She still runs at the bow high attitude but it's the minimum drag. I had the dinghy on a somewhat shorter leash when this picture was taken though.
