I own a 1992 Hunter 33.5 with a yanmar 3GM diesel engine. I plan to move the boat from New Jersey to the Chesapeake Bay, and would like to know how many gallons per hour I can expect to consume (given "average" wind and weather conditions) if I have to resort to use of the engine at night. Any fuel consumption data available? Mike
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Gary Wyngarden
My Experience
Michael, I owned a 1992 33.5 for five years. We used to average 0.5 to 0.6 gph and would normally cruise about 2800 rpms. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
Michael, I owned a 1992 33.5 for five years. We used to average 0.5 to 0.6 gph and would normally cruise about 2800 rpms. Hope this helps. Gary Wyngarden S/V Wanderlust h37.5
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shaun
fuel
I have a 33.5 and if I'm in a hurry, going 6 knots fuel consumption is more like .75 gallons an hour, maybe a little more. My tank is 21 gallons, so you figure you only have 20 usable gallons, so you got maybe 24 hours or 144 mile range. I can burn as much as a gallon per hour in a current, strong headwind/ waves.
I have a 33.5 and if I'm in a hurry, going 6 knots fuel consumption is more like .75 gallons an hour, maybe a little more. My tank is 21 gallons, so you figure you only have 20 usable gallons, so you got maybe 24 hours or 144 mile range. I can burn as much as a gallon per hour in a current, strong headwind/ waves.
Delaware Bay Transit
In addition to your fuel consumption, you should check out the tides in Delaware Bay. You might plan a stop in Cape May and plan to exit the Cape May canal into Delaware Bay on a rising tide so you can get the current push all the way up to the C&D Canal. If you end up going thru the C&D Canal as the tide changes, just stay toward the edges in relatively shallower water to stay out of the heaviest current. Then exiting the C&D Canal into the Chesapeake, you will typically see less current than you had in the Delaware and depending on your timing, catch the tide as you run south thru the Chesapeake. There are fuel stops available at Cape May, Shaeffers in the Canal and just about every marina as you run south in the Chesapeake. You can motor sail in the C&D to take advantage of any wind there might be as well as improve your visibility to other vessels. Have a safe trip.
In addition to your fuel consumption, you should check out the tides in Delaware Bay. You might plan a stop in Cape May and plan to exit the Cape May canal into Delaware Bay on a rising tide so you can get the current push all the way up to the C&D Canal. If you end up going thru the C&D Canal as the tide changes, just stay toward the edges in relatively shallower water to stay out of the heaviest current. Then exiting the C&D Canal into the Chesapeake, you will typically see less current than you had in the Delaware and depending on your timing, catch the tide as you run south thru the Chesapeake. There are fuel stops available at Cape May, Shaeffers in the Canal and just about every marina as you run south in the Chesapeake. You can motor sail in the C&D to take advantage of any wind there might be as well as improve your visibility to other vessels. Have a safe trip.
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Norm
Fuel Consumption 33.5 Hunter
Recently I sailed (actually motored since there was no wind) across Lake Michigan, so I had a lot of hours to compute fuel consumption. The 33.5 Hunter uses 0.8 gph. This was based upon flat seas, no wind, speed 6 kts and 3200 rpm. This correlates well with what others had found. Interestingly, I had a 1992 28 Hunter with a 2cylinder Yanmar diesel. It's fuel consumption was 0.5 gph. The 33.5 Hunter has a 3 cylinder Yanmar diesel. Thus, 50% more fuel consumption in the 3 cylinder is quite reasonable in comparison with the 2 cylinder diesel. Bottom line, I'd estimate consumption at 1 gph for planning purposes to allow 20% margin for error.
Recently I sailed (actually motored since there was no wind) across Lake Michigan, so I had a lot of hours to compute fuel consumption. The 33.5 Hunter uses 0.8 gph. This was based upon flat seas, no wind, speed 6 kts and 3200 rpm. This correlates well with what others had found. Interestingly, I had a 1992 28 Hunter with a 2cylinder Yanmar diesel. It's fuel consumption was 0.5 gph. The 33.5 Hunter has a 3 cylinder Yanmar diesel. Thus, 50% more fuel consumption in the 3 cylinder is quite reasonable in comparison with the 2 cylinder diesel. Bottom line, I'd estimate consumption at 1 gph for planning purposes to allow 20% margin for error.
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bill
fuel consumption
The old rule of thumb for Yanmar engines was 1 quart per cylinder per hour of running time or approximately 3/4 of a gallon per hour. Wind, wave, tides, etc. obviously all affect fuel consumption.
The old rule of thumb for Yanmar engines was 1 quart per cylinder per hour of running time or approximately 3/4 of a gallon per hour. Wind, wave, tides, etc. obviously all affect fuel consumption.
Effect of wind etc. on fuel consumption
Sorry, but I don't understand how this affects fuel burn. The load on the engine is the same in following wind/tide as in wind/tide against, so the fuel burn per hour is the same, for the same rpm. Of course, the distance covered will be very different.
Sorry, but I don't understand how this affects fuel burn. The load on the engine is the same in following wind/tide as in wind/tide against, so the fuel burn per hour is the same, for the same rpm. Of course, the distance covered will be very different.
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Eric
flawed assumption
Alistair, Your statement equates to saying that the load on a car engine is the same for the same rpm whether the car is going uphill or downhill. Do you really believe that's true? With my H30's engine shut off and the boat under sail, the prop turns. There's no load on the engine, yet if I drop sail and run the engine with the prop turning the same rpms, there's a load on the engine. By the same token, it's possible to put the same load on the engine at 3000 rpm as at 2500 rpm. Fuel economy definitely does depend on wind and wave conditions.
Alistair, Your statement equates to saying that the load on a car engine is the same for the same rpm whether the car is going uphill or downhill. Do you really believe that's true? With my H30's engine shut off and the boat under sail, the prop turns. There's no load on the engine, yet if I drop sail and run the engine with the prop turning the same rpms, there's a load on the engine. By the same token, it's possible to put the same load on the engine at 3000 rpm as at 2500 rpm. Fuel economy definitely does depend on wind and wave conditions.
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Michael Wallach
Capeay Canal
While discusssing my planned trip from New jersey to the Chesapeake, I would like to know if anyone knows if a 33.5 can be taken through the Cape May canal. My recollection (based on very old memory-without reviewing current chart) is that the mast height of a 33.5 could not make it under at least one fixed bridge over the Cape May canal. Does anyone have any actual experience transiting the canal? Mike
While discusssing my planned trip from New jersey to the Chesapeake, I would like to know if anyone knows if a 33.5 can be taken through the Cape May canal. My recollection (based on very old memory-without reviewing current chart) is that the mast height of a 33.5 could not make it under at least one fixed bridge over the Cape May canal. Does anyone have any actual experience transiting the canal? Mike
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