I'm buying a 1979 Catalina 25 with a mid 80's 7.5 HP 2 stroke outboard. I'm trying to get a general figure on what fuel consumption rates I can expect. I'll be sailing from Norfolk to Annapolis later this month (against expected prevailing winds) and am just looking for a ballpark figure so I'll know how much fuel to keep onboard in case I spend many hours motoring in one day. Thanks.
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Real world experience. Lots of different 2 stroke outboards on several different sailboats: With the combination you mention, I would plan on slightly more than 1 gal. per hour at full throttle, better mileage if you back off a little, and without much effect on boat speed.
Fuel Consumption - 2 stroke
I have 1984 25.5 Hunter. It had a 9.9 2-stroke. I replaced it with Mercury 9.9 4-stroke. At about 75% of maximum RPM I get about 5.5 knots with 1/2 Gallon per hour. I carry 2 tanks of 6 Gallon and a spare 3 Gallon. I have never used more than 3 gallons on any trip.
I have 1984 25.5 Hunter. It had a 9.9 2-stroke. I replaced it with Mercury 9.9 4-stroke. At about 75% of maximum RPM I get about 5.5 knots with 1/2 Gallon per hour. I carry 2 tanks of 6 Gallon and a spare 3 Gallon. I have never used more than 3 gallons on any trip.
Prevailing...
winds on the Bay are generally from the southwest. After a cold front we usually get northwesterlies. A coastal storm off the Carolinas will throw in easterlies before going northeast (then you'll need the OB). All the others mean you should have a romp up the Bay on some form of reach and not need to use the OB except to make harbor.
winds on the Bay are generally from the southwest. After a cold front we usually get northwesterlies. A coastal storm off the Carolinas will throw in easterlies before going northeast (then you'll need the OB). All the others mean you should have a romp up the Bay on some form of reach and not need to use the OB except to make harbor.
My experience
Last summer delivering my O'Day 25 on the Atlantic coast, all motor: 48 miles 10.5 hours 50-52 liters fuel 8HP Yamaha Long Shaft (1990) Fuel consumption is quite a bit higher when you run the motor full out.
Last summer delivering my O'Day 25 on the Atlantic coast, all motor: 48 miles 10.5 hours 50-52 liters fuel 8HP Yamaha Long Shaft (1990) Fuel consumption is quite a bit higher when you run the motor full out.
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