So I am going out for a few days on the hook next week, and decided to fill my diesel tank since I was down to about 1/4 tank. I thought about carrying a 5-gallon can of diesel, but since I am down to the last few weeks of my sailing season, I decided to fill up.
I have been keeping track of my engine hours in a simple spreadsheet that I keep on my Raspberry Pi on the boat. So I checked it this morning and noted 22.9 engine hours since I launched, and I assume the tank was full (or nearly so) when I launched. I use a burn rate of .5 gallons an hour…so I figured I should be able to get about 11 gallons in the tank without an “overflow “.
I motored over to the fuel dock and got 9.08 gallons in the tank. I could see foamy fuel in the neck of the hose, so didn’t go too far past that. I did let it settle and tried to add more, but it was full. $35 for the season
So, using my 22.9 hours and 9.08 gallon of fuel consumed, my burn rate is closer to 0.4 gallons an hour. My normal motor consists of starting the motor, let it warm up while I get the Mack Pack unzipped and halyard attached, throw off the lines and back out if my slip. Then a very short motor out if the marina and out on to Lake Michigan. I point into the wind, crank up the mainsail using my Milwaukee right-angle drill, and fall off the wind. I usually kill the engine and then pull out the jib. All in, my “normal” engine usage is .3 hours a trip…and this in and out of the marina. 18 minutes total, or 9 minutes of engine time each way!
I am very fortunate to be so close to the open waters of Lake Michigan.
Sometimes I complain about being “painted in a corner” where I have to sail north or east… not much room to go south or west from my marina. But it could be worse. At least I have some decent wind days!
Today was my 53rd daily sail…and over 700 miles sailed this summer. I feel blessed to have gotten that many sails in this summer. There are 2 sailboats on mock that don’t even have sails bent on.
As an aside, my old hours meter crapped out this summer…so I started looking for a new one. I searched for one that is on Caterpillar bulldozers and other heavy equipment…I figured if it lasts on a dozers, it should last on my boat (not that my 37-year old one owed me anything).
This one (purchased on eBay), claims to be the one used by Caterpillar… time will tell.
I hope everyone has been as fortunate as me.
Cheers,
Greg
I have been keeping track of my engine hours in a simple spreadsheet that I keep on my Raspberry Pi on the boat. So I checked it this morning and noted 22.9 engine hours since I launched, and I assume the tank was full (or nearly so) when I launched. I use a burn rate of .5 gallons an hour…so I figured I should be able to get about 11 gallons in the tank without an “overflow “.
I motored over to the fuel dock and got 9.08 gallons in the tank. I could see foamy fuel in the neck of the hose, so didn’t go too far past that. I did let it settle and tried to add more, but it was full. $35 for the season
So, using my 22.9 hours and 9.08 gallon of fuel consumed, my burn rate is closer to 0.4 gallons an hour. My normal motor consists of starting the motor, let it warm up while I get the Mack Pack unzipped and halyard attached, throw off the lines and back out if my slip. Then a very short motor out if the marina and out on to Lake Michigan. I point into the wind, crank up the mainsail using my Milwaukee right-angle drill, and fall off the wind. I usually kill the engine and then pull out the jib. All in, my “normal” engine usage is .3 hours a trip…and this in and out of the marina. 18 minutes total, or 9 minutes of engine time each way!
I am very fortunate to be so close to the open waters of Lake Michigan.
Sometimes I complain about being “painted in a corner” where I have to sail north or east… not much room to go south or west from my marina. But it could be worse. At least I have some decent wind days!
Today was my 53rd daily sail…and over 700 miles sailed this summer. I feel blessed to have gotten that many sails in this summer. There are 2 sailboats on mock that don’t even have sails bent on
.As an aside, my old hours meter crapped out this summer…so I started looking for a new one. I searched for one that is on Caterpillar bulldozers and other heavy equipment…I figured if it lasts on a dozers, it should last on my boat (not that my 37-year old one owed me anything).
This one (purchased on eBay), claims to be the one used by Caterpillar… time will tell.
I hope everyone has been as fortunate as me.
Cheers,
Greg
Probably used his fuel allowance for the month 
