In checking the archives, saw Stu's input (and others) on the issue of what kind of hours per gallon to expect with Catalinas. The consensus seemed to be in the range of 1/2 gallon per hour. When I recently kept data on this issue, our 350 ran for 56 hours as we made our way down the coast of FL to the Keys and we took on 8 gallons of fuel in Marathon. Am I doing the math wrong? This would suggest GPH in the range of .2 not .5. Any thoughts? Thanks Bill Welsch
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GPH back
Bill You need to do it over a longer course of time, not just one fill-up. That way you'll average out some "under-fills" with the overfills (just to the top but not in the water). I'm amazed at my less than 0.5, but 0.2? No way unless you were going down a river or over a waterfall.
Just kidding, it's engine hours, although if you are going downriver and go at 5 knots SOG, rather than 5 kts thru the water, your consumption would be less. Give it some time, try to fill reasonably close to the top all the time and you'll see. Stu
Bill You need to do it over a longer course of time, not just one fill-up. That way you'll average out some "under-fills" with the overfills (just to the top but not in the water). I'm amazed at my less than 0.5, but 0.2? No way unless you were going down a river or over a waterfall.
Just kidding, it's engine hours, although if you are going downriver and go at 5 knots SOG, rather than 5 kts thru the water, your consumption would be less. Give it some time, try to fill reasonably close to the top all the time and you'll see. StuGPH - Oooops!
Well, in the category of "do your research before you ask a stupid question on the website" I reviewed my journal one more time from our trip last year and found an earlier time where we filled up in Marathon. We took on 18 gallons and had run the engine for around 40 hours. Hmmmmmmm, sounds like around 1/2 to me. Planning on taking a couple of jerry jugs extra fuel for the upcoming trip in case we get stuck in the Dry Tortugas (not the worst of all problems in the world!) With the jerry jugs and the 39 gals we have on board, that should give us around 100 hrs. Thanks Bill Welsch
Well, in the category of "do your research before you ask a stupid question on the website" I reviewed my journal one more time from our trip last year and found an earlier time where we filled up in Marathon. We took on 18 gallons and had run the engine for around 40 hours. Hmmmmmmm, sounds like around 1/2 to me. Planning on taking a couple of jerry jugs extra fuel for the upcoming trip in case we get stuck in the Dry Tortugas (not the worst of all problems in the world!) With the jerry jugs and the 39 gals we have on board, that should give us around 100 hrs. Thanks Bill Welsch
C 36 average consumption
This post spurred me on to do what I have been intending to do and that is calculate average fuel usage. I have C36 #2183 new last year. It has the M35B which you have in your C35. After the first tank of fuel, my average use last year was 0.548 US Gallons per hour of operation - this includes a wide range of use during the 9 weeks we were cruising - from the very occasional 7+ knot run (to get to the Welland Ship Canal on time to lock through or perhaps face an 8 hour wait) to normal motoring at about 6 knots (2200/2300 +- rpm) to motor sailing at 1600 to 2000 rpm to idling occassionaly to recharging the batteries while cruising/anchoring in the North Channel (Lake Huron). This figure is very close to what Stu is suggesting and what your experience has been) When making passages in which I must motor due to schedule and lack of wind, I have come to the point of planning on just about 2.5 litres an hour (we are Canadian). This is a bit less than 0.7 US gallons an hour, This is for a speed of about 6 knots under motor alone and am normally happily surprised as consumption is lower. If I was to push it near hull speed for a prolonged period I have no doubt that it would be up close to a gallon an hour. On the other hand motorsailing I have regularily achieved better consumption - less than 0.5 gallon per hour.
This post spurred me on to do what I have been intending to do and that is calculate average fuel usage. I have C36 #2183 new last year. It has the M35B which you have in your C35. After the first tank of fuel, my average use last year was 0.548 US Gallons per hour of operation - this includes a wide range of use during the 9 weeks we were cruising - from the very occasional 7+ knot run (to get to the Welland Ship Canal on time to lock through or perhaps face an 8 hour wait) to normal motoring at about 6 knots (2200/2300 +- rpm) to motor sailing at 1600 to 2000 rpm to idling occassionaly to recharging the batteries while cruising/anchoring in the North Channel (Lake Huron). This figure is very close to what Stu is suggesting and what your experience has been) When making passages in which I must motor due to schedule and lack of wind, I have come to the point of planning on just about 2.5 litres an hour (we are Canadian). This is a bit less than 0.7 US gallons an hour, This is for a speed of about 6 knots under motor alone and am normally happily surprised as consumption is lower. If I was to push it near hull speed for a prolonged period I have no doubt that it would be up close to a gallon an hour. On the other hand motorsailing I have regularily achieved better consumption - less than 0.5 gallon per hour.
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