Westerbeke 30, fuel consumption?

Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
can someone enlighten me about what the reasonable average fuel consumption should be on a 11,000lb boat with a westerbeke 30hp engine?

I know there are variables, but I dont know what the gearing or the prop pitch is...other than it is supposed to be all original.
 
Sep 29, 2008
1,954
Catalina 310 #185 Quantico
Just a guess

My Catalina 310 (~11-15K lbs) with a 26 HP Universal gets around 1/2 gph at WOT.
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,139
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Re: westerbeke 30, fuel consumption???

Ray's right. Larger engines, like the 30 hps in our C34s & C36s have reported 1.0 to 1.2 gph, same boats but bigger engines.
 
Mar 20, 2012
3,983
Cal 34-III, MacGregor 25 Salem, Oregon
Ray's right. Larger engines, like the 30 hps in our C34s & C36s have reported 1.0 to 1.2 gph, same boats but bigger engines.
the westerbeke I speak of is a 30hp...

what speed are you running at in WOT?
can you back down a little and increase the economy any substantial amount?
 
Feb 26, 2004
23,139
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
1. the westerbeke I speak of is a 30hp...

2. what speed are you running at in WOT?
can you back down a little and increase the economy any substantial amount?
1. Yes, I know, that's why I said what I did.

2. Not really, unless you idle ALL the time. It's an average of keeping track of fuel consumption, beats a gauge every time. :dance:
 
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
I have a Westerbeke 30B3 in mine, which was built from the Mitsubishi L3E. Fine little engine that I spread all OVER the salon floor last year because I'm stupid and just haaaaaad to look at the piston tops. No matter, fine little fueler that has not let me down yet. I run 'er around 2400 rpm, it just feels right to me. I'm working it, without pushing it. The long answer is I get better than an hour on a gallon. This boat was 'listed' at 9 thou I think, so with all my stuff and upgrades would easily top 'er out above ten thousand pounds. It also has a 14-RH-12 Michigan wheel on it.
For what it is worth, it strikes me as "over" powered as hell, which I LOVE!! Seriously, what a tug. I think I could easily raft up an identical boat and go where I pleased. But really, it uses so little fuel I almost forget about it. 21 gallon tank that I hope I never have to use but about 18 of, and I'll get tired before it does.

Parts are high, (duhh), if you deal with Westerbeke or Moyer. Riiiight. It better be something damn unusual before I go that route, I one time bought a HEAD GASKET from them at 200 bucks. I think I have a better plan in the future..
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,723
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Ray's right. Larger engines, like the 30 hps in our C34s & C36s have reported 1.0 to 1.2 gph, same boats but bigger engines.
We have a Westerbeke 4 cylinder 44HP on a 19,000 pound 36' boat and she burns about 1/2 GPH (averaged) and when measuring it just motoring, excluding charging or engine driven refrigeration, she is upwards of 3/4 GPH at hull speed... I keep track of the GPH over every tank full...
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,723
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
I have a Westerbeke 30B3 in mine, which was built from the Mitsubishi L3E. Fine little engine that I spread all OVER the salon floor last year because I'm stupid and just haaaaaad to look at the piston tops. No matter, fine little fueler that has not let me down yet. I run 'er around 2400 rpm, it just feels right to me. I'm working it, without pushing it. The long answer is I get better than an hour on a gallon. This boat was 'listed' at 9 thou I think, so with all my stuff and upgrades would easily top 'er out above ten thousand pounds. It also has a 14-RH-12 Michigan wheel on it.
For what it is worth, it strikes me as "over" powered as hell, which I LOVE!! Seriously, what a tug. I think I could easily raft up an identical boat and go where I pleased. But really, it uses so little fuel I almost forget about it. 21 gallon tank that I hope I never have to use but about 18 of, and I'll get tired before it does.

Parts are high, (duhh), if you deal with Westerbeke or Moyer. Riiiight. It better be something damn unusual before I go that route, I one time bought a HEAD GASKET from them at 200 bucks. I think I have a better plan in the future..
Chris,

If you are interested in a spare 30B Three..........;) I was going to put a new cylinder head on her, old one was cracked at the manifold ear by a poorly skilled tech with a big wrench, and she is still sitting in my shop two years later....
 
Oct 17, 2011
2,809
Ericson 29 Southport..
Matter of fact I would not mind having it sit in my shop and do the same thing. There's nothing really wrong with mine, and have even considered a long block from ebay, the L3E crate motor at four grand, ouch. Pretty little black motor, but more than what I need. Yeah, I would love to have a second engine and slowly go through it. And I'll throw in a REAL nice slightly used inverter as well.:D

(Sorry if we swayed you Centerline. You can tell we like them though. Fabulous little engines).
 

WayneH

.
Jan 22, 2008
1,109
Tartan 37 287 Pensacola, FL
My westerbeast runs around 2000rpm at hull speed and gets about .65 gph. If we ease her down to 1700 rpm, she runs at .5 gph. It a 50, turning 42 horses pushing a 37 foot, 17,000 lb boat. Hour meter is broke, tank gauge reads whatever it wants to. So we track EVERY start time and stop time on an excel spreadsheet to keep track of engine hours and fuel consumed. So I can tell the fuel dock just how much fuel I need to be completely full. Plus when to change the fuel, oil and zincs.