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Tips for saving
fuel at sea

If you own a boat, and particularly a powerboat, you don't need me to tell you the cost of fuel has been going through the roof.

And because that fact hasn't been lost on BOATU.S., our nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters, it has recently distributed suggestions we all can use to get the most from a tank of fuel.

First, remember that added weight reduces economy, so check your boat out from stem to stern and remove any unnecessary "junk" you may have on board.

Also, to reduce weight, if you have freshwater tanks, don't keep them full if you're just going out for a few hours. Every gallon weighs about 8 pounds.

An engine tune-up is an obvious way to get better mileage, but you should also consider tuning up your prop. A dinged and out-of-pitch prop not only causes a drop in boat speed, but it lowers your boat's fuel economy per mile.

Keeping your boat's bottom clean is another way to increase fuel economy, as it will allow it to pass through the water with as little effort -- and fuel -- as possible.

And the same principle applies when you maintain your boat's trim, with time under way, with the proper use of trim tabs or weight distribution. The hull should slide through the water, not push it.

BOATU.S.'s suggestion for going with the flow of tides when possible can be a fuel economy factor in most places, but with Hawaii's minimal tide changes, it's one that we needn't worry too much about here.

But, its proposal for either installing a fuel-flow meter or keeping a fuel/distance traveled logbook is an idea we might all consider.

"A fuel-flow meter is like a heart monitor; when consumption starts to rise, it's an early warning that something is amiss," BOATU.S. notes.

"A fuel-flow meter also allows you to select a comfortable cruising speed that optimizes the amount of fuel being consumed. But," it adds, "the devise can cost up to $300."

By keeping an inexpensive logbook, on the other hand, you can calculate your fuel mileage by dividing the distance traveled by the gallons burned and you can even approximate fuel flow using your average speeds and your time under way.

Naturally, if you own a sailboat, all of the above will apply, but the big fuel savings kick in when you shut off your engine and begin sailing -- and the sooner the better.

A final tip from BOATU.S. is to join its organization so you can receive up to 10 cents per gallon off on a gallon of fuel by showing your membership card to a "cooperating marina."

Unfortunately for our neighbor island boaters, Ko Olina on Oahu is the only marina in Hawaii that is currently involved in the program.

Nevertheless, boaters interested in this and other discounts offered by BOATU.S. can join on-line for just $14 by going to BoatUS.com/membership or by calling 1-800-395-2628.