Don’t let those outrageous fuel prices sink you

Ahoy.

The question on everyone’s minds lately is how to save fuel while

boating, since fuel costs have risen dramatically. I usually answer:

Simply hoist your sails and use the wind -- it’s free. Then I’m told

people are talking about a motor yacht, and raising the sails is not

an option.

Even then, I do have some recommendations to help save fuel, but

it is hard to change someone’s boating habits -- such as the need for

speed.

First, you should always keep your engines tuned by a boat

mechanic, not a car mechanic, for optimal performance. Next is to

keep the bottom of the boat clean and free of growth that will create

resistance while the boat is moving through the water. I have seen

barnacles growing under some boats, but then again, I have never seen

those boats ever leave the dock. You should remove from your boat any

extra equipment, gear and stuff that seems to accumulate, adding

weight to the vessel.

Another tip is not to top off your water and fuel tanks, but carry

enough for the voyage. Hundreds of gallons of extra liquids can add

thousands of extra pounds to the weight of the boat.

When was the last time you had your propellers tuned, especially

by the new laser-tuning systems?

My last tip is to find your best cruising speed for distance and

fuel consumption and learn how to properly use your trim tabs. Maybe

in a future column I will explain how to use the trim tabs, as most

skippers think that there are only two settings -- all the way down

and all the way up.

My tip of the week is to check your vessel’s fuel filters for

better engine performance and increased miles per gallon. Do you know

where your fuel filters are located and how many there are? Do you

have a fuel-water separator or separators pumped into your fuel

delivery system? You need to know these things, whether you have a

powerboat or a sailboat.

How many times at your yacht club’s watering hole have you heard

the story about a sailor caught in stormy sea conditions, too windy

to hoist a sail and the engine not working, leaving the boat tossing

in the swell’s trough? This is commonly caused by the fuel filters

becoming clogged from all the particulate matter coming off the

bottom of the fuel tanks. When your boat is sitting at the docks, or

you are just cruising the harbor, the “dirt� in the fuel settles to

the bottom of the tanks thanks to gravity. However, once you hit the

rough water, the fuel sloshes around in the tanks, and the years of

settling particulate matter is mixed into the fuel.

A brief time later, the primary fuel filters are clogged, starving

the engine of fuel. I always make certain we have extra fuel filters

for a yacht delivery, and I will have new filters installed prior to

the trip. Some yachts have gauges on the fuel filter’s housing, so

you can keep an eye on the pressure. When the filters start to clog,

you will not be able to bring the boat up to speed at your cruising

RPM setting, and you can physically feel the vessel lug through the

water while loosing speed. So before you call a mechanic, change your

primary fuel filters.

Another important item to check is the fuel-water separator under

the primary fuel filter. Specific gravity works in the separator, as

the fuel will float on top of any water. You can open the value at

the bottom of the bowl and drain out the water until fuel starts to

drain out.

In really rough seas, I have noticed that the swells slapping

against the hull has forced water in the hull’s fuel-vent opening,

pushing water into the fuel tanks. You should add checking the

separator to your list for your hourly vessel safety check while

underway.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.� It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and

Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe Voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.