With the current cost of fuel, it’s more important than ever to optimise fuel efficiency to save you money. A fuel-efficient outboard means you can go further for longer and ultimately have a better time on the water.
Check out our tips for helping you set up and use your boat correctly to optimise fuel efficiency.
How you drive your boat matters
Did you know that the way you drive your boat can affect fuel usage? One way to do this is to avoid excessive speed – powerboats are most fuel efficient at cruising speed around 70–85% of full throttle.
We’ve done plenty of boat testing in our time and we see the sweet spot is from 3000 – 5000RPM where you’re getting the best speed for the least amount of fuel – see graph below.
Plus, when you do accelerate, make sure it’s smooth. Gradual acceleration and deceleration will use less fuel than being hard on the throttle.
Finally, the way you trim your engine is a big contributor to fuel usage. Correctly adjusting the outboard trim reduces drag and helps the boat get on the plane faster, which saves fuel. See our blog on how to trim an outboard motor.
Check the conditions
We all prefer to boat in smoother seas, but it makes a difference to fuel use too. You’ll use more fuel in rough seas, or when battling strong tides and head winds. Keep an eye on the forecast and make sure you plan your trip around it.
Boat set-up
Your outboard set-up e.g. engine height has a part to play. If your engine is fitted at the wrong height – especially if it’s too low – that can cause the boat to porpoise. The up and down motion of the boat creates drag and puts extra stress on the engine.
Remove excess weight from your boat. Check your cupboards and compartments for things you don’t need and remove them before you hit the water. Also make sure the weight is evenly distributed, which is not only safer but eliminates issues like porpoising.
Servicing and maintenance
Regular outboard servicing helps to keep your engine running clean and burns fuel efficiently, saving you money in the long run. Simply replacing spark plugs, air filters and fuel filters helps the engine to burn fuel efficiently and adding fresh oil reduces friction, which saves fuel.
Making sure you keep fresh fuel in the boat is important too. Older fuel is less combustible meaning your engine must work harder. Degrading fuel can also clog up your engine which affects performance and fuel efficiency.
Make sure you have the right prop
The wrong propeller will impact fuel efficiency by making the engine work harder. What are the signs? It there are vibrations through the steering or if the engine cannot reach its maximum rated RPM at WOT that’s a sign that your prop isn’t right.
Also, if the prop is damaged – e.g. nicks, cracks etc it won’t operate efficiently and will increase drag and therefore fuel consumption.
Boat testing with a range of props while monitoring performance will ensure that your prop is right and you’re not burning excessive fuel or overloading your engine.
Your engine matters
A new 4-stroke engine will be far more fuel efficient than an older 2-stroke. So if you’re considering repowering, and can stretch to a new 4-stroke, you’ll save money at the pump.
4-stroke outboards are known for their superior fuel economy, particularly at cruising speed due to the cleaner combustion.
In addition, a newer 4-stroke will have more technological advancements that improve fuel efficiency such as Honda’s ECOmo lean burn control which adjusts air/fuel mixture according to speed and load. Plus, programmed fuel injection ensures a precise air/fuel mix resulting in lower fuel consumption.
Talk to an expert
There’s plenty of ways you can save fuel and get more from your boat. Talk to our team for advice on how to improve your boat set up and get more out of every tank.
