Incredible Fuel Mileage. - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

179 · 08-21-2003, 11:29 AM

I had to post this, last week I did a tuna trip launched at PJ, went out past the Acid Barge out to the Mud Hole, then back to the Acid Barge. I topped the tank off prior to leaving and then again when I returned. 30mph cruise out and back and 7-mph fast trolling. All in all I racked up 84 miles according to my GPS, I burned 15.2 gallons of fuel, thus averaging nearly 5.52 mile per gallon. Not bad for a boat

Fish On · 08-21-2003, 12:46 PM

Wow, what are you running for power? Must be 4 stroke.

B-assman · 08-21-2003, 12:53 PM

That sounds pretty good! Did you catch any Tuna?

FYI - I had a small glitch with my 140 recently - the ground wire broke off - aparently it was wired very tightly at the factory - and as I was bouncing around in the swells off Beavertail - it snapped.

Luckily - the alarm system functioned perfectly - A quick consultation with the owners manual told me that the flashing motor light with the intermittent beeping meant an electircal issue. I couldt find anything obvious so began to head for a safe harbor. I made it all the way to greenwich bay before the engine had completely drained the battery and quit.

Scott found the problem right away and had me fixed up in no time. The battery recharged and no damage was done to the motor. He said he hadn't seen that happen in 6 yrs - but that he'll be checking all new engies for it. My guess is that if you haven't had a problem yet - you probably wont - but thought you may want to be on the look out for it. The ground wire is on the port side - in the wiring harness just aft of the fuses. The point where it connects to the block (and where it failed) is not easily accessible

Any bites on the boat yet?

Dave

179 · 08-21-2003, 02:22 PM

Fish-On,
Yeah Suzuki 140hp 4-stroke, no fish though

B-assman,
I'll have to check with Scott on that groundwire issue., thanks for the heads up.

JohnR · 08-21-2003, 02:25 PM

BassMan Scott was mentioning that, said other than that on your motor these have been bulletproof

B-assman · 08-21-2003, 02:31 PM

I agree - it has been bulletproof - I've been putting on a lot of hours and have been very very happy with the engine and the boat. Im sure its an isolated incident.

fishsmith · 08-21-2003, 02:39 PM

All I keep hearing is good things about the suzuki 140 4stroke.
84 miles for around $25, thats sweet. I wonder how the new 225's will stack up?

Jon G · 08-21-2003, 06:24 PM

179 I hear ya I got my 140 on July 3rd. this summer and have 81hrs. on it already. I put 10 hrs. on the hour meter and put 12 -15 gallons in it, this engine uses no gas at all I can't believe it. I keep very detailed gas records and this engine will have paid for itself in fuel savings over my old 115 two stroke by around 800-900 hrs. Gotto love the four strokes.

Bob Senior · 08-21-2003, 06:39 PM

That's been my experience, too, 179. It's so efficient that every so often I have to open up the gas tank and take some out!!

Mr. Sandman · 08-22-2003, 07:08 AM

That is impressive fuel mileage. I am going to serioulsy consider these engines on my next re-power /or new boat. Between the lower initial cost, longer warrenty and great fuel economy and quiet operation...it is sounding almost too good to be true. Now if they can just re-design the exterior to make them not look so ugly.
I will need more then 140's. Hope they hold up for you, good luck with them.

JohnR · 08-22-2003, 08:22 AM

Sandman - twin 140s will be FINE but you might want to put on a floatation bracket... there is a guy on classicseacraft getting around 48-50 with much better fuel economy than his single 225 and he's running twin 115 Suzi 4 strokes.

Mr. Sandman · 08-22-2003, 12:18 PM

I would not re-power this 23 with twin 4 strokes...too much weight on the transom ( I would still go with 2 strokes, the power to weight ratio on the 150 and 175 2 stroke rudes are the best around)
In reality I am looking for a bigger rig this winter...will need twin 250's.

JohnR · 08-22-2003, 01:47 PM

25 inch shaft Rude 135-175 Fichts weigh 427 each + injection tank - All the DFI's will do the same. 140 4 stroke Suzis weigh 421 each. and that's still alot of weight back there. The 250's have got to be at least 525-550 each, right? Even worse. Therefore one must consider FLOATATION bracket - add 300-800 pounds positive bouyancy to that stern, longer wetted surface - better performance, nice schwim platform

....

Vectorfisher · 11-25-2003, 06:04 PM

I could be wrong but the mileage you guys are posting out of your 4 strokes looks awfully close to what I get out of my 225 Evinrude Ficht mounted on the back of my 2450 Hydra Sports Vector walkaround. I swear you can't beat this motor!! Awesome power, great fuel mileage, low oil consumption. Although they did have there troubles mostly the 150-175 HP motors I have full confidence in mine.

Hooper · 11-25-2003, 09:54 PM

I agree, no regrets about going Evinrude 225 DFI. Paid $12,100, great fuel economoy, lots of power and quiet too. I am a happy customer.

-Hooper

Van · 11-25-2003, 09:59 PM

My 175 ficht has had hardly any problems, of those none even close to serious.

Great fuel economy and plenty of power, and low oil consumption too. One morning in Oct., so cold, there was ice on the deck, but that engine started on the first cranking. I have nothing but good things to say about it.

Glad to hear others have the same opinion.
I know sandman likes his too.

Mr. Kav · 11-26-2003, 11:25 AM

i have twin 150 ficht's no problems here

Vectorfisher · 11-26-2003, 09:15 PM

Hooper what boat do you have your Evinrude mounted on?

Mr. Sandman · 11-27-2003, 09:21 AM

Evinrudes problems have been more corporate then mechanical. The engineering is fine

is the MBA folks that are screwed up.(IMO this is the case in many companies)

My 150's are ok. Some minor electronic problems with one but no show stoppers. After looking around and pricing jap 4 strokes and seeing the real data on some of them I may hang on another year and wait till 150-175hp ETEC's arrive to bite the re-powering bullet.

Tin Can Charlie · 11-27-2003, 10:21 AM

I have a 23' Pacific with zuki 140 4 stroke....I put 400 hours on it this season and it didn't even hiccup once.....It is an unbelieveable smooooooooooth running motor. If you like to troll, then its the way to go. There are alot of myths that outboards don't draw strikes from bluefin.....I got a 220lber trolling a squid bar right off the transom and dropped another the next day...I'd really like to get a 225 for the boat but think I will wait to see how the new zuki V block works out. Too bad they didnt go with an inline 6 with proven engineering.....

Hooper · 11-28-2003, 08:44 PM

Vector-

I have a 1983 23' SeaCraft center console. Love it...

Am I to assume that you have a HydraSports Vector??? Can you tell me about it some? I know some guys I fish with who are thinking of getting one because they want to get to the fish FAST!!!

Do tell!

-Hooper

Vectorfisher · 11-30-2003, 07:12 PM

Hooper,

Sorry for the delay been out of state. I have the 2450 Hydra Sports Vector Walkaround, I have the hard top on mine with the 225 Evinrude Ficht. The boat is very solid, feels bigger than it is, takes to sea's well, tops out at 40 MPH with a reasonable amount of gear and 3 adults on board. I will have to say for the money I would say a better deal than any Grady!! I had a 23' Neptune Walkaround with a 200hp I/O and had I sea trialed a Hydra Sports before hand I would have held out for the Hydra Sports, a much better boat many many more amenities. Hope this helps!!

Bigcat · 11-30-2003, 08:00 PM

Evinrude, you can't run with them, and you can't run past them

Mr. Sandman · 12-01-2003, 08:55 AM

I like that 28 CC vector. That is a really nice fishing boat. Granted it is not an overnighter but it rides nice and it has a thoughtful layout and is clean. The 33 is even better design but IMO is too big for outboards.

STRIPERSHAWN · 12-11-2003, 10:04 PM

what size boat are runnin out to acid bardge i launch out of gallilea monitor 69 and fish the bay and block island, i have a 21 ft seaswirl wa i have not gone past the block this year 2004 i would like to venture out too the tuna grounds ,how are the seas out at the sw ledge (waves) and at the bardge thanks for any info shawn from ludlow mass.

MakoMike · 12-12-2003, 08:27 AM

Shawn,
Like everywhere, it depends on the weather. On a nice day the seas at the acid barge won't be much different than they are at SW light. SW ledge can get nasty in a heavy blow, but most days its easily fishable in most any boat that belongs out there. If you pick your days you can fish the tuna grounds, especially the mud hole, without a problem.

179 · 12-12-2003, 09:02 AM

StriperShawn,
I have made a few trips out to the Acid Barge and a little further in my 20', I pick and choose my days carefully. A few of the days out there over the summer were like boating in a pond, others were not.

Have your safety gear and be ready to head back in at first sign of weather or rough seas. Just remember your 25-30 miles from P.J. or the Bay.

Bob Senior · 12-23-2003, 12:17 AM

179:

Did you get into any tuna out there this year??

179 · 12-23-2003, 10:12 AM

Bob,
The sad answer is no, I did see fish but had no hookups. I'm still learning the whole tuna thing.

Bob Senior · 12-23-2003, 10:47 PM

I'm going to give the barge a try next season. I actually got a tuna permit this year but didn't even give it a try. The bluefins jumping 20 feet off Newton Ave. last year on T-giving day got me all hot and bothered about tuna. But they didn't show this year that i know about.

Are you selling your Scout?