ENTERPRISE OUT OF THE SLIP YET AGAIN...

[aaronbocknek]

CAPTAIN'S LOG, 2013.28.08.....

could not resist taking her out for her weekly run up. i have to admit, this is getting to be a habit. and a habit i really am enjoying. i went to the boat around 1130 and started doing some chores on the interior. sent phil a small text that the weather looked okay, winds were light to moderate, although the weather radar showed showers moving into the area later in the day. he responded immediately and said he was on his way. wow. that was a first!! he arrived roughly 30 minutes later and all we had to do is cast off. i did the prep work while he was enroute. besides, i can actually do it faster alone than trying to teach another person how to unplug the shore power, the water, the aft portion of the canvas, etc....... i had the genset running and as soon as i saw him pull into the marina, i started her engines. we were out of the slip in less than 10 minutes. it rained a bit while underway and it was his first experience with reduced visibility. he really did well and actually used some learned skill to cut into a wake, then resume course. he also did a masterful job at cleating the bow lines.
she settled at 18mph around 2800 rpm, i think that's her sweet spot. i marvel at how well this boat feels and handles.
thanks again guys for pushing me forward. i'm glad i took her out today as i will be flying for the next 6 days. after that, i'm free from 04 sep to 22 sep (vacation and high holy days). plenty of boating to do in sept and oct.
aaron

[summer storm]

That's great Aaron. What do you think your fuel burn is at 2,800 rpm?

[aaronbocknek]

That's great Aaron. What do you think your fuel burn is at 2,800 rpm?

i was just pondering that this morning, believe it or not. i had nearly a full tank about a month ago(thanks dad for the 400 buck boat fuel gift card!!!) i hold 220 gallons plus/minus. each quarter tank would read 55 gallons US. i am also schlepping around an almost full water tank, and that holds 66 gallons US. the first two trips were at hull speed, around 6kts due to barnacle infestation on the running gear. after she was cleaned, i took her out and ran her up for the first time this season. it's been 3 trips thus far at plane and now i have just slightly more than 3/4 of a tank. doing the 'math', and taking into account the non planing days, i figure that i am around 18 to 19 gph, which would be nearly that of BUBALA 3. i think dad calculated she burned 21 gph at 3K with her twin chrysler 280's. i have PCM 250's on a 351 block. she was repowered in 1996.
i have also run the genset quite a bit, nearly 10 hours, both in the slip and at cruise. that burns roughly 1gph at 70% load. i also have run the engines in the slip prior the her being cleaned. but that was with her 'old fuel'.
am i over thinking this one? it's early (0401) and i had a terrible night. to be honest, i'd love to afford a flowscan device so i would know exactly what my fuel burn is. all i know that she LOVES to jump on plane at 1900 +/- and stay there. like i said, she is a very stable boat and the wide side decks are easily traversed even at cruise. i taught phil the hand over hand technique because he insists on riding on the front bow seat, when he's not at the helm. he loves being at the helm. for someone who says he's not really into boating, he does like being behind that big trojan wheel.

[The Dog House]

Don't overthink it. Just enjoy the boat and be happy for good company and good weather.