Save Money at The Fuel Dock
The 2022 boating and fishing season has begun in the northeast, and we are all in the same proverbial boat. The record-high gas/diesel prices on land are high enough to contend with, never mind the upcharge for marina fuel. Gas stations on the Merrimack River have increased prices significantly, where the average gas price has risen from $2.30 per gallon in 2020 to a whopping $5.60 in 2022 (and expected to go up). The gas hike has an economic impact on all boaters, but let's focus on getting the best fuel efficiency to keep the cost down, if even a few gallons per trip.
1) Proper Engine Maintenance - Keeping up to date with engine maintenance is in your control and the first place to look to help with fuel burn. It would be best to have new spark plugs at the beginning of the season with fresh fluids at the manufacturer-recommended intervals and possibly add some fuel additive like Fuel Ox, which claims to help fuel efficiency by 5 - 10%.
2) Don't Top Off Your Tank - Fuel weighs 6 pounds per gallon, and a full tank adds more weight to the boat, which causes more fuel burn. If you can SAFELY do your boating with less than a full tank, try filling up to 3/4 or even 1/2 a tank to decrease your burn. This will require more trips to the fuel dock, but it will be less painful each time! Before you go on your adventure, remember that rule of thumb is to carry enough gas to that 1/3 of the total amount to get to your spot, 1/3 of the amount to return home, and 1/3 for extra. If you have a 100-gallon tank and plan to burn 20 gallons for the day, you can easily get by with 50 gallons.
3) Remove Unnecessary Weight - Take off any items you don't plan to use for the day. Items can include fishing gear, coolers, trolling motor, bimini tops
4) Clean Your Hull - A dirty hull with barnacles and stains will not glide as effortlessly through the water. If you trailer, make sure to clean your bottom such that it looks brand new every time you go out. Conversely, if you are on a slip, you should have a fresh coat of antifoul bottom paint, and it should be smooth to the touch. It would be worthwhile to pull the boat once a month or two and power wash the bottom to rid the hull of any growth that will slow you down.
5) Proper Trim - Having the proper trim is another controllable quick fix to maximizing your engine's fuel efficiency. Boaters that ride with a high bow burn more fuel than captains who understand their trim (both with the motor and the tabs). The key is to keep your hull as level with the plane as possible. If I have a group of bigger dudes, I'll make sure at least one or two are sitting in the bow to help keep it down and level. Rearranging seating positions and items on the deck can help keep your boat trimmed correctly. If you are fortunate enough to have trim tabs, you can also use them to keep your boat level on a horizontal plane (side to side lean), which will also help with fuel economy.
6) Slow Down - Do you need to run 35 mph to get bait just 3 miles away? NO! That trip would take 5 minutes, but you can slow down to 20 mph and be there in 9 minutes. At those speeds, I burn 15 gph vs. 7 gph, and when extrapolating that over a day of fishing, you can certainly save a few gallons. For newer engines, the fuel data is incredibly accurate, and you can get real-time fuel burns to adjust your speed and trim to hit an optimal speed and fuel burn ratio.
7) Prop Maintenance - Keeping your prop free of growth and regularly polished is another way to save fuel. You should check between your prop and the shaft for any fishing line that may have gotten caught. Regular checks for any dents, missing chunks, or cracks are critically important, not just for safety reasons, but they affect the transfer of power from your engine. If you feel your boat is running sluggish, you may want to hire a professional mechanic to check if you are fitted for the most optimal prop or look for any alignment issues.
8) Plan Shorter Trips - If you are a fisherman, what a prime opportunity to investigate local waters with different techniques. Instead of running out to get bait, focus on using lures in the river and exploring specific areas. You will be surprised how many places right next to the dock hold ample amounts of fish, and you can be creative with new ways to catch them.
9) Less Idle Time - I'm guilty of this, especially when waiting for customers to show up at the dock. If you have no use for your engine to be on, then keep it off rather than wasting fuel for nothing.
10) Become a Member of Mouths of the Merrimack! - Our weekly fishing reports, blogs, videos, podcast, and forums will help guide you in the right direction, so you don't have to waste time and money looking for fish. Our Private Forum provides opportunities to meet other members and arrange trips with new friends to split the gas bill! Of all the tips on fuel consumption, if you are a fisherman, then becoming an involved member of Mouths of the Merrimack will undoubtedly save you time and money in the long run.
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