FEEL BETTER about fuel costs for the boat

heres a great fact: if Bill Gates seen a $1000.00 bill on the side walk, the couple of seconds that it would take to stop,and bend over to pick it up.he would of lost money (not out of his pockets, in time)

John,
Actually NEITHER is true!

That's just a bunch of easy addin', subractin', multypyin', and dividin'!

The truth is I've always considered myself to be a tad mathematically challenged!

Also, I've got lots of stuff I should be doing, I just like talking about boats "too much!" (Is that possible?)

But I like to think of that as proof that I have my priorities in order!

I know what you guys are saying about the gas prices. Having a business that was so directly related would be tough. I guess all are sort of, but it's more evident in some of the ones like you guys are describing.

All my vehicles are old and bad on gas (14 to maybe 17 mpg) except for the old Honda with 208,000 miles on it! It stopped the other day and I got all excited because it still gets about 30 mpg.

It's gotta last me about another year or two! I think it just might. The problem was just the distributor screw came loose and it went out of time a litte so it shut down. That happened before. Running fine now.

During the shop's diagnostic process they did a compression test and said that engine is still in pretty good shape; one cylinder is a little weak.

That car is ugly brown, has dents and my kids call it "The Hamster" but it's saving me money!

Remember, every dollar of car gas saved, IS a dollar of useable boat gas!

It's much easier than a year or so ago.

Explain that to some customers who see your price and think that you are takeing advantage of them. When I give a price for a charter in the Spring I tell them this is todays price not knowing what Spring and Summer brings. At 4 to 5 MPG it does not take much of an increase to put another $0.10 on you mileage charge.

These fuel prices are going to increase all prices. I have had to increase my pricing. Before this last round of increases I took a group from Indy to St Louis, MO and back with no city touring and my fuel cost alone was $380.00.

Craig, I need to teach you how to post links! And it was only a couple years ago that I was the one asking you some computer questions!

Here's the link:
go fast yacht

I was just mentioning a TV thing I saw this week about a motoryacht by "Wally Power" (in another post) and I figured it was so mind boggling, that it deserved its own piece!

The main thing that blows my mind is the fuel consumption figures.

The 118' motoryacht is capable of speeds in the 70's. It is jet driven by either twin 3,000 + hp diesels (for slower speed "economy") or 3 gas turbine engines that, together generate as much as 17,000 hp! (for when you're late for dinner).

So my first thought is "what does that look like at the fuel dock?" This should make you feel better about gassing up your ski boats:

The 118' Wally Power, at a mile a minute (60mph) consumes a litre per second! Wow!

If my claculator is right, that's 1 gal. of gas every 3.78 seconds
OR 0.2646 gal./sec.
OR 15.873 gal./min.
OR 952.38 gal./hr. !
Given it's stated approx. 200 mile range, at this 60 mph speed, the Wally would use it's tankful in 3.33 hrs. (approx. Miami to the Bahamas and back - almost).
3.33 hours x 952.38 gal/hr then equates to (at least) a 3,175 gal. tank.
At 7.48 gal. / cu. ft. that would mean the fuel tank would need to be an estimated (by me) 30'L x 14'W x 1'H. No problem; the boat is 118' long, right?
So again, think about it, if you could find fuel on the water for $3.50/gal. (good luck) it would cost you a mere $11,112.50 to fill 'er up!
Then I got to thinking, my big 25 gal tank in my little boat, that I used to think was a gas hog, that usually lasts me a good fun day; or maybe even two shorter (therefore, less fun) outtings, would keep the Wally cruising along for 94 seconds (25 gal / .2646 gal/sec.) or about a minute and a half!

So I'm gonna quit complaining now (as much) about the cost of gas. Shoot, compared to the Wally, I'm getting great economy!
Hope this makes everyone feel better about gas prices as it did me.


Oh, if you can afford the gas for the Wally and you're interested in upgrading to something with a bigger wake, here's a link about it. These price figures look a little different, but the TV piece said they cost around $33,000,000.00. What a bargain!
link: http://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/megayachts/0204wallypower/index.aspx