OPERATION-5
SIXTEEN WAYS TO
REDUCE FUEL
CONSUMPTION
1. Keep the bottom of your yacht clean. A fouled
bottom can increase drag up to 10% or more. A 10%
increase in drag is equivalent to a 10% increase in
fuel consumption.
2. DO NOT idle your engines needlessly. Depart
your dock/mooring after warm-up.
3. Watch your trim. A well balanced yacht gets
on plane faster, handles better, and runs with less
surface contact.
4. Navigate better. By plotting courses to your
destination instead of just waiting for them to ap-
pear somewhere in front of you, you can eliminate
miles off of your distance and gallons off of your fuel
consumption.
5. Know your fuel consumption. By plotting a fuel
consumption/RPM curve for your yacht, you will prob-
ably fi nd that reducing your engines’ RPM’s 10% can
often reduce your fuel consumption 30% with only a
slight reduction in speed.
6. Remove extra weight. If you are not going to use
it, do not carry it aboard. Any extra weight requires
more fuel to move your yacht. Do not just stop at the
lockers. Remember that water weighs 64 pounds per
cubic foot, so keep the bilge areas dry.
7. Improve your yacht handling ability. DO NOT let
the yacht labor along below a planing attitude. This
is the absolute peak of fuel waste.
8. Purchase good quality fuel. Be certain you are
using the correct fuel for your engine.
9. Load your yacht correctly. DO NOT put all of the
heavy gear, such as anchors, chain, canned goods
and spare parts exclusively in either the bow or stern.
Heavy items should be placed amidships where they
will not affect the trim and plane of the yacht.
10. Check the drive train. An inboard engine that
is improperly aligned can cost you money. Check
to see if the transmission has suffi cient fl uid (too
little increases friction), if the stuffi ng box is too tight
(increases the load on the engine) or if a bent rudder
or propeller are robbing you of economy. Be certain
the rudders are properly aligned.
11. Check the engine cylinder compression. Low
compression indicates worn piston rings or valves
which will consume oil and reduce engine power.
12. Check the engine idle speed. For the times it
is necessary to operate at idle speed, be certain the
engine is not running too fast and using unnecessary
fuel.
13. Check the engine operating temperature.
Compare your normal operating temperature with
the range specifi ed in the Engine Manual and in this
Owner’s Manual. An overheating engine will cause
excessive wear and will be less effi cient.
14. Keep the engine and transmission oil clean. Dirty
oil causes varnish to form on the moving surfaces
of the engine/transmission. Varnish can cut into the
piston ring seal and contribute to fuel waste. Varnish
will cause the transmission to “slip”.
15. Check for engine air leaks. A leak in the engine
intake manifold disturbs the air/fuel mixture and
reduces your performance. A leak in the exhaust
manifold is DANGEROUS. Carbon Monoxide Gas
(CO) could enter the cabin area of your yacht.
Carbon Monoxide Gas (CO) is colorless, odorless
and tasteless. It is highly poisonous, endanger-
ing lives even at very low levels of concentration.
Mild exposure causes headaches and fatigue,
often resembling “fl u-like” symptoms. Medium
exposure causes severe headaches, drowsiness,
nausea, and rapid heart rate. Extreme expo-
sure results in unconsciousness, convulsions,
cardiorespiratory failure, and death. If Carbon
Monoxide Gas (CO) is detected in your yacht,
immediately contact a qualifi ed technician to
locate and repair the source of the poisonous
gas. DO NOT enter your yacht until repairs have
been made and the Carbon Monoxide Gas (CO)
is lowered to an acceptable level.
16. Keep hot water use to a minimum. The less hot
water you use, the less time your generator will have
to run, resulting in lower fuel consumption.
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