52 Jefferson Speed and Fuel Consumption

[Harbourage]

Looking at a 1990 52 Jefferson with 3208's. What should I expect for realistic MPG at the slowest, trawler like speeds? Also, will this boat handle reasonably at 9 MPH? Will the engines like a slow rpm? I have heard diesels like to run warm to avoid carbon fouling?

[Tom.B]

Go ask at www.trawlerforums.com Lots of guys with that motor over there, I assure you.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Harbourage

Looking at a 1990 52 Jefferson with 3208's. What should I expect for realistic MPG at the slowest, trawler like speeds? Also, will this boat handle reasonably at 9 MPH? Will the engines like a slow rpm? I have heard diesels like to run warm to avoid carbon fouling?

3208 NA's T's or TA's?????

I had the 320hp 3208 T's and they burned 10 gal each per hr at 2200 rpm cruise...pushing a 37 sportfish at 20 knots.

[Kendag]

Originally Posted by Harbourage

Looking at a 1990 52 Jefferson with 3208's. What should I expect for realistic MPG at the slowest, trawler like speeds? Also, will this boat handle reasonably at 9 MPH? Will the engines like a slow rpm? I have heard diesels like to run warm to avoid carbon fouling?

I run a 45 Jefferson. With 3208 cats. 260 hp. The average if it is not pushed is 5 per hour total. Up til 8 or 9 knots it is about a gallon a mile. If you push it to 10 or 12 drops dramatically. Top end is 14 to 16 at which point you are burning about 25 per hour. That is my experience without fuel flow meters.

Good luck. By the way I have owned racing sailboats and all manner of sportfish. A Jeff is a great handling and stable platform. Very impressed with ride.

[Kendag]

To add. My engine temp is very consistent up to 12 knots. The engines run well at slower rpm without any issues. I am usually 1,500 to 1,800. Rarely up to 2,200.

[Harbourage]

Originally Posted by Kendag

To add. My engine temp is very consistent up to 12 knots. The engines run well at slower rpm without any issues. I am usually 1,500 to 1,800. Rarely up to 2,200.

Interesting... So, at 8 knots you get 1 mpg and can run long term with no issues? How many hrs have you run this way?

[Kendag]

The engines have about 3,300 hours. I have owned the boat for the last 150 hours. And I keep track of gallons and time. That is how I get to the numbers I provided. The temperature gets to the desired number 175 to 180 during idle and does not increase even as I push up to 10 or 12 knots. I do not see a difference in operations other than fuel.

Overall the design of the boats seems happiest between 8 and 10. It starts pushing water above that.

It may be worth talking to Jefferson, additionally while it is tricky you can go on the Caterpillar web site and get fuel consumption numbers for the engines. Are they turbo and to what degree. The more Turbo the higher the fuel at higher speeds but also the higher potential output.