Time & Fuel Cost for ICW Cruise Maine to Key West

[evm1024]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Where's Scoobert when we need him? :whistl ing:

Read all about him.


S/V Union Pacific

[Bulawayo]

....but we all dream. With no aspirations there is no future. Besides. the information is useful.

[a64pilot]

I think your numbers are pretty close, it may be of interest though that my fuel burn at 6.5 kts is one GPH, to add .5 kts to go seven kts raises the fuel burn to 1.5 GPH, a 50% increase in fuel burn.
38' Island Packet, 4-JHBE 44 HP

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by lesterbutch

My wife and I made a run from CT to Fort Pierce, around 1300 nm. On a 37 Irwin Ketch. We did that run 25 years ago so fuel cost is irrelevent at this time but we motorsailed and burned about 100 gal at 0.5 GPH. We also spent a large portion of our time offshore and it took us 21 days portal to portal. I have no idea why anyone would want to do the "ditch"! It certainly is not for the scenery and you have to enjoy spending a lot of time stuck in the mud. If your boat is up to it, take my advice and try it offshore, you can do a relatively close distance offshore and plan for inlets so you can get in to anchor at night if you don't like sailing around the clock. We sailed much of the time about 50 miles off, but we did "ditch it" off and on, where we wanted to see a particular area.

Thanks for adding to the discussion. I understand your points.

I hope to do the trip via the ICW one day (as I think some parts of it appear interesting and historic), and offshore another time, as ocean sailing is more to my main interest.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I think your numbers are pretty close, it may be of interest though that my fuel burn at 6.5 kts is one GPH, to add .5 kts to go seven kts raises the fuel burn to 1.5 GPH, a 50% increase in fuel burn.
38' Island Packet, 4-JHBE 44 HP

Thank you for adding that good info to the discussion too.

It is important to know that small changes in RPM, speed, prop pitch, and even hull cleaning (clean or growth covered) may make a significant difference in fuel consumption and operating costs.

I am surprised that the .5 knots would cause a 50% increase in fuel burn, and would not have expected it to be so much, so this is good to keep in mind. Thanks!

[Steadman Uhlich]

Many sailboats have smaller diesel auxiliary engines (30 hp or so). Those can be very efficient.

I was looking at a 40 foot sailboat (motorsailor) that had 1980 year 85 hp Ford Lehman engine with fixed 3 bladed prop.

Another had a 125 hp engine (as I recall).

Can anyone give some experience with those or similar larger engine fuel burn rates at cruising speeds? (noting the boat type, hull, engine).

[a64pilot]

Within limitations of course the BSFC of these engines is pretty close, so the same HP's fuel burn will be pretty close, even in a larger engine running at 30% or 40% power, now each hull will have a point where drag increase with speed is rather large, and that may be well below hull speed.

But and I think JClark said it best, fuel expense was just not a significant cost of their cruise, now they may have been "living high on the hog" compared to some, but unless your a shoe string cruiser, fuel isn't going to be your big cost, and if it is, go outside and sail.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Steady Hand

Good to know. Thanks for adding some time and fuel figures to the discussion. What kind of boat and engine?

We have a Cabo Rico 38 with Westerbeke 46. She runs well.

[four winds]

[QUOTE=four winds;1695165]Yanmar 3gm30f. About .4 gal/hr @ 5.5 knts. So call it 11nm/hr. Oops. That would be 11nm/gal. I could only dream of covering 11 nautical miles in one hour.

About 165 gallons of diesel. And roughly $650

Time wise, I would take around 90 days if not more. Took me two months to go from St. Pete to Panama City a couple of years ago... :-)


Also. I'd most likely sail a bit of that, too. Just sayin.[/QUOTE

[a64pilot]

I cannot speak to the validity of this organization or anything, but their formula seems to jive with my limited experience
Diesel Engine Fuel Consumption - Quick calculation

I assume these are Imperial gls?

[Hank Kivett]

I too have sat an calculated the cost of going from here in NC to the keys...It comes down to a $1.00 a mile for me...now having said that my boat is a CS 30 and i will or would be going solo.(unless i can find a partner) and now before everyone gets there nickers in a twist and tell me to go outside....I would love that but I don't have the experience and solo makes it even worse. I have calculated stopping in a marina every 6th day...caring 4- 5gal cans of fuel.and with an 18 gal tank....with consumption being .5 gal per hr and based upon a 10 hr day. Allowance for food and other essentials and marina cost. None of this takes into account ...bad weather...delays..mechanical problems. Fuel cost is the major factor and in some area its as high as $4.25 per gal. As it stands right now for me to go to the keys is at a minimum of $1500.00.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by Hank Kivett

I too have sat an calculated the cost of going from here in NC to the keys...It comes down to a $1.00 a mile for me...now having said that my boat is a CS 30 and i will or would be going solo.(unless i can find a partner) and now before everyone gets there nickers in a twist and tell me to go outside....I would love that but I don't have the experience and solo makes it even worse. I have calculated stopping in a marina every 6th day...caring 4- 5gal cans of fuel.and with an 18 gal tank....with consumption being .5 gal per hr and based upon a 10 hr day. Allowance for food and other essentials and marina cost. None of this takes into account ...bad weather...delays..mechanical problems. Fuel cost is the major factor and in some area its as high as $4.25 per gal. As it stands right now for me to go to the keys is at a minimum of $1500.00.

Hank,

That sounds really high! Is that cost include anything besides fuel?

- z

[a64pilot]

Way I read it is it's total costs, food, marinas, everything?

[Hank Kivett]

Yes that's right it does include marina's with the average being a $1.50 a foot per night elect. separate..and its hard to say what food cost would be or the cost of getting to a store to get it assuming there is no car available and taxie is required. iI made the assumption based on my fuel usage which is 5 gal per day on a 10 hr day (50 miles) which works out to be 30 days. Now this is an estimate and not fact. I am sure someone can beat or show me how i can cut it down at least i hope so.

[Steadman Uhlich]

According to the NOAA Tables I linked in my Original Post,

Assume taking the ICW from Wilmington NC to Key West:

COASTWISE ROUTE
Wilmington NC to Key West = 667 Nautical Miles

INSIDE ROUTE
Wilmington NC to Key West = 834 Nautical Miles

DIFFERENCE between Coastwise vs. Inside = 167 Nautical miles = 3.3 days if traveling same speed at 50 miles per day