Fuel Economy of an Atomic 4 on a Pearson 30

[Cest la Dave]

Hello everyone,

I am considering purchasing a Pearson 30 with a 30 hp Atomic 4. If all goes well on the survey, I will be sailing the boat from Daytona Beach, Florida up to Wilmington, NC. Since I am on a tight schedule with crew availability I will likely motor for much of the way when sailing conditions are adverse. I am curious as to what kind of miles per gallon or gallons per hour of fuel consumption I could expect and what kind of speed to expect. Again, it will be a 30 hp engine pushing an 8400 pound boat with a LWL of 25 feet.

Thank you for your assistance,
Dave


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[GordMay]

According to Don Moyer (the A4 guru):
“An Atomic 4 in reasonably good condition can conservatively cruise at 5.5 knots, burning 1.0 gallons per hour.”
➥ Atomic 4 Fuel Consumption - Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians

[Cest la Dave]

That is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you very much!


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[DougR]

I can confirm what GordMay says....many years of motoring with a Tartan 30 with A4 engine. 5.5 to 6 knots at a gallon per hour. If you can get a sail up to help a little the consumption drops.

DougR

[FamilyVan]

Also confirming. I had an 8600 lb G30 with an atomic 4. 5.5-6.0 knots, and quite economical as mentioned.
However, I had a feathering two bladed prop and the boat would make virtually no headway in any kind of sea state. There were times I resorted to tacking to reach a destination straight up wind because it was faster than motoring, or no slower any way.

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[jeepbluetj]

I go 6kts at 2000 rpm burning around .80g/hr. Sometimes a bit more. Indigo 3 blade prop. If I slow down it gets much better, but then I'd be going slower.

A diesel is definitely less thirsty, but I like my A4 - it's smoother than any diesel that was in a C30 and it runs fine.

[a64pilot]

I'm not sure a Diesel burns that much less, and factor in fuel cost difference and at least at a dollar amount per hour the little Atomic probably wins


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[jeepbluetj]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I'm not sure a Diesel burns that much less, and factor in fuel cost difference and at least at a dollar amount per hour the little Atomic probably wins

Maybe. The universal diesel in a Catalina 30 is rumored at .5 gal/hr. It would make a difference to me because my fuel tank is so small, not necessarily $$$. Last trip to catalina for me was motor to Avalon. Motor to the isthmus. Motor home. (Sucks to own a sailboat when there is no wind) - Had I not bought fuel in Avalon, I would have been drifting/rowing/towed by the dink/etc...

I'd wager a guess that the Pearson 30 that Cest la Dave's looking at gets similar performance as my Catalina.

One thing I do like about the A4 is there's plenty of power for my size boat.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I'm not sure a Diesel burns that much less, and factor in fuel cost difference and at least at a dollar amount per hour the little Atomic probably wins


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The M25 21hp in our Catalina 34 gets 0.493 gph. Over 16 years. Not "rumored" but actual measurements at repeated refills.

[a64pilot]

I believe you , my 44 HP Yanmar burns 1GPH about twice the HP and about twice the fuel burn, but seems the 30 HP Atomic burns 1 GPH also, which puts it burning maybe 1 gt an hour more than a similar HP diesel? That isn't nearly as much as I would have thought and like I said as gasoline is sometimes cheaper the $ per hour may be less than a Diesel.
I love Diesels, have a truck that is and have had cars that were, but none of them are as smooth and as quiet as a gas motor, but just commenting on a better fuel consumption for the Atomic than I would have thought, it's not really a very modern engine design after all.


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