COST CUTTING WHERE YOU CAN
The cost of a barrel of oil doesn’t really get any cheaper, so anyway of saving on the fuel consumption can always be handy:
Keep your boat in good order, that is say keep the engine in good order by maintaining it or getting it serviced regularly. Telltale signs could be a smokey engine with black or white fumes, unusual noises and knocks and strange odours coming from the engine.
Only take with you what you need, for example don’t fill water a container if it wont be used. It’s the excess weight that increases the fuel consumption and whatever weighted items you carry, try to distribute these evenly throughout your boat.
The general condition of your boat should be kept in good order. When not in use or when you’re removing it from the water for winter make sure to clean any debris of the hull such weeds or barnacles then give it a coat of antifouling paint. This will make it glide through the water much easier, reducing the friction or drag.
Try not to be in such a rush, by reducing your speed by any amount will save fuel. If your boat has sails, then use them when you can, the wind is free and more enjoyable. If not; try to maintain practical cruising speeds. I know that going full throttle is fun, but it can work out quite expensive.
Heard the saying ‘go with the flow’; well in this case its ‘go with the tide’. Get to know the tides where you and whenever go out try to go with them, instead of travelling against them, because yet again this uses up a lot more fuel.
Depending on your needs and wants, you may want to consider investing a good navigation or autopilot system, countless journeys are undertaken by taking the wrong routes, whereby travelling straight from A to B can be simpler, cheaper and use less engine hours.
If you own a boat that’s designed for ‘planing’ on top of the water, then keeping your speed up, actually increases the fuel efficiency because it reduces the drag.
Depending on the type boat you own, shopping around for fuel can save a lot. Quite of a lot of owners fill up at the marina which you will find; is generally more expensive. Of course there are the practicalities of doing this so the choice is yours. Some waterways now sell biofuels, which is cheaper.
You may want to even consider an electric or solar-electric powered boat, as there are now more charging points.
Try to budget for general maintenance and up-keep which is usually around 10% of the purchase price of the boat a year. Try to do as much as you can yourself.
