How many people still run gas boats?

waggles02673 · Post by **waggles02673** » Sat May 14, 2016 3:59 pm

Just curious how many people on the board still have gas engines? From reading through the threads it sounds like a lot of folks have repowered with diesels. I know gas boats don't have the efficiency or the speed of a diesel boat but if someone is using their boat under 100hrs a season and running no more than 50-60 miles one way at most does it make sense to pay for a diesel boat. There are some very good deal on gassers right now.

PT3 · Post by **PT3** » Sat May 14, 2016 8:36 pm

I have no regrets with my gas engines!

waggles02673 · Post by **waggles02673** » Sun May 15, 2016 1:45 am

If you don't mind me asking what are you seeing for cruise speed and fuel burn?

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Sun May 15, 2016 4:46 am

Still gas here. I love diesel boats and do wish that I had them but there are a few things I like about gas too. Considering the value of our boats and the 4 - 5 month season in my area, I just can't justify spending $75K to make the switch. I'd sell mine first and go buy a diesel boat. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

waggles02673 · Post by **waggles02673** » Sun May 15, 2016 6:45 am

Rick If you don't mind me asking do you have fuel injected engines or carbed? I am in West Yarmouth and would have the boat probably in Hyannis. What are you seeing for speed, fuel burn and how much fuel do you carry? I fish offshore on my friends boat so I don't need Canyon range etc. If I get a boat it will be used more for fishing East of Chatham, south of the islands down to say the dump and weekend cruising with my wife. My 29 Blackfin had the range for all of this with 454's but didn't have the needed space in the cabin.

mikehedb · Post by **mikehedb** » Sun May 15, 2016 6:11 pm

I have gas. Would love to have diesel, but can't justify the expense.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Sun May 15, 2016 6:28 pm

I have gas and had gas 350's in a 28 Bertram for 14 years. Diesel is great but as Rick said you cannot justify the $75,000 switch. Old sportfishers are a dime a dozen and large expenditures on power is not an option. My experience is gas engines in these boats are going to get 2/3 a mile to a gallon st 3000 rpm and 17 knots loaded. The generator is going to take maybe a bit less than a gallon an hour. That is about it. Some may do a bit better and some a bit less depending on condition of bottom, load, props and age of power, but I think that is what you can expect. Knot Guilty IV 454 Mercruisers Dauphin Island, AL

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Mon May 16, 2016 6:25 am

Wags, Mine are multi-port fuel injected, meaning the injectors aren't on a common rail. So they do a little better than most 454's, but they're still 454's ! I burn about 28 GPH (14 each) at 3,000 RPM making about 18 - 19 knots. Fishing out of Falmouth, I can make it about 15 miles South of the dump but then it's time to turn around. I'm like you, tuna fish on other boats but I'm well within the range of sharking. Since my generator was trashed when I bought the boat, I got rid of it and don't like to see my fuel drop below 1/2 as the transom starts to raise itself a little too high. But I can put up with it on long trips if needed. I can't help thinking that the real value in a boat is how much you enjoy it rather than what the market will bear. Yeah, I'm a little slower and burn more fuel, but there's no stink, the engines are easy and relatively inexpensive to fix and we're only using them 4 - 5 months a year. Over the course of a Summer we have a blast fishing, clamming, beaching, swimming and spending nights in beautiful harbors all over the cape and islands. Guess it's just a boaters nature to always want more but we feel fortunate to be able to do all that for what we put into it. I'd love to put the hammer down with a set of 6BTA's in there just to see what she'd do, but life doesn't suck with gas either. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

waggles02673 · Post by **waggles02673** » Mon May 16, 2016 8:28 am

Rick Thanks for the info. One other question if the Genset is dead and removed is there room to have a aux tank fabricated and installed or better to put a bladder tank on the bow? I know people have mixed feelings about this but I have done it on both my old Contender and my Blackfin. Thanks Jon

No Yacht Yet · Post by **No Yacht Yet** » Mon May 16, 2016 8:50 am

No stink or soot with common rails. It's 2016

buzzk · Post by **buzzk** » Mon May 16, 2016 10:19 am

I would rather have the fabricated aux. tank in the back than a bladder in the bow. I'm sure some of the gas guys know exactly what size tank you can get in the back but I would guess 50-70 gallons.

h2ojst · Post by **h2ojst** » Mon May 16, 2016 12:03 pm

I have 70 gallons of water back there, so I guess you could fit at least that much or more with a custom tank.

waggles02673 · Post by **waggles02673** » Mon May 16, 2016 12:12 pm

Thanks again for the info. Still debating if I want to look at gas or diesel boats. I think it will be the best boat I can find that I feel isn't overpriced. I do not want a project as I have already rebuilt a 28 Bert and a 29 Blackfin Combi and that gets way to expensive.

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Mon May 16, 2016 5:51 pm

Jon, I need to correct myself on the range. I can make it 15 miles of the Shipping Lanes...you had me thinking of the dump ! Anyway, plenty of room for an extra tank back there, but I'd fab one....a lot of sharp corners and rudder tillers moving around. I use it for extra cooler storage ! Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

greysole · Post by **greysole** » Wed May 18, 2016 5:51 am

I've only run gas boats, more than 40 years. Been running the Bertram since 1989. Jonesing for diesels every time I see Frank Price's, Doug's & Al's (forgive me if I've left anyone out)videos of the diesels stepping out. Also when hearing cruise numbers & MPG. In my opinion, the most significant benefit for the diesel boats is the higher cruise @ 24KTS versus @ 19KTS. The performance is better when the hull gets up on top, and the wake flattens out. For offshore guys you'll increase your range considerably. But to come any where near close to justifying the big cash outlay you have to use the boat a ton & burn a lot of fuel. Also as Buzz has said many times, in the current market, it's usually more cost effective to purchase a diesel boat than re-powering a gas boat. We've been using the boat like you suggest < 100 HRS & 50 - 60 Miles. For this purpose the 454's do the job. With proper preventative maintenance, they have been very reliable. They start right up first time every season & idle smoothly with a throaty rumble. Good luck with your search. Either way I do not believe you will be disappointed.