Help me understand fuel consumption on my 2003 Sea Ray 220 5.0 MPI

jayelwin

Member
May 24, 2015
66
Shrewsbury River
Boat Info
2004 Sea Ray 220 Bowrider
Engines
Mercury 5.0 250hp
So I'd like to understand my expected fuel consumption a bit better. I've searched the web and found this video (Different engine I know) and he says something at the 2:30 mark that makes no sense. He says "Our best cruising speed was 30.3 MPH while turning 3500 RPM. At this pace we burned 24.2 gallons per hour for a range of 147 miles"

http://www.boattest.com/Partners/Partner-Main.aspx?lp_id=32&t=BOAT-TEST&Videoid=236&p=0&s=

The boat has a 50 gallon tank and I'm terrible at math but I can still tell you this makes no sense. You'd have a range of 60 miles on 50 gallons with this burn rate. I'm guessing my boat burns less than 24.2 gallons an hour at ideal cruising speed.

I've found no reviews of my specific boat to understand what my ideal cruising speed would be and what my expected range will be. Does anyone have any good info for me?

Thanks.

-Josh
 
Based on that boat test it looks like @ WOT running 51.6 mph you will burn 24.7 gallons per hour, so with a 50 gallon tank one would assume you can run for 2 hrs at WOT and then you run out of gas (actually you will have 0.6 of a gallon left) that would be approx. 103.2 miles traveled but ONLY 2 hours of usage.

@ 29.1 mph and 3.16 mpg you will travel 158 miles and you can use the boat for 5.4 hours before depleting the gas tank


Sea Ray 220 Sundeck Test Result Highlights

•Top speed for the Sea Ray 220 Sundeck is 51.6 MPH (83 KPH), burning 24.7 gallons per hour (GPH) or 93.49 liters per hour (LPH).

•Best cruise for the Sea Ray 220 Sundeck is 29.1 MPH (46.8 KPH), and the boat gets 3.16 miles per gallon (MPG) or 1.34 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 142 miles (228.53 kilometers).

•Tested power is 1 x 320-hp MerCruiser MX 6.2 MPI.
 
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The text says "Best cruise for the Sea Ray 220 Sundeck is 29.1 MPH (46.8 KPH), and the boat gets 3.16 miles per gallon (MPG) or 1.34 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 142 miles (228.53 kilometers)." So, I'd say they just messed up on the GPH #. In fact, the one they quoted was for WOT according to the text.

Bottom line, I think you'd be best to run at about 30 MPH.
 
The text says "Best cruise for the Sea Ray 220 Sundeck is 29.1 MPH (46.8 KPH), and the boat gets 3.16 miles per gallon (MPG) or 1.34 kilometers per liter (KPL), giving the boat a cruising range of 142 miles (228.53 kilometers)." So, I'd say they just messed up on the GPH #. In fact, the one they quoted was for WOT according to the text.

Bottom line, I think you'd be best to run at about 30 MPH.


I don't think they messed up the GPH @ WOT.

At cruise (29.1 mph) they listed MPG

For WOT (51.6 mph) they listed GPH (2) two completely different animals.
 
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I don't think they messed up the GPH @ WOT.

At cruise (29.1 mph) they listed MPG

For WOT (51.6 mph) they listed GPH (2) two completely different animals.

Sorry, but I just listened to it again and it is talking about best cruise and says "At this pace we burned 24.2 GPH."
 
Sorry, but I just listened to it again and it is talking about best cruise and says "At this pace we burned 24.2 GPH."


I apologize, I wasn't attacking, I looked at the text and went off of the WOT and cruise figures thinking I was helping the OP understand the information.

I was more focused on helping him understand the math than watching the video and picking up on the error.

No offense meant ................
 
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I apologize, I wasn't attacking, I looked at the text and went off of the WOT and cruise figures thinking I was helping the OP understand the information.

No offense taken. I, too, posted the text info, which he apparently missed. But he was confused about the guy giving such a high GPH figure for cruise - or at least he said he was. :grin: Anyway, I think he's probably got the info he needs now.
 
Somewhere in the 3 - 4 MPG range is about right for cruising speed along with about 125 - 150 mile range depending on load and water conditions.
 
Glad to hear he was wrong. Also I see the tab with the chart. I'm happy that my efficiency isn't as bad as he says.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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