- Nov 26, 2006
- 7,628
- Boat Info
- 2008 44 Sedan Bridge
- Engines
- Cummins QSC-500's
Straight Drives
That's about all of it. Following seas. South at 10 - 15 while we were cruising 300 degrees (WNW).
Too many groundings in Apalachicola, so we saved $600 and one day. We cruised at 1000 RPM, 9 mph, 4 gph for 10 hours, off and on. We only planed for 6 hours, though we planned to plane 6 1/2 - 7 hours. I saved an hour of planing's fuel in case we needed to hurry to a port, but then found dense fog on arrival at our pass, so we continued to fish all the way to the dock.
We left Hudson, Fl at 0515 EDST. We made our way out of the shallows and slow-cruised for 2 hours, then fast cruised for 2 1/4 hours, then slow cruised for a couple more while fishing. We caught 4, very large Bonita (trash tuna) and threw them all back. We continued to rotate between the two speeds to save fuel and save my wife from too much rocking and rolling - planing is more comfortable for her.
We carry 350 gallons total, and use about 40 gph while planing and heavy (dinghy on back). We saved $600 by bypassing Apalachicola. Had we gone there, we would have used 300 gallons getting there, then another 100 getting home, plus dinner out, plus a night at the marina. As it was, we only used the first 300 gallons and made it all the way home. I really enjoyed slow-cruising across the Gulf. Several packs of Dolphins attacked our boat at various points along the way (video to follow).
We always ran both engines the entire time. There was some rain along the way, some white caps, not one other boat at all period dot. Mind is mush. More later.
Too many groundings in Apalachicola, so we saved $600 and one day. We cruised at 1000 RPM, 9 mph, 4 gph for 10 hours, off and on. We only planed for 6 hours, though we planned to plane 6 1/2 - 7 hours. I saved an hour of planing's fuel in case we needed to hurry to a port, but then found dense fog on arrival at our pass, so we continued to fish all the way to the dock.
We left Hudson, Fl at 0515 EDST. We made our way out of the shallows and slow-cruised for 2 hours, then fast cruised for 2 1/4 hours, then slow cruised for a couple more while fishing. We caught 4, very large Bonita (trash tuna) and threw them all back. We continued to rotate between the two speeds to save fuel and save my wife from too much rocking and rolling - planing is more comfortable for her.
We carry 350 gallons total, and use about 40 gph while planing and heavy (dinghy on back). We saved $600 by bypassing Apalachicola. Had we gone there, we would have used 300 gallons getting there, then another 100 getting home, plus dinner out, plus a night at the marina. As it was, we only used the first 300 gallons and made it all the way home. I really enjoyed slow-cruising across the Gulf. Several packs of Dolphins attacked our boat at various points along the way (video to follow).
We always ran both engines the entire time. There was some rain along the way, some white caps, not one other boat at all period dot. Mind is mush. More later.
