Gallons per hour

D

DTempi

New Member
Apr 2, 2012
3
Bradenton Fl.
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2002
Engines
Twin 8.1 Mercruiser Horizons V-DRIVES
We are moving to Bradenton Florida from St. Louis Mo. I am going to be cruising our 2002 340 Sundancer with 8.1L Horizons down the Mississippi portion of the Great Loop to our new home in Bradenton. The leg of the trip from Hoppies Marina in Kimmswick Mo., the last gas refueling stop, to Kentucky Dam Marina is 250 miles. I need advise on fuel consumption. This will be a cruise without any side trips. Experienced Loopers or anyone with information that may help in my preparation for this trip is appreciated.

Thank You
 
DTempi said:
We are moving to Bradenton Florida from St. Louis Mo. I am going to be cruising our 2002 340 Sundancer with 8.1L Horizons down the Mississippi portion of the Great Loop to our new home in Bradenton. The leg of the trip from Hoppies Marina in Kimmswick Mo., the last gas refueling stop, to Kentucky Dam Marina is 250 miles. I need advise on fuel consumption. This will be a cruise without any side trips. Experienced Loopers or anyone with information that may help in my preparation for this trip is appreciated.

Thank You
Click to expand...

I know you asked for fuel consumption - which someone will pipe up with that has the 8.1's - if you have not seen this site it may be useful. I read somewhere on this site or another loopers site that there are also some truck based refueling options - even if you can make the distance based on the most efficient speed knowing this option and how to use it would be useful.

http://www.greatloop.org/frequently-asked-questions-cms-84
 
I have a 2002 340 with 8.1s, and even on the best day, 1 MPG on plane is hard to achieve. You may get it with just the right speed, trim tab setting, etc. Since the 340 only has a 225 gallon fuel capacity, it's pretty clear you can't safely do a 250 mile trip, on plane, without refueling once. So, you'll have to do the trip at displacement speed, arrange for refueling somehow, or have the boat transported.

Dale
 
Keep in mind I live on the Chesapeake Bay as you read this and the furthest West I have been IS the Mississippi

i typed in Mississippi River marinas with fuel and got a pretty nice list of stops, you may want to look and re plot your stops for fuel.
 
I have the 08 330 with 8.1. Very similar setup. At 3500rpm, with a clean bottom and properly tuned props, I'm burning 34-36 gph at roughly 27 mph. With that boat, you wont make it. Even strapping additional tanks wont do the trick.
 
DTempi said:
We are moving to Bradenton Florida from St. Louis Mo. I am going to be cruising our 2002 340 Sundancer with 8.1L Horizons down the Mississippi portion of the Great Loop to our new home in Bradenton. The leg of the trip from Hoppies Marina in Kimmswick Mo., the last gas refueling stop, to Kentucky Dam Marina is 250 miles. I need advise on fuel consumption. This will be a cruise without any side trips. Experienced Loopers or anyone with information that may help in my preparation for this trip is appreciated.

Thank You
Click to expand...

With only 225gal tank you will NOT make it by around 90 miles. For planning purposes, don’t even think using 1GPM. You have to use conservative 0.7MPG. This is very realistic number, which realistically get you safe 160 miles range.

I did a 140NM run with a friend on 340DA following me. He came on fumes to the fuel dock. About 15NM from the destination, he was ready to anchor and call SeaTow.

I don’t know the body of water or the area, so I can’t comments on the fuel stops. But, using info you’re providing and assuming that there’s no possible way to get fuel on the 250 mile leg, you have only one safe approach on doing this, HULL SPEED. Review your fuel burn table, which will roughly show that at 1200-1300RPMs you’ll be burning around 7GPH cruising at 7-8kts. These will be the realistic numbers to use for your 250 mile leg. Now, granted that you don’t have to cruise slow the entire 250 miles stretch. Do the math and come up with reasonable, safe and conservative leg, which you could cover on plane. For example 70 miles. Being on conservative side, I’d go even less than 70.

Forget extra cans, you’ll need 20 of them.
 
Have you thought about not going down the Mississippi but taking the Ohio to the Tennessee and taking the "Tenn-Tom" waterway, coming out in Mobile? I think the fuel stops are better and there is less barge traffic making getting through the locks easier.

Previously I found several posting on the net detailing that route for the "Great Loop". From what I read it was a better way to go and recommended more than taking the Mississippi route.

Steve


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DTempi said:
We are moving to Bradenton Florida from St. Louis Mo. I am going to be cruising our 2002 340 Sundancer with 8.1L Horizons down the Mississippi portion of the Great Loop to our new home in Bradenton. The leg of the trip from Hoppies Marina in Kimmswick Mo., the last gas refueling stop, to Kentucky Dam Marina is 250 miles. I need advise on fuel consumption. This will be a cruise without any side trips. Experienced Loopers or anyone with information that may help in my preparation for this trip is appreciated.

Thank You
Click to expand...

Steve S said:
Have you thought about not going down the Mississippi but taking the Ohio to the Tennessee and taking the "Tenn-Tom" waterway, coming out in Mobile? I think the fuel stops are better and there is less barge traffic making getting through the locks easier.

Previously I found several posting on the net detailing that route for the "Great Loop". From what I read it was a better way to go and recommended more than taking the Mississippi route.

Steve


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Looks to me like that's what he is going to do. I think I'd set up a fuel delivery somewhere along the way.
 
woody is spot on. get a friend who takes a barrel of fuel on a pickup and meet him somewhere underway for personal refuel .
 
My mistake, I missed that he was going via the Tenn-Tom...

At home I have the links for a diary of other people taking the loop. I will check it out after I get home from the boat on Sunday.


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As i mentioned earlier, I wish I had the link but if you search the Loopers sites one of them has a list of Jobbers that will deliver fuel via truck and the best locations for that to be arranged. It is at a premium but will get you where you want to go.

I cannot find the correct page but here is an extract from one site discussing this.

"Lower Mississippi route to New Orleans:
Your major problem with cruising the Lower Mississippi River is NOT the Tows, the Tugs, the bugs, or the current; as
most people (most who have actually never done it) might say. The single biggest concern, and main obstacle is fuel,
or should I say lack of it. As well as lack of full service Marinas if you have trouble.

Of course, there are fuel alternatives: Kidd River Fuel is one of them. They are fuel jobbers that will truck in fuel to a
designated dock. This fuel comes with a premium. Kidd River Fuel has a dock located at the Upper Mississippi Mile
marker 51.9. To arrange fuel, you must call at least 24 hours in advance of arrival, and they have a 100 gallon
minimum, with a premium price on their fuel. Furthermore, Kidd River no longer will deliver gasoline, only diesel.
There are other companies that will truck in fuel in Vicksburg, Natches, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. Some handle
gasoline & diesel, some don't. If your vessel uses gasoline, I would not count on any truck delivered fuel being
available."
 
The 250 mile stretch I'm speaking of is from Kimmswick Mo. to Kentucky Dam Marina. I do plan on taking the Tenn-Tom Waterway.
Steve S said:
Have you thought about not going down the Mississippi but taking the Ohio to the Tennessee and taking the "Tenn-Tom" waterway, coming out in Mobile? I think the fuel stops are better and there is less barge traffic making getting through the locks easier.

Previously I found several posting on the net detailing that route for the "Great Loop". From what I read it was a better way to go and recommended more than taking the Mississippi route.

Steve


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
 
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