Fearless010

Firstly, hello Shag, hope you've been keeping well.

Not long ago I decided to actually pay a little attention to fuel economy on one trip. Haven't done it since and don't plan on doing it again.

At 55 mph average for a 80 mile trip, I consumed 50 US gallons of fuel.

Just a little reference point for you. I don't ever want to know what my consumption rate is at WOT.

Fearless010 (Peter)

show-n-go h2o

Not sure how 4 blades run on a 28. My 03 came with 25p mirage plus as well and i chanegd those out to a 27p to get a little more top end. I have 2 sets of them, one labbed and one stock. Going to the 27's made it a little harder from the holeshot with a crowd on the boat but the acceleration and top end was worth it.

Shag555

Hello Peter! Good to hear from you!

If you and I are talking about the same run, OK, not ALL WOT, but pretty damn close (at least with the small blocks)!

LuauLounge

Since you've got MPI's
Look at the Smartcraft gauge from Merc.
I have a single 496HO..
I use it for instant GPH, lets you find the best economy/speed.
Also gives you a whole bunch of engine info, you scrolll through the info.

Fearless010

I was actually thinking of a run in Lake Ontario where my wife and I went from Hamilton Harbour to the Niagara river and back. Extremely calm and sticky water, if you know what I mean. Mind you, come to think of it, I think my fill up after the Buffalo Poker Run was about the same amount. Maybe a tiny shade less.

Fearless010 (Peter)

vette131

so nobody that gets 3mpg has any input?

VetteLT193

Just saw this thread was alive again...

I run under 4000 when cruising. I try to get the boat to run in the 45 MPH range when the hull feels freed up but the engines are still turning much less than 4k... With the 26 bravos I want to say 3300-ish because it always seems to slow down a lot at 3200 so I can never keep it that low.

For long runs 'fast' cruise is 3800. regular cruise is more of a butt feel on where the hull frees up and we are running. Tabs all the way up... I have played with the drive trim enough to know where the most efficient spots are to squeeze out the most speed possible for a particular trim setting... and even then I'll bump in/out to try to tweak the last MPH out of it. It also seems to help to get the boat moving faster first then back down.... so I'll run up to 3800-4000 for 30 seconds to get the boat moving then back down to cruising speed. If I run up to a slow cruise it takes forever (or maybe never) to get the most speed out of a particular RPM.

I can say without a doubt running too slow the boat gets horrible mileage and is worse than running too fast. I ran one time with friends in a small Tahoe and burned more fuel on that trip dragging tabs with a fully wetted hull than I ever have at any other speeds.

cheech

I have noticed the same with mine.

In the red

My 2006 28 with 350's is most efficient at 3400 RPM which is 44-45mph as Vette said. A friend of mine loaned me his Diacom software and cable so I could run my laptop on the boat. Best fuel economy was at this point with B-Blades labbed 26 Bravos. Mine planes at 3100 with the K planes up. I have 1.65 drives.

Tug Life

Just got on here after not checking for a while. I run mine (01 28 zx t350's) with the stock set up (except for exhaust tips and a large stereo) with about 4 people all the time in relatively smooth water between 3500 and 4000 rpms. In that range it seems to be really efficient. I tried some 4 bladed 26's and it actually slowed my boat down a bit on top end but it got out of the whole a lot easier with a full load of gas and people. Couldn't blow the props out at all( and I tried to believe me.)