Drove My Boat, Wow!!!

[Laurie S.]

Very nice. Love the look of the graphics, and the dash is sweet also. Trailer is great also - I like the cow catcher bow stops, and will be putting one on mine this winter. Also like the steps - gotta look into that also. Dang, there you've added to my project list!

Hard to tell from the picture, but you might want to check the trailer next time to see if it's level. Looks like it's lower in front, which will stress the front axle tires more and lead to blowouts. Ask me how I know...

Yeah, we spent a lot time trying to get it level and still didn't quite have it.  But, there will be no more long-distance trips with it.  It only will be trailered from dry storage to the boat launching ramp from now on.  We were very pleased how well my truck handled that load and how well the surge brakes worked.  I got about 12 miles to the gallon, but we were holding the speed to about 60 mph or less.

[apollard]

But, there will be no more long-distance trips with it.  It only will be trailered from dry storage to the boat launching ramp from now on.  We were very pleased how well my truck handled that load and how well the surge brakes worked.  I got about 12 miles to the gallon, but we were holding the speed to about 60 mph or less.

Doh! Don't ever say 'never' around a boat - they are worse than Mustangs for proving you wrong!

12 mpg is great. My gasser gets 11 pulling a 26 footer at 65. 6.5 through the mountains to my favorite lake.

[Laurie S.]

Doh! Don't ever say 'never' around a boat - they are worse than Mustangs for proving you wrong!

12 mpg is great. My gasser gets 11 pulling a 26 footer at 65. 6.5 through the mountains to my favorite lake.

Oh, I know, but I sure don't intend to haul that beast anywhere again!  It's not so much the length, but where the pivot points of the wheels are that makes it difficult.  I was expecting to get about 9 or 10 mpg, so I was a happy camper.

[Flysure1]

Now if the boat only got 11-12 mpg!!!, good friend of mine has 34' sea ray--twin 496's ---around a mile per gallon, I don't even embarass myself and offer to fuel it up --he runs it through his company. We have fished off the east coast a couple of times in it---I am sure it would be a blast to be in a boat as fast of yours, 70 mph is the top speed I have traveled on water--seems like you are flying!   Have fun.

[Laurie S.]

Now if the boat only got 11-12 mpg!!!, good friend of mine has 34' sea ray--twin 496's ---around a mile per gallon, I don't even embarass myself and offer to fuel it up --he runs it through his company. We have fished off the east coast a couple of times in it---I am sure it would be a blast to be in a boat as fast of yours, 70 mph is the top speed I have traveled on water--seems like you are flying!   Have fun.

For sure!  The hard part is having to convert everything to figure cost.  The fuel is sold in liters and in pesos.  I have a 180-gallon fuel tank and the gauge showed it as 3/8ths full.  When I was able to check the conversion on my credit card, to fill the tank from that point it was $282 dollars and change.  We were running it hard the second day and by the time we finished, the tank was down to three-quarters full.  At the same time, it usually costs about $100-120 for a two tank dive on the local dive boats, so I think it will work out pretty good for me.  So, considering that it usually will be two divers and maybe a boat watcher on my boat versus as many as 32 divers on the dive boats, I'm very happy.  Oh, also no beer on the dive boats.  That is a required staple on my boat (after diving).  ;)

[apollard]

Now if the boat only got 11-12 mpg!!!, good friend of mine has 34' sea ray--twin 496's ---around a mile per gallon,

I hope that's WFO. That combo should be close to 2 mpg cruising. Merc 496 (or for that matter VP versions) are pretty efficient.