Postby CapnGary » Tue Jan 29, 2019 8:52 pm
We recently purchased and just finished commissioning a 32 FB. twin 318's. We have run it locally up the river and back around Demopolis, Al. Our intention is to cruise down the Tombigbee to our home port past Pensacola. It is 217 miles downriver, w/2 locks, to Mobile, Al. The fuel prospects on the route are poor, if any. With 2 -75 gallon tanks, it makes me nervous, hearing about 1 MPG. (that's 150 miles) We wouldn't make it. I was planning on carrying about 30 gallons in carry on containers, but still isn't enough . I suppose going downriver would help.
Only one responder (R Thing) said he could get 3MPG at 1400 RPM. Does anyone else verify that? That would make my day.
And I ask, when using 1 motor to save fuel, is it best for the non-running motor stay in gear to stop spinning the transmission, or is it better to leave it spin, with the motor off. I worry about transmission damage, and know a stopped prop will introduce drag.
We are not needing to fly down the river, but would rather not float down, out of gas, and get run over by barges.