Course How To

Average houseboat fuel consumption numbers

by Joe
(Miami, Florida)

What's the average houseboat fuel consumption numbers

What's the average houseboat fuel consumption numbers

Have been seeking information on various or average houseboat fuel consumption numbers at cruising speed. I am looking for houseboat fuel consumption in the 35' to 45' range.


I am aware of various factors that could affect consumption. I am looking for real life experiences for houseboaters that have taken extended cruises.

Thank You, Joe


Advertise Houseboat Business Advertising



Reply - Answer
Well Joe, I have always heard people mention that houseboats get @ 1/2 to 1 mile per gallon (MPG).

To give you some of our real life gallon per hour numbers, a 45 foot aluminum barge style houseboat with a single 3.0 Liter 4 cylinder gas engine, and it would burn @ 2 gallons per hour (GPH), and do @ 6-7 knots (7-8 MPH), running at @ 2500 RPM.

Definitely not neck breaking, however at this speed you could chat together, eat a sandwich, and enjoy the scenery all at the same time :)

A previous houseboat was a Gibson style and it had twin 4.3 liter V6's, and we would burn @ 10-12 gallons per hour, running at 3200 RPM, and were planing at @ 16 knots (18 MPH). I found that at that speed you really have to keep an eye on what's ahead, and floating or submerged debris :(

Possibly some of our readers are interested in reducing their houseboats fuel consumption, or getting more mileage per tank of fuel, than have a look at our most popular Houseboat Mileage Tips.


Lastly, hopefully some of our readers will share and post comments about their real-life houseboat FUEL CONSUMPTION or mileage numbers.


Feel free to use the "Click here to post comments." link found near the bottom of this page.

Thanks again for sharing, IAN from all-about-houseboats

More Information



Free Bonus Offer

To show our deep appreciation to all of our readers and visitors, here is the link to our free houseboat magazine, the INSIDER. Go ahead click the book and sign-up, it's free and filled with great articles, tips, information and website updates.

free Houseboat Magazine - The Houseboat Insider

Comments for Average houseboat fuel consumption numbers

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		great information
by: The Harris' in Florida

Thank you to the owner of this post and a special thank you to all who replied and a special shout out to Captain Bill for the thorough reply. This is much sought after info as my wife and i are in the planning stages of purchasing a houseboat. 5 stars , a thumbs up and a great big thank you and happy adventures,
The Harris'
Florida
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Miles per gallon for solar houseboats
by: Solarhouseboat

Solarhouseboat is a 34' Trojan houseboat powered by a 36 volt motor running on 24 volts. It has a 115 hp Johnson outboard for a rudder.

Solarhouseboat is preparing the travel the Great Loop beginning in September or October 2013. We might be slow; but it's free!

When we run our 115 Johnson outboard for more power and speed we run it in tandem with our electric motor. Our mileage depends on current and wind.

When we run the 115 Johnson outboard alone we can average approximately 3 mpg @ 5-6 mph unless there is strong current or wind against us.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat fuel cost from South Carolina to Texas
by: Trisha

On a 42' Gibson houseboat what dollar amount could I expect to spend on fuel going from Charleston, SC to Galveston, Tx
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		A diesel houseboat is the way to go
by: Capt. Ole Olson

I have 40' houseboat with a 4 cyl Detroit diesel. We go about 7 knots depending on current in the ICW at 1700 rpm and use about one gallon per hour. This is about as economical as possible.

Make your own luck and live life to the max.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Mileage and Gas Consumption
by: Old Houseboater

Average 40 to 50 foot cruising type houseboat (Gibson, Holiday Mansion etc.) with twins.

Hull speed up to 1 mile per gallon - on plane 1/2 mile per gallon or less.
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Houseboat Fuel Consumption and RPM numbers
by: Capt Bill

A houseboat is usually a displacement hull, meaning that it must push water away to go across the water. Some houseboats have planing hulls, but require huge amounts of power to "get up on plane".

Displacement hulls have a theoretical maximum hull speed, and once you reach this speed the vessel will not go any faster. The speed for a 35' hull is 5.9 knots, a 40' is 6.3 knots, and a 45' is 6.7 knots.

For optimum fuel efficiency, chose 80% of this maximum speed to obtain the best gas mileage. Most houseboats reach this speed with the engine RPM set to between 2000 and 3000 RPM. On a "big block" V-8 engine this is just before the extra 2 barrels of the 4 barrel carburetor cuts in.

Any marine engine manufacturer's technical support department can give you fuel consumption numbers for a given RPM. Check the speed with a GPS.

My 67' houseboat with twin 4-cylinders uses 5 gallons per hour at 2400 RPM.

Capt Bill.

Reply - Answer
Well Capt Bill, I wanted to thank you personally for providing some great information, and real life fuel consumption numbers for houseboats.

I agree with you, since we run our houseboat at @ 2500 RPM and she cruises nicely at @ 6 knots.
Remember the "golden rule", the faster you want to go, the more it costs in MPG (Miles Per Gallon).

Thanks again,
IAN from www.all-about-houseboats.com

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Questions Answers on Houseboats.

Continue Reading Our Popular Pages

Manufacturers
Live on a Boat
HB Forums
HB Rentals 		HB Buying Guide
Boat Build Plans
New Houseboats

Parts/Accessories
Trailerable Boats
What's New / Blog 		Pontoon H-Boats
Marine Insurance
Transport/Movers
Loans & Finance

Our collection of houseboat ebooks

Ebook Boats Collection on Houseboat Books

We just love houseboats, do you?
Join our monthly HB Insider for free



Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.