Do You Need to Carry as Much Fuel as Possible?

Advances in technology and materials has changed the thinking on fuel capacity. Jim Hendricks

Carrying as much fuel as possible ranked for many years as one of my most devoted beliefs, especially in the days of two-stroke outboards and heavy, overbuilt offshore hulls. But a recent fuel-tank retrofit project has led to an epiphany and a reevaluation of that belief. 

Allow me to explain.

The old aluminum fuel tank in my 22-foot center-­console ­fiberglass boat had begun to leak, and so last year, my youngest son and I drained and tore out the old 88-gallon tank. 

True to form, I wanted to go big, but I discovered that the new design, once built, actually held less to the tune of 10 gallons, or 11 percent. A tad disappointed but otherwise pleased with the outcome, we put the 22-footer back to work, and an odd thing happened. My ­disappointment faded.

Old-school thinking no longer seemed relevant. Unlike the “old days,” we now return from fishing 40 miles offshore with plenty of fuel, usually with more than half a tank. What’s more, we have not yet violated the rule of thirds—one-third to get out, one-third to get back, and one-third in reserve.

That’s because of physics, in this case. But today’s marine technologies are also increasing efficiency, and thus decreasing the need for the massive fuel capacities needed in the past. Here are five reasons why today you might not need as much fuel capacity as you did in the past.

Stingier Outboards

Today’s fuel-injected four-stroke outboards are a lot more fuel efficient than the carbureted two-strokes that dominated the market when I bought my boat in 1986. The old two-stroke outboards were particularly thirsty at offshore trolling speeds of 7 to 10 knots, forcing me on more than one occasion to carry as many as four 5-gallon fuel cans on deck in order to extend our offshore range and time on the water. By ­comparison, today’s four-stroke models sip fuel, ­minimizing the need to carry inordinate amounts of gas.

Lighter Construction

Many of today’s ­fiberglass boats weigh less than comparable models of yore thanks to advanced boatbuilding technology, which includes lightweight coring materials (versus wood), lighter and stronger fiber materials such as Kevlar and carbon fiber, and new vacuum-resin-infusion processes that eliminate excess resin. New boats are just as strong and durable as ever, maybe more so. And because they’re lighter—all other ­factors being equal—you don’t need as much fuel to go the same distance as in the past.

Efficient Running Surfaces

Computer-aided design and ­virtual testing has resulted in slipperier hull ­surfaces. This includes the increasing use of step-hulls by boatbuilders, as well as ­ever-improving design methods, including ­computer-aided design and virtual testing of running surfaces before actual production begins. As a result, boats skim the water with greater efficiency than ever before, and so—again, with all other factors being equal—they burn comparatively less fuel than models of yesteryear.

Read Next: How to Avoid Running Out of Fuel While Boating

Dynamic Trim Control

Recent advances in automatic attitude-­control technology are also increasing efficiency. A notable example is the Seakeeper Ride, which I recently installed on my boat. Instead of using a heavy hand in deploying trim tabs—which increases drag and reduces efficiency—the Ride system responds with blinding speed to bring down the bow to slice through a wave but then immediately lets the bow rise between waves to cruise more efficiently, I have found in my testing.

Less Fuel, Less Weight

Carrying less fuel is a bit of self-­fulfilling prophecy when it comes to fuel efficiency. As I mentioned earlier, that’s just a law of physics. My boat lost 60 pounds with 10 gallons less gas when the tank is full, and as I pointed out, the lighter your boat becomes, the less fuel—and money—you will burn through.

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