Boat/Albatross delimma?
Ok, so I have a nice older 21ft SeaRay. Runs like a top and is configured about as well as it can be for fishing. It’s more of a day cruiser, (cuddy) and not really and overnight boat. Single 305 V-8 with Mercruiser outdrive. It serves the purpose.
Along comes a 25 Ft SportCraft Hardtop. Lot’s more room, auto-pilot, GPS/Fishfinder combo, trim tabs, 350 V-8 with Mercruiser outdrive. Much nicer fishing boat, with overnight capability. Possibly more efficient on fuel.
Problems: First off, the price difference between the two boats is about $18,000! Then there’s always the problem of selling the SeaRay in today’s economy. The SeaRay is worth around $6500. I can dig up the cash, and suffer with the 2 boat syndrome for a while, but not forever.
Also, and even more on my mind is the cost of gasoline. If it goes beyond all reason (it’s actually already there) and I wind up having to make a planter, or cabin, out of the boat. Do I want a $6500 planter, or a $24,500 planter? Do I want a $6500 planter, next to a $24,500 cabin??
Troubling thoughts,,,, That SportCraft is a sweet ride, but, it sure seems like it’s heading down the path toward Albatrossism. I’m already wondering if I’m going to be priced out of sport shooting, by the cost of ammo,,,, Are we now going to be pushed out of fishing, by the cost of fuel.
Your thoughts are welcomed,,,
GreyBeard
May 28th, 2008 at 7:32 am
are the motors fuel injected? If not, we could always convert them to run on propane! lp ~$2.60/gallon
May 28th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
The SeaRay is definately carberated. I’m not sure about the SportCraft?
I’ll check into it,, I hadn’t even thought about how it’s aspirated, been to busy checking out other parts of it.
Do you think it’s really possible to run a boat on Propane?? I’ve never heard of it, but under $3 a gallon sounds awfully good.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:56 am
shouldn’t be a problem. the buggy has a 305 and the motor I took the propane kit off was a 351…. as long as there is room for the regulator and mixer it shouldn’t be a problem.
Burns cleaner too. No more sucking stinky exhaust while trolling. You’d be looking at about a 10% economy/power loss, but would still be cheaper.
The only thing I’m unsure of is how you’d plumb the regulator. I’m unfamiliar with the cooling system for a boat motor……
May 29th, 2008 at 10:32 am
I sent out a couple of feeler’s to companies that supply car kits, and one that talks about boat kits. It’s an interesting idea.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I talked with a guy at parkers propane today for about 5-10 minutes. He told me I should use fork truck tanks or be sure to buy propane as RV use because there would be no road tax. He also told me he can get parts/kit parts for WAY less than what any other company/kit seller can get them for. Sounded like a good ole’ boy that knew his stuff. He basically told me what I was probably using on the buggy without me telling him.
He also made an interesting point about me using the RV style tank. It’s a vapor draw and not a liquid draw - which makes him suspect that the motor is running quite lean. I’m going to open up the lean/rich valve on the mixer and see if I get a performance boost.
May 31st, 2008 at 2:09 am
I got a couple of pretty inteligent sounding responses to my emails. One from a Canadian with 27 years of marine experience. He thought that propane on a boat would introduce more problems than it was worth, and suggested diesel as the cure all.
But, it seems to me, that diesel is pretty expensive!