Fuel consumption - An interesting comparson

[Kern O]

I had one of those "I wonder" questions answered today. I flew from Los Angeles to Maui today on a 757-300 along with about 230 other people. That flight was about 2500 miles and the fuel used for the trip was 4790 gallons. That's just a bit more than .5 MPG to keep 220,000 pounds of aircraft in the sky. The plane uses almost 750 gallons for takeoff and climb to altitude, so at cruise it probably gets closer to .7 mpg. I find it stupid that we are looking at numbers for boats that are not that much higher, yet those boats weigh less than 5 percent of what that aircraft weighs.

Worse yet, they are pushing that plane at something over 500 mph. When I passed the first gas station here, where premium is over $4.00, I really am left to wonder how we can make a huge improvement in boat fuel consumption. I understand that boats are forever going uphill, but they ought to do better than just getting twice what 110 tons of aluminum does. The plane is not just going uphill. It is suspended off the ground. Yeah, I know that the lift helps a lot. But maybe Ocke Mannerfelt was onto something with the "Bat Boat".

[fishbard]

Water is a lot thicker than air. Guess you could get a floatplane, but I think it might not be a very fishable rig. You'd need pretty flat water to take off and land in and it sure would be a bummer if it kicked up while a good bite was on and it got too rough to take off in! You can get a lot better fuel mileage in a diesel boat that runs at displacement speeds. The way I see it, it is a time problem. If I didn't have to spend a lot of time working, I could afford to take the time to go fishing in an 8 knot boat, just think, you'd never run over fish to catch fish, 'cause you could troll all the time.

[Capt. Fred]

Yup, as you know Gary my old lobster boat went 12 knots wide open with a clean bottom. We'd run at 9 knots and start trolling as soon as we got past No Mans Island. Fish for 3 days in the canyons and burn 65 gals of diesel fuel.

It is amazing that a plane that big can run 500 mph for that many miles and only burn a little more fuel than my fathers 28 Bertram burned. That was a solid 1 mpg performer. I wonder how big the wings and power plant would have to be to lift a 25 foot Hydra Sport off the ground? We could fly out to the weather buoy (which should take all of 5 minutes) land, stand the wings up and use them as sails for trolling. Fold them back down at the end of the day and fly home.

[Kern O]

I like the idea of foldable wings and quicker transit times. There will still be a problem if it takes 750 gallons to get to cruising altitude.

[Capt. Fred]

Yup, getting that baby in the air would be painful!

[welder]

We just need Turbine motors with LOTS of compresser's in'em and of course ALLOY.

But who would buy an alloy hull ?

Lester

[Capt. Fred]

Have you seen Gus's boat Lester? (Auguste on THT) Sweet looking rig I think made in Canada.

[welder]

Fred , I was joking, I run a 06 Pacific [ see my sig pic ] . And yes , Auguste's boat is way AWESOME.

ALLOY FOREVER.

Now I just need the turbine motor.

Lester

[Capt. Fred]

Oh, I knew you were joking Lester. I've seen the pics of your rig and followed your love for the alloy boats. I was just curious if you'd seen Gus's boat. Regarding our "boat plane" I agree that the aluminum is the way to go. I wonder what kind of runway length of calm water will be required to take off. Or even more important, to land! Do you think a turbine mounted on the hard top would require the crew to wear hearing protection?

[welder]

Take off would be the bummer [ lots of flat water ] the landing would take a much shorter distance.

If we built a alloy hard top that was adjustable [ back for running and forward for fishing ] I think we could make it happen.

Of course we could take the motor , let's say out of a Huey, and the tranny and make it a stern drive with a duel or tripple prop turning about 20,000 to 30,000 RPMS we might have something there.

What you say.........

Lester