Since Wild Wind IV has been mentioned I should put in my two cents worth. I
noticed someone said the figures were in calm waters. WWIV averaged over 8
knots and burned less than 4 GPH on both the passage from NZ to Fiji and The
Marquises to Hawaii. This was not calm water. When the passages started WWIV
was about 73,000#. These figures were gained by fueling just before the
passages and just after. My Flo-Scans are pessimists. I think the figures
that Georgs is quoting are when he went with me across Lake Ontario to the
Wellend Canal. They tend to read 10-15 percent low. I should take the time to
recalibrate them. If fuel savings are what you want CPP's may be the way to
go. If I were not making long passages or fishing at low speed I most likely
would not get CPP's again. They just are not efficient at high speeds. I do
run WWIV mostly on one engine and at 9-10 knots. It's relaxing. At high speed
one gets tired when you have to pay close attention all the time. It is good
to be able to flatten out the seas by going fast like I did this week as I
crossed Lake Superior twice. Fishing was good at Isle Royale. CPP's make
trolling at any speed easy.
On economy a production boat is the way to go. Now that there are more to
choose from. Find a production boat and modify it a little to make it what
you want. If you really want to make a statement then enter it with eyes wide
open and expect to take the bite when done. Sometimes it's worth having the
fun. Some people have more fun planning and building than they do using the
boat. If you can afford it go for it.
Dennis
Since Wild Wind IV has been mentioned I should put in my two cents worth. I
noticed someone said the figures were in calm waters. WWIV averaged over 8
knots and burned less than 4 GPH on both the passage from NZ to Fiji and The
Marquises to Hawaii. This was not calm water. When the passages started WWIV
was about 73,000#. These figures were gained by fueling just before the
passages and just after. My Flo-Scans are pessimists. I think the figures
that Georgs is quoting are when he went with me across Lake Ontario to the
Wellend Canal. They tend to read 10-15 percent low. I should take the time to
recalibrate them. If fuel savings are what you want CPP's may be the way to
go. If I were not making long passages or fishing at low speed I most likely
would not get CPP's again. They just are not efficient at high speeds. I do
run WWIV mostly on one engine and at 9-10 knots. It's relaxing. At high speed
one gets tired when you have to pay close attention all the time. It is good
to be able to flatten out the seas by going fast like I did this week as I
crossed Lake Superior twice. Fishing was good at Isle Royale. CPP's make
trolling at any speed easy.
On economy a production boat is the way to go. Now that there are more to
choose from. Find a production boat and modify it a little to make it what
you want. If you really want to make a statement then enter it with eyes wide
open and expect to take the bite when done. Sometimes it's worth having the
fun. Some people have more fun planning and building than they do using the
boat. If you can afford it go for it.
Dennis
