Georgs et all, During all our trip from NZ to Seattle on Wild Wind IV the fuel burn was about 2 MPG US. Most of this was done at 8-9 knts. Running one engine with the other CPP feathered and the shaft not turning. Most of this running is into the wind or on the beam. It was very rare on this trip to have the wind behind the beam. When the wind is behind the beam, as during a portion of our trip down the west coast from Seattle to Ventura, with the throttle set as above we would surf to 15knts and one time hit 20 knts. Under these conditions the MPG would be a lot better. I would not be afraid to do the run from the Galapagos to the Marquises, 3000 KM. This is almost all down wind. There should be about a 1000 KM in reserve. 1800 Gal total fuel. You also have to remember this is not a small boat. WWIV weighs in at 73000# all up and has almost 1000 sq. ft. of floor space inside. If we were to slow to 6-7knts the MPG would at least double. Displacement powercats slide through the water very easily. There is more wetted surface on a cat which makes a dirty bottom more of a problem. WWIV's bottom is usually kept clean. I rarely run slow any more, unless we want to fish, 8-9 knts open ocean, or if fuel burn is a problem for some reason or if we want the porpoises or killer whales to stay with us. When I get the boat home to Duluth I intend to fit regular high performance props to see just how fast the boat will go. I think we should be able to top out at 25+ knts. and cruise at 20 knts. Now top is 20 knts and cruise is 17 knts. At high speed cruise with the CPP's the fuel burn isabout .8 MPG. I will then have to decide if I want speed or the flexibility of the CPP's. I would like to engage someone in regard to my comment in regard to a motor sailer. If this is truly a forum for long distant ocean crossing, that subject is in order. With cruising powercats there are a lot of things that have not yet been completely tried. A high speed motor sailing powercat is just one aspect of what we are going to see. I went through the early years of cruising sailing cats in the 70's and I now see the same thing happening with powercats. Start thinking about them because they are coming on fast. You don't want to be the last kid on the block to get the new toy. Grin! Dennis Raedeke Wild Wind IV Pachoud 60 Ventura CA St. Croix Falls WI P.S. For fun, look at my paddlewheel boats. www.wildmountain.com

>Dennis Raedeke Wild Wind IV Pachoud 60 : >I would like to engage someone in regard to my comment in regard to >a motor sailer. If this is truly a forum for long distant ocean >crossing, that subject is in order. With cruising powercats there >are a lot of things that have not yet been completely tried. A high >speed motor sailing powercat is just one aspect of what we are going >to see. I went through the early years of cruising sailing cats in >the 70's and I now see the same thing happening with powercats. >Start thinking about them because they are coming on fast. You >don't want to be the last kid on the block to get the new toy. >Grin! Dennis and others-- If you're interested in motorsailers, especially catamaran motorsailers, take a look at the ideas of Brian Eiland: http://www.RunningTideYachts.com Post your comments on motorsailers in this thread, that is, under this subject line, as appropriate: thus, those not interested in the subject can simply skip over or delete. --Georgs