power settings , speed and burn rates

[tommy2]

Hi Guy's finally got the boat in the water in Alaska after a two month ordeal. I have a 290ex W/ 350 chevy engines. Just wondering what power setting you have been useing and what speed and burn rate you have been getting. I'm trying to get a handle on the speed vs. dis. and trying to keep the fuel burn down. In our village the fuel is $5.89 a gal. I have all the time in the world so going 8 Kts won't bother me if it saves lots of gas.
  By the way this is the most asome boat I've ever fished, 4-6' with white cap combers drift fishing and we picked up 8 Halibut in an hour. I wouldn't have been able to do that in my last boat. Also we only run 16-17 miles to the fish. Thanks in advance Tom

[RickK]

So let me see if I have this right - you bought the boat in RI and did what - towed it to Alaska or had it shipped there?
We have quite a few new members with 290s so hopefully they'll show up soon to answer your question.

[wingtime]

Do you have a flowscan or some type of a fuel burn meter?  If not with fuel costs that high I'd be installing one right away.  That is the only way your going to be able to get the most efficient range out of any boat.  A few hundred RPMS and a minor trim setting can net huge fuel savings and you'll never know it without a fuel flow meter of some type.  Garmin a Lowrance have sensors that can be connected to your chart plotter too.

[saltfly]

I agree a flow scan is the way to go. Now where are you guys getting flow scan sensors for Garmin?   I can't find them in my area.

[seabob4]

Walt,
Not for FloScan (stand alone), but for your Garmin...https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11561&ra=true

[saltfly]

Bob I have Garmin gps’s on both my boats and a Garmin depth finder on the 19-6 and a lowrance on my 222 ccp. So I’ll have to see if a add on sensor will work on my units. But I’m wondering where to get the sensor. I heard Garmin was putting a flowscan sensor out, but haven’t been able to find one in my area. So where are you guys buying them? You have more options down there then we have up here. You guys get thing faster then we do. Up here, dealers are always a day late and a dollar short. They have to be pushed to get things in. So its easier to send for some things, then to fight with dealers here. :(

[seabob4]

Walt,
In looking at FloScan's FloNet, it appears it is for diesel use only thus far (NMEA 2000 compatable).  Don't see any info for a gas version...http://www.floscan.com/html/blue/NMEA2000.php

[saltfly]

Ok so it sounds as if I will have to go with a senor and separate gauge. So which do you recommend? I  like tommy2 should really put one on my boat. Gas is going back up. I need to keep how much gas I'm burning down to as little as I can.

[Capt. Bob]

Here's a spot or two.
http://www.wmjmarine.com/gafume.ht

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011MP82G/?ta ... bmsm0faq_b

[saltfly]

Thanks bob and Capt. I think the flow scan series 5500 will be just what the doctor ordered.

[Capt. Bob]

Thanks bob and Capt. I think the flow scan series 5500 will be just what the doctor ordered.

I concur but I am bias because there are several options now available that were not present at my time of purchase. Still, I really like my Floscan.