How much gas will i need on my fishing boat?

Question

i just purchased a 16' alumicraft boat with a 20 hp merc and I'm try to find out much gas I need to carry onboard ( how big of tank )

Answer 1

When I am out running around with my 15hp fishing boat a six gallon can should last all day. If you feel that's not enough throw a second can in, but you shouldn't need it. When my pontoon goes out from the rental cottage (35 hp on an 18ft 'toon) they can cruise for days on 6 gallons.

Cheers. Here's to summer.

Answer 2

My son had a 16 ft AL. fishing boat with a 25hp Merc.  He consistently  ran 48 to 54 miles on a 6 gallon tank using a GPS to measure the distance traveled.   Your 20 hp should provide a similar if not slightly greater range.

Answer 3

Take two full six gallon tanks with you. When the first tank runs out and you hook up the second tank, Head back home since that is the amount of fuel it will take you to get back!

Answer 4

Unless something is wrong with your engine, and it is kept tuned well... You will burn an average of about 2 gallons an hour at 5500 rpms...  (slightly less if your engine is a newer 4 stroke...)

So... assuming you are going out to fish... and not actually running at 5500 rpms all day long... a 12, or 14 gallon tank would be more than enough to last you all day...

Answer 5

My 14' duck boat with an old 15 hp Evinrude goes about 25 mph and gets about 10 mpg.  Not sure what a 16' boat with newer 20 hp Merc would do.  But a 6 gallon tank should last for a bunch of trips down the lake and back.  On an unknown river I usually like to head upstream, so if anything should happen, I can drift back to the boat ramp.

When my dad had a heavier 16' fiberglass runabout with 75 hp Evinrude, we usually carried a couple of 6 gallon tanks, or sometimes 3 if we were long distance river cruising and/or venturing onto Lake Michigan (so we would start with at least 2 full).

Answer 6

my evinrude 40 takes hours to burn a 5 gallon tank of gas.  A 20 should get pretty far on 6 gallons.  Unless you plan on going far or going explorin places youve never been 6 gallons is plenty.  A spare tank is alwasy nice tho.  When one tank runs out its time to head back.  It helps if one tank starts leaking too.

Answer 7

You can go a long way on 6 gallons of gas. Unless you are going to be on a Great Lake or an ocean, a 6 gallon tank should be fine. If you are going out on a Great Lake or the ocean, the only time you have too much gas on board is when you are on fire.

Try to avoid at running at full throttle, as it wastes gas. A little experience with your  boat and your running and fishing habits will tell you how much gas you actually need.

Regards,

Dan