We have a Pursuit 2100 fishing boat. I have gone out to a few of the reefs and thats always fun but I would like to do something more. It has a single engine 225 mercury maybe 05? It holds 86 Gallons of gas. If I picked my days well would this boat be able to make it out where the big boys are? Would it hold enough gas? Any information ya’ll could give would be helpful I am sure. Just trying to figure out my limitations.
Well if your fishing out of charleston it’s about 55 miles or so to the ledge. If you’ve been out to the reefs you should prob know about what your fuel burn is per mile, roughly. I always like to figure on trying to come back with at least a 1/3 tank of gas just in case. My guess is you prob have enough range but not familiar enough with your boat to say for sure. Weather wise I try to stick to fishing the days that are forecasted less than 10 knot winds and never from the NE. Light and variable forecasts are the best. I’m guessing if you fish the reefs your already know all this though.
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
quote:
Originally posted by TTKarlWell if your fishing out of charleston it’s about 55 miles or so to the ledge. If you’ve been out to the reefs you should prob know about what your fuel burn is per mile, roughly. I always like to figure on trying to come back with at least a 1/3 tank of gas just in case. My guess is you prob have enough range but not familiar enough with your boat to say for sure. Mayhem
Pioneer 197
How should I go about finding the range/mpg on the boat?
Fill it up before you go. When you put the #'s in your GPS to the reef or wherever it should tell you how many miles it is there, same thing for the way back. Fill it up again when you get back and divide the miles you travelled by the # of gallons you put in the boat when you got back. Should give you the miles per gallon. Multiply that by 86 since your boat holds 86 gallons of fuel and that should give you the total range. Of course there are variables, trolling you don’t burn much and at say 15 knots you burn quite a bit more than 25 knots.
Mayhem
Pioneer 197
Many GPS’s will help you with that, but you should gauge a long day of nearshore fishing and fill the tank back up to see how many gallons you used overall. Use your GPS’s trip function to figure out total mileage. Then do the math.
Or recognize that you go to bottom fish a reef 20 miles out and use X number of gallons. 20 miles out + the ride to the ramp, + looking for bait, etc estimate 30-40 worth or hard driving. Trolling is slower and doesn’t use as much fuel. Estimate all of that and turn around way before it matters.
TTKarl says to keep 1/3rd tank of gas… a lot of people say use up to 1/3rds getting there and fishing. Then hope you don’t use all of the other 2/3rds on the way back. Taking into account that even something such as shifting of the tide can cause the boat to feel like it went a lot further. When it is going against the wind, tide, current, rough seas, weaving back and forth because driving so far is BORRRINGGG, etc, it is working harder and going further. So, if you went out and it took you 1/3rd then you fished 1/3rd and expect the 1/3rd left will get you home, you better be lucky. I pick my days and have only gone far a few times and we start heading back in at 50% no discussions about it. It doesn’t take me 1/3rd to get out there.
I have a 22 Sea Hunt with 90 gallons and a 4 stroke 200 yamaha. I can go to the ledge and fish a good day and be back w/o fuel problems.
Weather is the thing for me that concerns me the most, this year being a prime example. It’ll change on you and you need to know it. The discussions on the radio can help, but the XM weather subscription is one of my favorite things on my boat. I’ve fished inshore and just moved to where it wasn’t tracking, staying dry, but seeing rain all day long.
Another thing is obviously safety. I’ve rented an EPIRB when I’ve gone before, but finally bought a PLB. It’s a couple hundred dollars for the PLB Resqlink+ and it’s about the size of a phone. I’d keep it in my pocket, but I actually haven’
I’ve got a 127 gal fuel tank with a 225X4 an I’ve gone to the holes and ledge and trolled all day and according to the fuel gage never used over 3/4 tank.
Get a buddy boat and learn from the guys that have been doing it a while. Get the PLB/EPIRB, know your radio, get a towing service (Tow Boat US). Do trips that extend your range every time until you are comfortable with your boat and know what YOU are capable of to build experience and knowledge. Watch the weather. Lots more go into it than fuel consumption, pointing the boat east and running out.
Keep trying though, the only way to learn and gain confidence is to go
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
That some real good advice on the subject, don’t fish off shore much but,I do know you guys know what the hell your doing!!
Wicked fishing
175 CC Pioneer Bay sport
90 Yamaha 4 stroke
I can’t agree more with what is being said above. I have a bayboat that I have taken out up to 15 miles offshore. This year has been a completely different story. I have been chased back inshore at least 5 times out of six due to the conditions. NOAA reports were 2 ft seas and I have found 5 footers actually cresting in front of me. This has been within 3 miles of shore. I have found the wind to pick up and have to fight 3-4 chop even inshore on occasions too.
I am a firm believer in safety. I carry a PLB at all times. I have a fixed mount VHF and a hand held. I have type 1 PFDs, Type 2 PFDs, and we wear type 3s any time the boat is in motion. I have put together a maintenance kit, a first aid kit and keep a calling card in case “I” become incapacitated and someone else has to make the mayday call.
I look to go further offshore, BUT this will be when conditions support for the reasons above. It is more important to be able to fish another day and no fish is worth risking life or becoming negligent.
Sea Hunt BX22 Br
WS Tarpon 140
quote:
Originally posted by jczc2414I can’t agree more with what is being said above. I have a bayboat that I have taken out up to 15 miles offshore. This year has been a completely different story. I have been chased back inshore at least 5 times out of six due to the conditions. NOAA reports were 2 ft seas and I have found 5 footers actually cresting in front of me. This has been within 3 miles of shore. I have found the wind to pick up and have to fight 3-4 chop even inshore on occasions too.
I am a firm believer in safety. I carry a PLB at all times. I have a fixed mount VHF and a hand held. I have type 1 PFDs, Type 2 PFDs, and we wear type 3s any time the boat is in motion. I have put together a maintenance kit, a first aid kit and keep a calling card in case “I” become incapacitated and someone else has to make the mayday call.
I look to go further offshore, BUT this will be when conditions support for the reasons above. It is more important to be able to fish another day and no fish is worth risking life or becoming negligent.Sea Hunt BX22 Br
WS Tarpon 140
This is all super helpful! I love that I can come on here and get answers before I have to find all this out the hard way. Hopefully I’ll be able to make a trip out next season and maybe chase some dolphin 
Start keeping records on you fuel economy every time you go out whether it’s nearshore, inshore or on a lake. Always start with a full tank, reset the trip meter, fill it back up and calculate the mileage. This will give you some insight on how much fuel you will need to make the offshore trip.
My offshore trips are typically 150+ miles roundtrip so bear that figure in mind when you’re doing your calculations.
Another thing, your boat will use more fuel offshore than it will inshore. You will be loaded heavier and will generally use more tab which will push your boat deeper in the water and lower your fuel economy. I can average almost 2 mpg on the lake but when I go offshore she drops to 1.65 mpg.
Good luck and tight lines!
“BlueWater Fishing Team”
2004 Cape Horn 31
twin yamaha F300’s
Cape Horn 24OS Sold
twin 150 Optimax
That’s all some sound advise from those guys. I am kind of in your shoes with the mosquito fleet. I have a KW 196 w/150 4stroke Yammie and 60 gal. cap. I have been to the ledge once and been to the Comanche a few times. I even broke down on the outside of the Comanche heading to the ledge. That’s why you have Sea Tow, or one of them. Otherwise it would have been $2000 for the tow. I have never seen the fuel to be a problem on these longer trips. Like jczc said it can get a little choppy pretty fast, so be confident about the weather when picking your days. Now when I hit the lottery this weekend I’ll get that 36’ Yellowfin w/ the triple 300’s and then I won’t look like the crazy guy in the dingy at the ledge anymore.
Key West 196;150 Yammie
Life Is Good…Gotta Love It!!!
Plan your trips with a buddy boat. Preferable a bigger boat that you can follow out so they can knock the seas down for you.
26 Seahunt
Angler’s Dream
When the seas get rough, so does your fuel economy. That’s pretty much what the 1/3rd rule is for… Your economy could literally drop 50% or more in rough conditions. Do not calculate fuel economy on blue bird days.
All is excellent advice and I would follow all if I were you.You need to be able to fix everything that you are capable of and be able to do it in the ocean.It’s a lot harder than you think if you have never changed a prop out there!!So you better carry a mask and snorkel too.
I carried 2 of everything and I mean everything.