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Twin 454's. Shut um down or let um run considering fuel prices?

N

nightstalker

Regular Contributor
Where I fish the rip, I can drift for about 15 minutes before I have to move up tide/wind to start a new drift. Considering the rising cost of fuel, do you think it's OK to shut the Crusaders down for the 15 minute intervals between drifts, or is it better to just let um run? With the rising cost of fuel, I'm looking to squeeze everything I can out of each gallon. The guys at the marina were telling me today that some owners are having their vessels brought to their slip after launch with the skiff so they don't have to fire off the motors. They said that a few guys arn't planning on starting their engines at all this season in order to save fuel costs and to eliminate the need to winterize them in the Fall. I'm not going to go that far, but at 2/3 MPG at cruise, I gotta be careful.
Nightstalker
 
Wait; there are folks not planning on running the boat all summer?? But to your first question, yes, shut them down. When I take out drift divers, I shut down/restart every 10 minutes or so. And then, just one engine at a time.
 
I would shut them down for sure. Were you serious about people at your marina getting a tow to their dock? I don't like to judge people(too much) but if they are that frugal maybe they should sell the boat and consider a new hobby.
 
I like the relaxing sound of the water so I turn them off. If I'm near rocks I leave them on. I leave enough time to react (anchor freefall) to the rare case that I cannot start either.
 
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