Gasser on the Great Loop?

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mvweebles said:
Many years ago, long before I had my delivery creds, I screwed for a retired Navy officer who was moving his 1950s era 38-foor Chris Craft from San Francisco to Oregon. The engines were original but I forget the name - they were blue like Chryslers and big/heavy like diesels. She burned around 7 gph at 7-kts on the 1000 NM run, but there was no way to accurately tell. Fuel burn could have been quite a bit more. Was quite the run - boat had zero electronics except Loran and a VHF. One of the exhaust manifolds has a hole so we avoided all below decks spaces and slept in the open wheel house which was colder than hell. Heavy fog around Cape Mendocino was a bit scary - no radar of course.

Peter
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Not quite sure what point you are trying to make in relation to the OP's concern on running the loop with his boat? That most any boat trip can be fulfilled despite a lot of things?

I totally agreed with your point of running the loop with his boat....back in post #6.
 
mvweebles said:
Many years ago, long before I had my delivery creds, I screwed for a retired Navy officer who was moving his 1950s era 38-foor Chris Craft from San Francisco to Oregon. The engines were original but I forget the name - they were blue like Chryslers and big/heavy like diesels. She burned around 7 gph at 7-kts on the 1000 NM run, but there was no way to accurately tell. Fuel burn could have been quite a bit more. Was quite the run - boat had zero electronics except Loran and a VHF. One of the exhaust manifolds has a hole so we avoided all below decks spaces and slept in the open wheel house which was colder than hell. Heavy fog around Cape Mendocino was a bit scary - no radar of course.

Peter
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As a kid I remember my uncle having 3 huge six cylinder gas engines laying around in his shop. They made a big block Chevy look tiny. Chrysler Crowns???
 
psneeld said:
Not quite sure what point you are trying to make in relation to the OP's concern on running the loop with his boat? That most any boat trip can be fulfilled despite a lot of things?

I totally agreed with your point of running the loop with his boat....back in post #6.
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Point was that an old gasser isn't that bad for efficiency. Not great but manageable for the OP. I know, old gassers are different from modern ones - gas engines were around until the 40's until a relatively small diesel was developed.

Yes, I saw your endorsement of the Cargile. I agree with you. Looks like a great boat for the loop, albeit a bit unusual.

Peter
 
OK...now I get it.

One of the first boats my dad bought in the 1970s had an old flat head 6 cyl in it. That thing looked like it had 2 moving parts in it. I was too young to appreciate fuel burn and power curves...but I had a ball as I was allowed to use that boat at my heart's desire even at 16 YOA.

I still stand on what I posted before...I think that Cargile is one cool design. Only a few cruises would say for sure...not my idea as a full time liveaboard...but a looper...you bet!.
 
Yep, each boat will have its own consumption curve. Our sweet spot was 1200 rpm on our two 454's (EFI), 7-8 knots, 37' lwl, 26,000 lbs, we got 1.2 miles per gallon in calm conditions. (On plane? What's that?) The consumption curve for our boat though is downright shocking -- .0000001 knot higher and you'll empty the 300 gallon tank in about five minutes. Here's Boating Magazine's table. Our curve was a little different in reality, but then not only does each model have its own curve, each boat in a model run can differ a lot. Have to figure out yours. (Look at the spread in that fuel range between 1000 and 1500!)

Mainship Fuel Table.jpg
 
High Wire said:
As a kid I remember my uncle having 3 huge six cylinder gas engines laying around in his shop. They made a big block Chevy look tiny. Chrysler Crowns???
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Could have been International Harvester 549's or 638 CID six cylinder engines.
 
Maybe not pertinent to the thread but, most inboard sailboats in the 70's had Atomic 4 gassers. Sailors unknowingly cruised them like diesels unaware of thieir faux pas.
 
DavidM said:
Like I said above, older carbureted gassers are rather inefficient at low speeds.
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It's true, but it can be helped a bit. Better ignition system that allows more timing at low RPM and making sure it's not excessively rich at and just above idle goes a long way. A lot of the fuel economy gain with EFI is in the better timing curves and a little bit from the fueling improvements.
 
mvweebles said:
Many years ago, long before I had my delivery creds, I screwed for a retired Navy officer who was moving his 1950s era 38-foor Chris Craft from San Francisco to Oregon. The engines were original but I forget the name - they were blue like Chryslers and big/heavy like diesels. She burned around 7 gph at 7-kts on the 1000 NM run, but there was no way to accurately tell. Fuel burn could have been quite a bit more. Was quite the run - boat had zero electronics except Loran and a VHF. One of the exhaust manifolds has a hole so we avoided all below decks spaces and slept in the open wheel house which was colder than hell. Heavy fog around Cape Mendocino was a bit scary - no radar of course.

Peter
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That is almost a tale of wooden ships and iron men. How did we ever do it without the plethora of gadgets we have today? Thanks
 
Greetings,
Mr. m. "...they were blue like Chryslers and big/heavy like diesels..." May have been Hercules. Many larger CC's of that era used them for power. Flathead 6's in a variety of sizes. I think left over from WWII.
 
Cargile said:
I own a 50 year old Cargile Cutter, 28' trailer trawler w a Ford 302 (5.0L). It has a 150 gal fuel tank. Quite comfortable live aboard for 1 or 2. I have been watching many Great Loop You Tube videos/channels and I am hooked. The smallest boat I have seen is 34' and I believe all are diesels. I was of the mind set my boat was too small and a gasser for such a venture. Then I watched a You Tube video by Martin Nethkin, Channel Surfing. 27' Ranger tug w 300 hp Yamaha. He had his wife, son and at least 1 dog along on the Inside Passage to Alaska. I recall about a 3 month cruise. That gentleman has it together. It got me thinking that my boat on the east coast would have a much less arduous time then Martin did. So, please comment on my boat, a gasser and the Great Loop. Thanks. P.S. the only difference between my 28' and the 30' is 2 more feet in the cockpit. Flying bridge helm only. Thanks
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It's a beautiful boat. Perfectly capable
 
In my cruises through the heartland, there have been some places that sell diesel but not gas. There have also been a number of towns along the Erie canal that have neither.

I would also recommend bringing some poly gas cans. In addition, if you can find space for it, a hand truck with inflatable tires and a few bungees. I haven't seen a town yet that didn't have a gas station. Being able to secure two 5 gallon gas cans on a hand truck would be invaluable if you have to transport fuel from a gas station.

Ted
 
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RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
Mr. m. "...they were blue like Chryslers and big/heavy like diesels..." May have been Hercules. Many larger CC's of that era used them for power. Flathead 6's in a variety of sizes. I think left over from WWII.
Click to expand...
I know I had a Monk 34 that had a Nordberg Knight, a 6 cyl flathead build off of a Hercules truck engine. That boat, with that power would be imminently Loop capable! I'm a big fan of go with what you've got!
 
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