I'm running a Cataract Canyon trip for friends who have limited time off. We are running with a motor for the flat sections to make the best time, how many river miles can we expect to make on a 5 gallon tank of fuel? We will be strapping 2 self bailers (1 as a paddle boat) on the sides of a cataraft and pushing them with a 6hp motor.
Any words of advice from those who have done it before are helpful.
I would suspect you would be able to knockout all of the flat water with 5 gallons of gas. With strong headwinds or poor MPG for some other reason I would be surprised if you had to row more than 5-10 miles.
Anything past 1/3 to 1/2 throttle is just wasting gas. My fuel consumption numbers were in that relatively low throttle range.
Hulls like that sort of blunder through the water, compared to typical boats. Be content to improve time over rowing, particularly if there is wind, but don't expect miracles unless you are prepared to burn a lot of gas.
Just what richp said... only need 1/2 throttle to get the most MPH and the best MPG. I'd bring an extra gallon if possible for the lower section. With heavy winds going across the lake section could really suck.
My 2 stroke 8hp pushing a 4 boat barge uses 7 to 8 gallons. I bring 10 just to be safe. More than 1/2 throttle uses more gas but not much more speed. Happy boating
Thanks for the feedback. I was planning to bring an extra 5 gallons for a total of 10, but didn't want to get stuck needing more. From what it seems, 10 gallons should be plenty to get us through efficiently. I was planning on doing half throttle for the same reason I went with a 6hp over a larger motor. With this sort of vessel, more hp (or throttle) doesn't make a significant difference in speed. Can't wait!
If you run your boats in a conga line instead of lashing them to each side of your cat you will save on fuel consumption and gain some speed also, when using a specific power setting. Having two separate gas containers is always wise no matter how much gas you plan on bringing.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mountain Buzz
639.4K posts
63.2K members
Since 2003
A forum community dedicated to whitewater kayaking, boating, and rafting enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about safety, routes, gear, models, styles, gear swaps, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!