280 - 300 Sedan performance data 1991-1993 model

[Flott]

Hi All,
Is there anyone else out there that can provide any
speed and fuel data on their 1991-1993 Carver 280 Sedan (the 11'10" beam model)?
Flott

[g36]

The estimator on this website gives you a pretty good idea. Select your engine and see the gph burn at various rpms
http://www.boat-fuel-economy.com/fuel-c ... calculator

[bud37]

That is quite good,you won't go far wrong as G36 says...... it matched my old boat with Gfs 10 flow meters almost dead on.......

[Flott]

Thanks g36, thats a big help with fuel burn! Anyone else out there that can help with matching that information up with knots or mph?

[Dusty Bilges]

I just acquirex a 1993 Carver 300 and took it on a 60 mile cruise. I burned 88 gallons, but I am not proficient at findind righr rpm or operating trim tabs, plus occasional headwinds and tailwinds. Could use advice on best ecomomy cruise rpm (assuming calm water) and trimming.

[buster53]

Dusty BIlges, It would help to know what engines you have, what speed and RPM were you running at

[Dusty Bilges]

Buster-

I was all over the place with RPM's and speed as I was trying out different settings. My question is whether as a general proposition, all things other things being equal, what is typically the best speed and rpm's for maximum economy on a Carver 300 Sedan. I have two Mercruiser 5.7's (350 Chevy's). They are either 260 hp.

[Craig_B]

I too would like to know . will be watching for answers

And I can't figure out the trim/tilt gizmos either

[km1125]

To really make that matter, you have to figure out what your time is worth.

Best efficiency is below hull speed, so you're not even on plane. That's probably around 7-8 MPH, but it will take you forever to get anywhere.

An easy way to get a good estimate for the most efficient cruise speed is to get up on plane and then back down gradually until you feel the boat start squirming around or start to fall off plane. Just above this speed is typically your most efficient cruise speed. It will be a bit slower than a "normal" cruise speed but will likely have the lowest gal/hr burn while up on plane. We frequently use this speed if we're just site-seeing around and going nowhwhere in particular. If we're actually going somewhere, then we bump the speed up a bit to a normal cruise so we arrive at a reasonable time at the destination. It burns a bit more fuel but gives us more time to enjoy where we're going.

[Capn Crunch]

When asking the same question locally I was told the following (using numbers from above referenced website) :
One local destination is about 39 miles one way down river. On my Montego 2557 w/5.7 Mercruiser 2500rpm is about 9.5mph @ 6.6gph. 3700rpm is about 26mpg @ 11.5gph. 4 hrs @ 6.6gph = 26.4 gal VS. < 2hrs @ 11.5gph = 23 gal... Sometimes less really is more.