10 ways to save fuel

As costs rise, Jake Kavanagh looks at the simple ways boaters can use less fuel and energy when motoring

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Boats powered by petrol or diesel engines have one thing in common-high fuel costs, with some of the larger planing motor cruisers burning a gallon a mile. On the upside, that same planing boat will only average 50 engine hours a year, about the same as a heavy goods vehicle will clock in a fortnight. As a result, standing faults and corrosion from lack of use are a bigger killer of marine engines than excessive mileage. Incidentally, and in a complete reverse of automotive thinking, when looking to buy a used motorboat, high engine hours are usually seen as an asset. They suggest the owner enjoys using their boat and so keeps the engines in good condition.

With energy efficiency a buzzword in all sectors of mobility, from aircraft to ships, great efforts have gone into making vehicles go much further for the same amount of fuel, and with far less emissions. In the marine leisure sector, there are a range of simple things boaters can do as a matter of routine to take much of the friction away from their hull, optimise their propulsion, and trim the boat to make the best use of every drop of fuel.

Whether you have a fast-planing boat, a heavy displacement yacht, or a tender with an outboard, as soon as the engine goes on, here's how you can save diesel or petrol.

1 Clean hull and props

The less resistance a hull creates, the less fuel will be needed to drive it along. A pre-season scrub-off and application of antifouling bottom paint can reduce fuel costs by more than 8% over an average season.

The propeller, rudders and other stern gear (struts, skegs, trim tabs etc) should also be antifouled, and there are several highly effective silicone coatings available for these protrusions. The non-toxic, slippery surface of these coatings causes any fouling to simply slide off when the boat is underway.