Fuel consumption and range......

[captpete13]

I can cruise at 3.7 mpg. I have gotten over 4. My dad's V with a 150 Opti can get just shy of 5mpg. The farthest out I have been is the monster ledge. But this year I'm probably gonna go farther. Skunk boat has been pretty far out. I believe 50-60 mi.

[SkunkBoat]

A day to the Chicken Canyon by way of Gloryhole and Atlantic Princess, lots of trolling, costs me 42 gallons. Includes running back through Ghole and Mudhole

Out of Manasquan, Glory hole is 40nm,Princess about 5nm southeast of that, west edge of Chicken 7nm east of Princess.

50nm to go straight to fishing inside the Chicken (they call it the chicken cause that's where us little guys stop, its not really a canyon)

50nm=57 miles

All that said "THE CANYONS" are alot farther. Hudson is 75nm just to the western tip. No way a V20 is going there safely.


The Texas Tower & Bacardi have been hot for bft/small yft but they are beyond safe range without extra tank and big balls...

If you don't get better than 3 mpg running at 25-30 mph. don't go to the chicken. It has to be flat enough to run hard for 2 hours+ in both directions

For a shot at some Mahi and maybe a stray bft, try trolling the pot markers on the southeast side of the Mudhole heading out into the Glory Hole. try to find blue-er water. You can watch your fuel and get a sense of where you can reach the next time. Humpty Dumpty/Little Italy area of Mud hole is just under 20 miles and hits the 20 fathom line.

[step up here]

Yes sir you are on the money with a V-20. I have a 350 V-8 which suck's up a little more gas. Last trip out to the texas towers I used 75 gallons.
I use addition gas tank installed in my live well. Buy the way the fish move around according to the bait source so you may have to move and burn more fuel! So that leaves me taking along a extra 15 gallons that I safely tie to the deck.
Chuck is correct that a V-20 is on the edge to do a trip like that. God help me if things go to ****! I really don't want to bail with my four man viking life raft and ditch bag.

[garbubba]

My old school 200 might get around 3 to 5 mpg, never checked but it sure varies with how you run it & how rough it is. The good reefs start around here about 30 miles out. Add in some running around out there & I've found that I should stay within 35 miles to have my 1/3 reserve on return. I've pushed it a few times, the fishing just gets better & better the farther you go & on a clear calm day it sure is tempting. I guess if all went well & you burned your reserve you could get 75 miles out, not me.

[SkunkBoat]

The problem is not just the fuel, its the time. 60 miles out takes 2 hours when its flat with no swell. Even if its glassy, an east swell will slow you down and it take 2.5 hrs. Leaving (the inlet) at first light gets you there at 7-730. So now you fish til noon and you have to worry is the wind going to kick up out of the south. That ride home can become a 4 hour+ ordeal if you don't pay attention. Also, it can be nice 60 miles out but the afternoon south wind along the coast here can, and often does, make it nasty for the 10 miles nearest the shore.
I always start my way in at noon( no matter how beautiful the conditions are), stopping at points along the way if the conditions are holding up. That way I'm shortening the distance that I might get caught in a wind.

[Blue_Runner]

Definitely build in extra time for the return trip. Never know what might happen and heaven forbid getting stuck out there after dark. I spun my prop last trip. Luckily we were just heading out and only 8 miles from the inlet. Took 1.5 hrs to limp back in. From 40 out would've taken 7 - 8 hrs or more.

[phatdaddy]

just filled mine up
28.3 gallons
135miles.
lotta bay running & trolling, so that pumps the numbers some

the best part.....@$2.59 for non E

[bgreene]

Originally Posted by SkunkBoat

The problem is not just the fuel, its the time. 60 miles out takes 2 hours when its flat with no swell. Even if its glassy, an east swell will slow you down and it take 2.5 hrs. Leaving (the inlet) at first light gets you there at 7-730. So now you fish til noon and you have to worry is the wind going to kick up out of the south. That ride home can become a 4 hour+ ordeal if you don't pay attention. Also, it can be nice 60 miles out but the afternoon south wind along the coast here can, and often does, make it nasty for the 10 miles nearest the shore.
I always start my way in at noon( no matter how beautiful the conditions are), stopping at points along the way if the conditions are holding up. That way I'm shortening the distance that I might get caught in a wind.

Exactly............these are little boats to go far out. Not that it can't be done by hard core guys such as Step Up, but it's a stretch.

[bigshrimpin]

Way too risky with a single outboard in 20ft boat to venture 60+ miles offshore. It can be done in perfect conditions with light wind, but it's a gamble.

If you want to extend your range bring extra fuel in jugs, but go in tandem with another boat at the very minimum.

When I was younger and dumber I took my v20 a dozen times or so to Wildcat ( 50 miles east of Boston) cod fishing. I stuffed the bow once coming across stellwagen in HUGE chop. Green water ripped the windshield off . . . I had to change course and ride in the troughs up toward salem/Gloucester and hug the shore back to boston. These are capable small boats, but there are still very small . . .

I know MJ blew out his windshield filled his v20 cockpit after water hitting a rouge wave. His face got all cut up. Just be safe.