The Boating Forum - What Offshore Boat 20-24ft range with 3mpg @ 40mph

Hi All,

Looking at the smaller offshore boats would prefer cabin/WA though can run CC with clears, I found below Prokat below makes the class though can anyone else suggest other options? Can be Muti-hull or mono, real figures on performance, and your notes on ride and build quality would be appreciated!

Would like to carry 5 guys plus full gear at this speed/fuel if possible

http://www.hookedonfishingboats.com/prokat2150.html
(I have heard Prokat is middle road on build quality)

Thanks,

David

That is a bay boat. They don't make it anymore either. Hard to find used BayKats.

I saw a few comments on guys taking these outside on good days, though you are right not really a true offshore option! A world cat 230 would be great, though not going to be fuel efficient, any ideas on what might work?
The USA seems short on planning cats under 24ft!

Not sure of fuel though the ProKat 2360 is probably a better sample of offshore ability

David

You are not going to find any boat which will has a cabin/WA, getting 3 mpg offshore capable caring 5 adults and gear, let alone going 40 mph in a cat. I recently sold a Tom Cat which is a planing boat, and we averaged 2.2 miles per gallon at 22 knots--boat capable of over 40 knots, but at more fuel burn. None of the semi displacement cats will hit that speed, or fuel efficiency.

If you want offshore capable think more of 25 foot boats, and look at 2 mpg or less at mid 30's.

I've got a 22' Blue Wave PureBay/Yam F225 that will get over 3 mpg at 40 mph (4000 rpm, 11 gph) with 4 guys and load, but it is not an offshore boat, nor will you see anyone running 40 mph offshore except the guides racing to a honeyhole. I fish offshore, but not far out.

If you would like an offshore fishing boat consider a Proline 20' cuddy/walkabout with an inboard v6 more fuel efficient than the older out boards. This boat handles rough water very nicely with good cutting v and a 19 degree dead rise. I have a 19' sport and it handles the rough water like a dream but it is a bit small for five people. It has a 115 two stroke a bit thirsty and only does 35 mph top end. Martin Grimsby tackle

Not a cuddy cabin, but my 21 contender gets about 2.9mpg full load, 4 full adults, 200# ice, 95 gallons of gas, tackle etc....

An older Seacraft 23 Scepter with an F300 or Suzuki 300 on a beefed transom should be real close to what your after. Nothing is going to be quit as fast as you want though.

Wow good figures on the Blue Wave! I looked up this brand and found below review.

Not really an offshore boats though sure is fast!

3.6mpg at 42mph! based on below review!

http://www.hookedonfishingboats.com/bluewavepurebay2400.html

Anything out there a bit more suited for offshore?

why not a dual console? I think they give you the best of both worlds. You can look for grady white, scout, key west, tidewater, hydra sports, etc.

Just looking up the Sea craft Sceptre vs. Regulator vs. Mckee Craft in 23 ft range now they seem to be based on the old formula hulls, not sure how quick they will be though with the new 300HP Yamaha or Suzuki they may be up there!

Any idea on the weights of one of these? I would like to keep it under 6500pds for ease of towing too!

Good idea on the dual console, we don't see many over here in Aussie land. As I am planning to import it to Melbourne Australia and it is mostly cold and windy they look like a great option!
I like the cabins for protection though you lose so much room!

Now to do some more research on which model to get as looking for best value for money in second hand market!

I am thinking a big single outboard is going to be the best option for lower running costs, I like cats though these days reliability of the new engines plus ease of communication almost negates the twin setups. (I said almost to you guys trolling the breakers :) )

Thanks
David

You guys are asking too much. Offshore capable boats don't get 3mpg @ 40mph. A few get 3mpg or better at cruise speed though. But it is debatable as to their offshore ability. My last boat was a 23' w/a with a 300hp Mercruiser. It's best cruise was 3.4mpg @ 29mph. It would do 48mph wot light @ probably 2mpg. It had a 20 degree deadrise and did ok offshore in up to 3'ers. I think the closest you are going to get is with a 23'er w/o a T top and a four stroke 250hp. But then again some people will debate you as to if that size boat with a single is offshore capable. Lots of people have been doing it for years and with proper maintenance I see no issues in doing it.

Appreciate all your replies, I am leaning towards Dual console 23 footers like Robalo Dual Console R227 with a 250 or similar class boat, I don't really need hard core offshore just the ability to get back if it does blow up!

Thanks again

David

Good luck running offshore at 40 MPH in a 22' boat. 30 or 35 MPH is a more realistic cruise speed.

lol.. I agree many a times 20mph is well and truly enough, though when the sea is flat it would be nice to be able to run at 40mph even if fuel dipped to 2-2.5mph. I spent most of my time fishing in a 2670GB and at 30mph on a good day it just wasn't fast enough and 15+ gph was getting costly! I try and fish the good days so I am more interested now in speed than ability to handle the really rough water.

Cheers,

David

I have a 24' spectre cc with a 250xs and it will get 4.0mpg at 38 mpg at 3800 rpm. I love the XS but it makes a lot of noise.

Check performance charts on 23 and 24 Sea Hunt Triton and Game Fish models - however you will not get that kind of performance/efficiency at 40knots with any boat that I know of. Believe me, I did alot of personal research before making my choice.

I agree with most on here that finding an offshore hull over 22 feet that can get 3mpg at 40mph is pretty much impossible. 3mpg at 30mph is a much more realistic quest. My hull, for example, will get 3 at 30. But that's in calm seas and on the lighter end of the load spectrum. Typically, when really loaded for a serious trip, I'll get 2.5-2.8mpg at 30mph with a few guys on board.
Nobody in a boat of this size can cruise at 40mph in any sort of sea aside from flat calm for any length of time. Yellowfin 23, contender 23, etc.... it's just not realistic. especially with the fuel burn that you want.

23 Fountain (26' LOA) 225 Optimax = 3-3.5mpg light at cruise. 2-2.5mpg loaded average fishing.

Good luck running offshore at 40 MPH in a 22' boat. 30 or 35 MPH is a more realistic cruise speed.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

I have a 22' Sea Hunt Victory 225 Walkaround. Its got decent deckspace AND decent cabin space. I use an ETEC 200HO and it does around 2.9mpg at say 30.

It does pretty well offshore for a 22' but the conditions need to be reasonable. If I'm not seeing 1-2' seas, I'm likely staying in the bay.

Photo in the slip:
http://www.thehulltruth.com/attachments/boating-forum/191125d1315093343-boat-name-placement-2011-08-14_14-32-51_388.jpg

Here is a shot before I got the arch on and it shows a very decent deck area for a 22' WA. I got it for the deck area, I was surprised by the cabin size favorably!

http://www.thehulltruth.com/attachments/boating-forum/173712d1305640010-vote-best-family-walkaround-my-needs-2011-05-13_15-56-58_106.jpg

I agree with most on here that finding an offshore hull over 22 feet that can get 3mpg at 40mph is pretty much impossible. 3mpg at 30mph is a much more realistic quest. My hull, for example, will get 3 at 30. But that's in calm seas and on the lighter end of the load spectrum. Typically, when really loaded for a serious trip, I'll get 2.5-2.8mpg at 30mph with a few guys on board.
Nobody in a boat of this size can cruise at 40mph in any sort of sea aside from flat calm for any length of time. Yellowfin 23, contender 23, etc.... it's just not realistic. especially with the fuel burn that you want.

I agree 100% and the figures you state are about norm for boats of our size. I do not think the OP's target specs are attainable. Nor would I want to try to run for an extended period of time in a bad sea at 40mph in ANY hull of this size. 2-3's at 30 is bumpy if you're gonna make a trip of the OP's length.

Your above figures make me wonder about some of the new 4-strokes and whether the switch is worth it for single-screw boats of our size that are rigged with older 2-strokes that are in good shape.

My "stone-age era" Yamaha 250 OSX will get 2.2-2.4 all day long loaded on a 25 seavee at 30-32 mph. GPS and Yamaha fuel flow meter verified. And this is with a huge, oversized T-top, crow's nest, big engine shroud, heavier hull and more LOA, deadrise, etc.

Granted, I'm burning oil too (does that make me a hybrid?) but for fishing in SE FL where I'm burning 11-13 gallons for a day, neither is a huge expense.

-T

Looks like 3mpg at 30mph is more like the expected figures, I guess it is a weight issue, someone mentioned a spectre which is really a race boat, seems the main stream boats are built pretty heavy! I had wondered if a planning Cat like the Prokat would be closer to the target.

I expect lighter bay boats in the 20ft range with large single 4 strokes could make the economy though would fail on Offshore ability.

Does anyone know if Muti-hulls are more or less efficient on fuel than monos?

David

I would think an everglades 243 with a single yamaha 300 would come close but i have no personal experiance with that boat.

Edit: five guys in the boat might be pushing it though.

Call Ken at PropGods. He has real data and thousands of boats from prop tests.
He might also tell you about a certain 23 Donzi with twin 200 Yamaha HPDI's that very well may a 3mpg boat at 40mph. If I remember correctly, it is a 2.25mpg boat at wide open (about 60mph).

While definately not an offshore boat, I use my 2300 Maycraft as one.

I can run 34 mph using 9.2 gph. 200 Optimax.

It has to be flat or I get my guts about pounded out. My knees hate the boat.

Mouth-guard and helmet are optional.

I thought Panga style hulls were supposed to be the fuel misers?

I have a 25 Avenger CC & get 3 or better at 40 but it has to be one foot seas or less for me to run that fast.

You are not going to find any boat which will has a cabin/WA, getting 3 mpg offshore capable caring 5 adults and gear, let alone going 40 mph in a cat. I recently sold a Tom Cat which is a planing boat, and we averaged 2.2 miles per gallon at 22 knots--boat capable of over 40 knots, but at more fuel burn. None of the semi displacement cats will hit that speed, or fuel efficiency.

If you want offshore capable think more of 25 foot boats, and look at 2 mpg or less at mid 30's.
There might be an exception. look at the 23P by Maritime skiff. You get the cabin, five man capacity. offshore capability, and the driest ride ever. Fuel milage should be over 4mpg. I have the 20p with the excact same hull only three foot shorter and 140hp and get 5.5 mpg running wide open most of the time. I regualrly fish the Gulph Stream off Florida four days a week.

My 24 super sport is an off shore hull, 22 degree deadrise,(donzi hull without steps) and fast for it size/class. I can see 48-50mph depending on load and conditions. Solid 47mph all day full tank(140gal) and 2 guys loaded for an offshore trip, 100lbs ice, food, water, beer, bait n tackle. That said, the boat does it all for what it is, except the fuel economy. The single verado 250 will cruise @ 4200rpm and 28-30mph and 2.4mpg under those conditions. That aint bad. Now, if im running 40mph which I do often, bout 5200-5400rpm and burning about 1.7-1.8mpg. WOT 47mph all day at 6300rpm and burning 1.3mpg. These are very accurate as I monitor the guages closely to ensure all systems are operating right. Hope it helps.:thumbsup: