Boat motor fuel mileage

Winchester · May 9, 2013

My long run over the wknd got me thinking about it and how much better these newer direct injection 2 strokes, and even 4 stroke motors do on gas these days! I used to make this same run with a Mercury XR6 150 and it took over 40 gallons of gas round trip (120 miles) and with this new Optimax Pro XS 200 I think I only used about 35 gallons best I can tell. Anybody have a bigger 150hp+ 4 stroke and know what kind of mileage they get on average? I know boat weight and hull design make them all vary a little? Im also talking running wide open as well, never cracked the throttle for 50 mins each way!

Dbllunger · May 9, 2013

60 mile run each way! Is there not a boat ramp closer to your destination? Wait, your not fishing in the ocean are you?

SilverFox · May 9, 2013

That's pretty good mileage for WOT.

RUGER · May 9, 2013

That is a trip right there.

pressfit · May 10, 2013

I used to have a Johnson that was bored out and it was 250 hp.. back the 90's ran 73 mph.. on 20 ft bass boat.. burned 2.5 gallons per minute .. so my mileage was //..,,?? heck..i have no idea..LOL

TN Larry · May 10, 2013

The Optimax definitely gets good gas mileage. I have a 2006 200 Optimax (not Pro XS), and it gets as good or even better gas mileage than the 2003 115 Johnson with a carbuerator that I had before. Both were on the same boat model except for the one now is two foot longer. So, it is pushing a bigger boat with more horsepower and still getting super mileage.

I am not sure what the Etecs get, but I know several people that have had 200+ hp HPDIs that said that they sucked the gas. I am curious too how good of mileage that the new SHO is getting.