Gauging your travel: How far can a boat go on a tank of gas?

Whether you’re in the market for a new boat or you’ve had yours for years, knowing how much gas a boat uses is not an exact science. While meticulous mileage logging can help you accurately gauge over time, estimating how far you can go on a single tank of gas on a new or new-to-you used boat is more difficult.

The distance your boat can travel on a tank of gas is going to depend on a lot of factors. Of course, the size of your fuel tank, the engine, and the boat weight all are major contributors to how far you can travel. Other factors to consider are the speed at which you are traveling, weather conditions, length of your vessel, condition of the boat, and the amount of weight on board, including passengers.

Also read: How to Reduce Fuel Consumption for Your Boat

While each of these factors can make a big difference, we can still provide estimates for how far certain boats can travel on a tank of gas.

Center Console Boats

Although center console boats don’t have a lot of weight, they are long and fast, which means they can average anywhere from 3 to 6 gallons per hour.

Pontoon Boat

Due to their size, weight, and mult-hull design that creates more contact with the water, pontoon boats are not known for their efficiency. Pontoon boats can burn anywhere from 5-25 gallons per hour.

Cabin Cruiser Boat

Cabin cruisers are often used for long-term travel, so understanding how far your boat can go on a single tank of gas is even more important. Although cabin cruisers are not known for their efficiency, getting just 1-2 miles per gallon. However, large fuel tanks allow them extended time on the water.

As a boat owner or prospective buyer, it’s important to be able to understand how fast your boat uses fuel and how far you can go on a single tank of gas. Do your research and ask questions in the buying process to get insight that can help you make a smart decision and find a great value on a pre-owned boat.