New Member - Real World MPG 33 Express Questions

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VTski4x4

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Hey folks! New member here - joined because I am very seriously considering moving into a 2015-2017 era 330 Express. Currently going on my 15th season with my Regulator 26FS w/Suzuki 250APs on it (repowered in 2016). I'm in the marine business, so I understand the real world cost of things, and that's actually what has me shopping Grady's. I was dead set on buying a used 35 Henriques Express, but after doing some soul searching and realizing my wife isn't going to spend a week away at a time with me, and that my friends all have kids now, week-long trips to Nantucket are DOA for the foreseeable future. The other side of that coin is maintaining a set of diesels - we are a diesel shop, and I understand the costs, and frankly, the juice isn't worth the squeeze with the reality of my working/fishing schedule.

Anyways - I want to get some real world honest feedback on true milage of the 330 Express, both with F300s and F350s (If I repower down the road it will be Suzuki). After 14 seasons with my Regulator, I know that it gets 1.65NMPG @ 30KTS like clockwork - no matter what. That is the 15yr average, and it's never dipped below 1.57 even when rough, through thousands and thousands of miles.

I live just north of Boston, and the majority of my fishing is North Shore & Stellwagen, down to the Cape and Chatham - sometimes out East 60ish miles depending on the BFT bite. I do tend to take 1 trip per year to ACK which is exactly 100mi out and around the Cape (I hate the canal so I go that way). Ideally, I would like to be able to target the bite down off Block, the Windmills, and would like to throw a canyon trip or two a year in there. I can refuel before heading south, so I won't need to run 180mi each way for Canyon runs - typical run will be 90mi each way. Crew is 2 guys, and I don't load the boat down with 50 rods and 1000lbs of ice - I enjoy releasing fish, and only keeping what we will actually eat - so super heavy runs are non-existent. The heaviest we will be is full fuel, water, and diesel (gen), and probably 250lbs of ice.

For those who fish "like I do" - what kind of real world nautical MPG are you seeing? If I can get 1:1 - I will be happy. It seems many guys are reporting better and worse numbers depending on props. I understand I won't be cruising 30kts anymore without burning a metric ton of fuel - but if we could get 26kts at 1:1 - I could live with that. Even if it dips to .9 on the way out, and 1.2 on the way back, that averages out for me.

Anyways - cheers! I look forward to contributing more as things progress. I am likely going to wait until Spring to pull the trigger on anything (as this season is half over for us), but you never know.
 
2003 330x with twin 300 yamaha. 1.1 - 1.2 is where I'm at. Nice cruise at 42-4400 right around 30 mph. For clarity and transparency, that is 26 or so knots. My MFD number is in knots, the yamaha number is statute miles. In addition to swapping to 300's from 225's I also changed props to 15 pitch, down from 17, which really made a difference in economy. The 17's pushed the boat fine, but the 15's gave me the boost to 1.2.
 
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Thanks for the responses. Those are the numbers I was hoping to see, and can completely live with. The ones that had me scratching my head were the .79nmpg with F300s that didn't seem to line up with other's.
 
VTski4x4 said:
Thanks for the responses. Those are the numbers I was hoping to see, and can completely live with. The ones that had me scratching my head were the .79nmpg with F300s that didn't seem to line up with other's.
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VTski4x4 said:
Thanks for the responses. Those are the numbers I was hoping to see, and can completely live with. The ones that had me scratching my head were the .79nmpg with F300s that didn't seem to line up with other's.
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I get about 0.8 nmpg with my 2012 F300s. Thats about 22knots burning a little over 25 gph. I can tell you when really loaded with people and gear it can be worse. Like 30gph with same speed. Keep in mind many of the above posts might be statute miles and not nautical miles.
 
isurus22 said:
I get about 0.8 nmpg with my 2012 F300s. Thats about 22knots burning a little over 25 gph. I can tell you when really loaded with people and gear it can be worse. Like 30gph with same speed. Keep in mind many of the above posts might be statute miles and not nautical miles.
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Im hoping the folks responding to me in KTS are calculating NMPG not statute, but without seeing GPH too, you are correct, the numbers could be off. Assuming they are not off, ny particular reason you are cruising 4-8kts lower than others? Obviously 30kts isn't for everyone, and 22kts is just fine, but perhaps you are below the efficiency threshold? Propped differently?

I will likely end up with F350s unless I find a 2015-2017ish that already has F300s on it. If I repower it will probably be Suzuki 350s or the new Yam 350s. I plan on playing the prop game too - did it with my current boat, and the EcoEnertias really helped with grip in rough seas, running attitude, and efficiency. Lost like 1kt top end.
 
VTski4x4 said:
I will likely end up with F350s unless I find a 2015-2017ish that already has F300s on it. If I repower it will probably be Suzuki 350s or the new Yam 350s.
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I would look for one to repower or then sell the installed ones and install new ones.

If you are sensible to fuel burn than i suggest a pair of Honda BF350 and you will get abuit 20-20% lower fuel burn than any other outboard. Thats with mine so plus all others i know who have them.
The 330 Express has a transom was designed for the F350 what is almost same as the BF350, so transom and weight of the BF350 is not a problem.

My 28 Knots cruising speed went down from twin 2011 F300's 4400 rpm to the BF350 3800 rpm even if i have almost 20% prop slip between 3000 and 4000 rpm. Testing different props to fond the one what reduces slip to 10% at my usual cruising speed would lower fuel flow even more.

Chris
 
Sardinia306Canyon said:
I would look for one to repower or then sell the installed ones and install new ones.

If you are sensible to fuel burn than i suggest a pair of Honda BF350 and you will get abuit 20-20% lower fuel burn than any other outboard. Thats with mine so plus all others i know who have them.
The 330 Express has a transom was designed for the F350 what is almost same as the BF350, so transom and weight of the BF350 is not a problem.

My 28 Knots cruising speed went down from twin 2011 F300's 4400 rpm to the BF350 3800 rpm even if i have almost 20% prop slip between 3000 and 4000 rpm. Testing different props to fond the one what reduces slip to 10% at my usual cruising speed would lower fuel flow even more.

Chris
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Support for Honda in my area is only offered by one yard, and not one I do business with. If I stick with Suzuki or Yamaha, I can maintain a relationship with the same company I have used for the last 20+ years. The other option would be Merc V10s, but once again, only one yard locally supports them. That yard I would be inclined to work with, but I would prefer to maintain the relationship I already have and value.
 
I cruise just on plane. Which is about 22 knots. Generally though I will run at 24-25 but my economy is a little worse. I have the stock 15x15 props. My boat is heavy, lots of gear, rooftop life raft. My boat is a 2004 but the previous owner Repowered. That’s the way to go. Investing 85k into an older 330 is more expensive than finding one that was Repowered a few years back.
VTski4x4 said:
Im hoping the folks responding to me in KTS are calculating NMPG not statute, but without seeing GPH too, you are correct, the numbers could be off. Assuming they are not off, ny particular reason you are cruising 4-8kts lower than others? Obviously 30kts isn't for everyone, and 22kts is just fine, but perhaps you are below the efficiency threshold? Propped differently?

I will likely end up with F350s unless I find a 2015-2017ish that already has F300s on it. If I repower it will probably be Suzuki 350s or the new Yam 350s. I plan on playing the prop game too - did it with my current boat, and the EcoEnertias really helped with grip in rough seas, running attitude, and efficiency. Lost like 1kt top end.
Click to expand...
 
isurus22 said:
I cruise just on plane. Which is about 22 knots. Generally though I will run at 24-25 but my economy is a little worse. I have the stock 15x15 props. My boat is heavy, lots of gear, rooftop life raft. My boat is a 2004 but the previous owner Repowered. That’s the way to go. Investing 85k into an older 330 is more expensive than finding one that was Repowered a few years back.
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Oldest boat I want to get into is a 2015 - I want a 33 that is from the "post-wood" generation.
 
Welcome to the forum!

The below is from 750 hours of use over four years on a 2006 330 with 2022 F300's swinging Yamaha Saltwater series SDS 15 pitch props.

I get 1.0 NAUTICAL mpg AT 22-24 KNOTS AT 4200-4300 RPM's cruise. If I'm heavy with fuel and ICE, that number drops to .9 nMPG. High cruise is 27 knots and the economy drops to about .8 nMPG running at 4700 RPM's.

Wide open throttle seems to be right at 5,800 RPM's.

Your Regulator of course gets better economy but on a 330, you'll never have to wear your foul weather gear!
 
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HMBJack said:
Welcome to the forum!

The below is from 750 hours of use over four years on a 2006 330 with 2022 F300's swinging Yamaha Saltwater series SDS 15 pitch props.

I get 1.0 NAUTICAL mpg AT 22-24 KNOTS AT 4200-4300 RPM's cruise. If I'm heavy with fuel and ICE, that number drops to .9 nMPG. High cruise is 27 knots and the economy drops to about .8 nMPG running at 4700 RPM's.

Wide open throttle seems to be right at 5,800 RPM's.

Your Regulator of course gets better economy but on a 330, you'll never have to wear your foul weather gear!
Click to expand...
Thank you for the welcome, and for the information. Those are numbers I can live with these days, and possibly improve upon with some different props.
I'm only 36, but I'm very much "over" the center console life for the time being - I've done far more miles on a CC than I care to admit, and with my bad knees from competitive skiing, I'm ready to move on to an express.
The Regulator is fantastic for what I use it for - honestly the perfect size/ride for what I was doing, but now, I'm willing to trade some economy and speed for a warm bunk, and a hot cup of coffee.
I was very active on RedRegulator when it was still popular, and I spend a ton of time on the old Downeastboatforum, and the new ProjectHull - so I plan on contributing here as much as possible.
Cheers!
 
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