Fuel efficient fishing boat

[fpjeepy]

I'm curious what people have found for efficient fishing boats. It doesn't have to be a strictly fishing boat, but something that one could fish off.

The best I have found so far is an older Arvor 180 w/ 50hp Nanni diesel. 13 knot cruise, at 6 lph works out to 2.2 nautical miles per liter. (10 statue miles per US gallon)

Anyone find anything better than that?

[skipmac]

I think the question much too broad to give a good answer. To give a helpful answer you should specify what kind of fishing and where?

Fishing in a small lake for bass would call for a much different boat than fishing for snapper 50 miles offshore.

Likewise fishing off the coast of Florida in summer vs off the coast of Alaska in winter would call for a much different boat.

Maybe a few more details?

[fpjeepy]

Touché

Boats like the Arvor would be a good start. I don't want to say a specific area, because it would be nice to be able to travel the boat and fish in different areas.

- I think 15ft+ would be a minimum.
- 10mpg or better
- Capable of a 25-degree roll without taking on water. (That's not information that is typically available. So maybe 20"+ gunnels.)
- 12+ knots
- Self-bailing would be cool

Still too broad?

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by fpjeepy

Touché

Boats like the Arvor would be a good start. I don't want to say a specific area, because it would be nice to be able to travel the boat and fish in different areas.

- I think 15ft+ would be a minimum.
- 10mpg or better
- Capable of a 25-degree roll without taking on water. (That's not information that is typically available. So maybe 20"+ gunnels.)
- 12+ knots
- Self-bailing would be cool

Still too broad?

You might also have a look at TheHullTruth(.com); lots of fish guys there, boatloads of info about likely boats...

-Chris

[fpjeepy]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

You might also have a look at TheHullTruth(.com); lots of fish guys there, boatloads of info about likely boats...

-Chris

I have tried posting over there. 99% of fishermen don't care about fuel burn. Most boats get 3mpg or less and no one is willing to give up anything to better fuel economy.

[tamicatana]

Bahamian fishing sloops

https://www.woodenboat.com/whiskey_plank/bahamian-sloops—part-i

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by fpjeepy

Touché

Boats like the Arvor would be a good start. I don't want to say a specific area, because it would be nice to be able to travel the boat and fish in different areas.

- I think 15ft+ would be a minimum.
- 10mpg or better
- Capable of a 25-degree roll without taking on water. (That's not information that is typically available. So maybe 20"+ gunnels.)
- 12+ knots
- Self-bailing would be cool

Still too broad?

A 15ft aluminum boat with a 9.9hp 4 stroke outboard should do nicely.

I don't know about 25 degree roll but as a kid we were out in steep 6fters with no issues taking on water. It's light so it tends to ride up and over waves. Roll would be more of a concern in bigger heavier boats that try to stand up to waves.

[valhalla360]

Not really fitting your criteria but I always thought our sail catamaran would make a great salmon fishing boat with the rig removed.
- Wide beam means you have plenty of room for downriggers and a stable platform.
- Easy to dial in the trolling speed. Most boats need a separate trolling motor or a fiddly trolling plate on the main.
- Big cockpit.

About the only downside is it will take a bit longer to get out to the fishing grounds but with the slower speed, you could be setting up on the way out, putting some of that extra travel time to use.

[fpjeepy]

Originally Posted by tamicatana

Bahamian fishing sloops

https://www.woodenboat.com/whiskey_p...-sloops—part-i

Kinda hard to fish off of a sailboat. Ironically the author of that article is Reul Parker who has designed some pretty efficient boats. His 24'x7' commuter with a 50hp I believe will cruise around 14knots and gets 6+ mpg

Originally Posted by valhalla360

A 15ft aluminum boat with a 9.9hp 4 stroke outboard should do nicely.

I don't know about 25 degree roll but as a kid we were out in steep 6fters with no issues taking on water. It's light so it tends to ride up and over waves. Roll would be more of a concern in bigger heavier boats that try to stand up to waves.

I fish saltwater. I know there are ways to protect aluminum in the salt, but not knowing enough I have always been nervous of it. If I had to go that route, I would prefer the welded boats over the riveted boats.

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Not really fitting your criteria but I always thought our sail catamaran would make a great salmon fishing boat with the rig removed.
- Wide beam means you have plenty of room for downriggers and a stable platform.
- Easy to dial in the trolling speed. Most boats need a separate trolling motor or a fiddly trolling plate on the main.
- Big cockpit.

About the only downside is it will take a bit longer to get out to the fishing grounds but with the slower speed, you could be setting up on the way out, putting some of that extra travel time to use.

I'm also not a big fan of cats. I don't care for the way they roll around a corner at speed. Although a sail boat probably wouldn't have that issue.

[Westcliffe01]

The best I had heard of for a displacement boat was Idlewild. 55ft long, 30 000lb. 55 Hp diesel. Did the northwest passage and then circumnavigated. Consumption 1.3 gal/hr at 6.5kt or 5nm/gal Not much on the top speed end of things of course...

[BillKny]

Originally Posted by fpjeepy

I'm curious what people have found for efficient fishing boats. It doesn't have to be a strictly fishing boat, but something that one could fish off.

The best I have found so far is an older Arvor 180 w/ 50hp Nanni diesel. 13 knot cruise, at 6 lph works out to 2.2 nautical miles per liter. (10 statue miles per US gallon)

Anyone find anything better than that?

I do a LOT better than that.

We just came back from a three day trip from Hampton Roads, VA out 80 NM to the Norfolk Canyon to fish for Golden Tilefish. Our TOTAL fuel spend for the entire trip: 12 gallons. We don't cruise at 13 knots, but we do eight...

We put over 80 pounds of the tastiest fish that swims into the ship's freezers. If you have ever eaten tilefish, you know what I mean. If not.. well more for me!

Fish and boat in the attached pictures...

https://thefishingsailor.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkR...3h0VL0POkvh7yA

[clakiep]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Not really fitting your criteria but I always thought our sail catamaran would make a great salmon fishing boat with the rig removed.
- Wide beam means you have plenty of room for downriggers and a stable platform.
- Easy to dial in the trolling speed. Most boats need a separate trolling motor or a fiddly trolling plate on the main.
- Big cockpit.

About the only downside is it will take a bit longer to get out to the fishing grounds but with the slower speed, you could be setting up on the way out, putting some of that extra travel time to use.

I used a 21 ft sailing catamaran with 2,5 HP Seagull outboard for two years - a Wharam Tiki 21 - for netfishing for a hotel. Bringing out the nets behind the reefs late afternoon and bringing them in next morning. Excellent expierience. Stable working platform, and good manouverability under jib alone to position and move around between the groundnets.

Capt. Claus - ocean tramp of the eighties - São Paulo/Brasil

[keyway]

I fish off my Wharram tiki 30 all the time.10 up Honda and sails. I can go just about anywhere

[wannacat]

Valhalla 360 has the right idea! Wide platform spreading the riggers and lines out far apart, very efficient fuel burn and reasonable enough speed. Caught lots of Mahi, Wahoo and Mutton Snapper off the back of ours. Forget those little fishing boats that just bob around, get something decent you can stand up in, walk around, pour a drink and not spill it while either BBQing or cooking a roast in the oven as you fish!

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by fpjeepy

Touché

Boats like the Arvor would be a good start. I don't want to say a specific area, because it would be nice to be able to travel the boat and fish in different areas.

- I think 15ft+ would be a minimum.
- 10mpg or better
- Capable of a 25-degree roll without taking on water. (That's not information that is typically available. So maybe 20"+ gunnels.)
- 12+ knots
- Self-bailing would be cool

Still too broad?

A boat around 15' or so with 20" freeboard? I wouldn't take that more than a mile or so out of the harbor and only on the calmest of days.