Nautical Miles/ 228 Seafarer

I don't know about the current models, but I've got a 2003 with a suzuki 250 AP. It holds a little under 100 gallons and gets about 2.5 miles per gallon. If I'm conservative it can get a little over 3 mpg. If you figure 1/3 to get there, 1/3 to get back, and 1/3 in reserve, you get a range of a little over 80 miles. With that said, I wouldn't go 80 miles offshore.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gradywhiteonthehorizon
My 228 has 114 gallon tank. In snot, I get around 2mpg, it can be better than that but I use 2 as what to expect and smile when it is better.
Using 1/3 rule, that's about 80 miles.

I'm never going 160 miles in a day. I could see a trip where it was multiple days and as much as 200 miles between gas fillups though, that might be fun.
 
Gradywhiteonthehorizon said:
Got it. I’m thinking 30-50 offshore. I’ll be giving a few trial runs to see what kind of mileage I get. Increasing my mileage with each trip.
Click to expand...

I always feel cringy saying stuff like this because I'm a n00b, but if you don't have experience with that kind of distance, can I suggest a 2 boat launch? I have yet to go that far and I can tell you, the first few times are going to be with another boat. I'm single engine for the main, I have a kicker but 50 miles offshore is 10 hours coming back on the kicker. Yikes.
 
I’ve been out there several times with 24 ft Cobia 24 ft with twin screws. I used to have a GW 306 Bimini. I haven’t been out on the 228 yet. I figure I’ll run out for a few trial runs increasing my mileage each time to get a feel for her and to see how the gauges are working. I’ll cross check my gauges with my GPS to see what I find. I’m also running in the Gulf off of the Central Southwest of FLA. The seas maybe a little different where you are? I‘ s been on the Pacific south of you in Cabo San Lucas. Big rollers there. That blue water rolls just off shore with depths several hundred feet. I have to run a long ways out to get to just 100 ft waters. Several miles. I like what you are saying and am always looking for new knowledge. I find that Ca has some interesting waters there. Please keep me abreast of your experiences. I won‘t have my 228 until the week after next.
 
Gradywhiteonthehorizon said:
I’ve been out there several times with 24 ft Cobia 24 ft with twin screws. I used to have a GW 306 Bimini. I haven’t been out on the 228 yet. I figure I’ll run out for a few trial runs increasing my mileage each time to get a feel for her and to see how the gauges are working. I’ll cross check my gauges with my GPS to see what I find. I’m also running in the Gulf off of the Central Southwest of FLA. The seas maybe a little different where you are? I‘ s been on the Pacific south of you in Cabo San Lucas. Big rollers there. That blue water rolls just off shore with depths several hundred feet. I have to run a long ways out to get to just 100 ft waters. Several miles. I like what you are saying and am always looking for new knowledge. I find that Ca has some interesting waters there. Please keep me abreast of your experiences. I won‘t have my 228 until the week after next.
Click to expand...

You have way more experience than me, trust your judgement.

I can speak to the 228 a little. It is a finicky boat, you have to figure out what it wants to ride right, but when you do, things get better. There are a ton of 228 owners here who can speak to this better than I can. But I've noticed that you have to drive that boat, you have to be aware, you have to trim it. Doing that made a huge difference compared to my previous boat, a Triumph. The 228 wants you to dial it in.

CA waters are snotty, our calm is 3 feet at 8 or 9 seconds. I'll come in that in a following sea at 40mph, it feels flat. We rarely get flat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gradywhiteonthehorizon
I used to take my 30 year old BW Montauk with 20 year old engine 20NM out of Ocean City MD no problem. Pick your days, know your boat, and watch the weather. This is my first season in my 05 228, still learning the boat and getting the kinks out so I didn't run far offshore this year but I'll have no problem running it 30 - 40 miles. I can run 5kts on my 9.9 kicker so it would be a long slow troll home but that's all you'd get from Seatow no to mention the response time. I'm prepping the boat for FL this winter and dreaming about running it 45 miles from Ft Lauderdale - Bimini. I've done that trip numerous times on a 24 Dusky so no problem doing it on the 228 with the right weather window, and it would be great not to need to buy fuel over there.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Gradywhiteonthehorizon
Your boat has 114 g tank , mine has 125 g tank, I cover anywhere from 80-120 miles on a days fishing, I fill up when fuel is cheap on the road , We have gas prices fluctuating here up too 30 even 40 cents per lt in any 3 week period that is a lot of $$ when you buy 350-400 lts of gas. I normally get 2 fishing trips on one fill , sometimes I may top up with 20-40 lts on second trip. I get over 2 miles per US gal maybe 2.25 depending on sea and weight . Bottom paint may make a little difference, as long as there isn't any growth it shouldn't be much.
The Yamaha command link should be very accurate ( should have been calibrated ) . You can see your fuel usage as you go along and fuel use up to that point if it was reset before you started. I reset mine when I fill up and whatever it shows "fuel used " that's what it takes to fill up.
Fill your tank and go out fishing say up to 80 miles from starting point so 160 round trip, as long as the tank was full to start with you will not run out, where you are boating you will use less than I do. I use much more fuel punching into the sea going out in the morning because I trim in so she cuts in to the waves, coming back in the afternoon i'm on the top of the waves trimmed out until close to the inlet , then she is all nastier.
After the first fishing trip fill up again preferably at the same gas station on the same pump facing the same way , check fuel used and if it doesn't match the amount she took to fill up you calibrate the command link to that. If the difference is very little less than 2% don't worry about but take note for next time .

Enjoy the boat, I hope it suits your requirements, mine suits me 100% but it is a compromise. Bigger boat is better in the sea and smaller boat better on the road . Deep V better going in to the head sea but not as stable stationary, variable deadrise the best of both worlds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gradywhiteonthehorizon
luckydude said:
You have way more experience than me, trust your judgement.

I can speak to the 228 a little. It is a finicky boat, you have to figure out what it wants to ride right, but when you do, things get better. There are a ton of 228 owners here who can speak to this better than I can. But I've noticed that you have to drive that boat, you have to be aware, you have to trim it. Doing that made a huge difference compared to my previous boat, a Triumph. The 228 wants you to dial it in.

CA waters are snotty, our calm is 3 feet at 8 or 9 seconds. I'll come in that in a following sea at 40mph, it feels flat. We rarely get flat.
Click to expand...
 
I greatly your feedback luckydude. Looks like I’ve got a learning curve ahead of me. I look forward to you the mentor teaching the the ropes and what to expect. There are certain risks to do what we love. I look forward to your insightful knowledge and appreciate it.
 
Seafarer_Bob said:
I used to take my 30 year old BW Montauk with 20 year old engine 20NM out of Ocean City MD no problem. Pick your days, know your boat, and watch the weather. This is my first season in my 05 228, still learning the boat and getting the kinks out so I didn't run far offshore this year but I'll have no problem running it 30 - 40 miles. I can run 5kts on my 9.9 kicker so it would be a long slow troll home but that's all you'd get from Seatow no to mention the response time. I'm prepping the boat for FL this winter and dreaming about running it from Ft Lauderdale - Bimini. I've done that trip numerous times on a 24 Dusky so no problem on the right weather window and it would be great not to need to buy fuel over there.
Click to expand...
 
I’ve been and fished on a Dusky with a charter captain. Trophied a 160-170 tarpon in the Fort Meyers areas. That Dusky seemed like a tank. You and I have likenesses. My first boat was a 1965 Montauk. Tore it down to the hull and built it backup. Took a year and a half to do it. Great little boat! Good advice. I’m becoming to be more aware of the circumstances. That helps all of a lot. Especially for those of us that are new to this boat. It is becoming more apparent that I know less and need to learn more.

Seatow looks like must.

I look forward to your news and picks to Fla. I live in Fla.and have the Keys and Bahama runs on my bucket list. I would like to learn about your trips to Fla.

Brook
 
This is a great quote "It is becoming more apparent that I know less and need to learn more."

One of my favorite sayings is very similar "The more I learn the less I know."

I wish I had a photo of it but I built a cushioned bow platform on the Whaler and cut the bottom out of a 2 person dome tent and sewed it so I could camp on it dry and bug free. I've launched it from Flamingo in the Everglades a couple dozen times and camped on it up to 4 nights at a time. I'll need to be a lot more careful doing that trip on the Grady but I'm sewing a screen enclosure and I can fit two kayaks on the roof, hopefully I'll be taking it to the Keys / Everglades for a couple weeks over the x-mas new years holiday this winter. Best time to do the Bimini run is May / June but it can be done at other times on the right weather window.
 
Yeah, the saying is true. If not, we’ll that person really doesn’t know to much. I’ll miss a run this year. Looking forward to the smokers when they come through. Like to get out to the AJ’S too. Snapper bite is good too. Although that is the change of seasons for the Smokers is usually a bit climatic, as we see it twice a year. This boat will handle that...love it.

keep me abreast of what/how you are loading those kayaks. I have two of them. They are real stealth fishing boats. I can pull up within 20’ of our tarpons.
 
wrxhoon said:
Enjoy the boat, I hope it suits your requirements, mine suits me 100% but it is a compromise. Bigger boat is better in the sea and smaller boat better on the road . Deep V better going in to the head sea but not as stable stationary, variable deadrise the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...

I feel like there is no perfect boat. If Triumph were still around and if they were strong enough to put a bracket on (they aren't) then I'd probably own that. I like those hulls best.

But the 228 is a great compromise, I love mine. It is as big as I can get to my house, if I manage to get to New Zealand and have better roads, I could see upgrading to something bigger. If I never do, that's fine, the 228 is a seaworthy boat, just pick your days.

I'm jealous that you can trim your bow up, that's super rare in our waters.
 
my 228 has a 125 gallon tank. I have the 4.2 liter F250 and it's gets on flat water 3.2-3.3 per gallon. Fishing I get 2.5-2.9 depending on the sea state. I have run her to the Bahamas and Dry Tortugas with plenty of fuel and room to spare. a typical offshore trip out of Port Canaveral I will go 30-50 off, troll all dang day and come back and burned around 30-40 gallons of fuel.
 
Hey Smoky Mountain Grady! Hope things have been good on your end with family and all? I’m picking up a Grady up in NYC next week if all goes as planned. It will be a 228. The info you gave me is what I’m after. It gives a pretty good idea of what to expect. My estimates we’re coming in at 3.40 miles per. But, a little change in conditions will make a difference as you pointed out. I’m looking forward to the Bahamas and the Keys. Look me up the next time your around if you want?

941-400-8976

Brook

SmokyMtnGrady said:
my 228 has a 125 gallon tank. I have the 4.2 liter F250 and it's gets on flat water 3.2-3.3 per gallon. Fishing I get 2.5-2.9 depending on the sea state. I have run her to the Bahamas and Dry Tortugas with plenty of fuel and room to spare. a typical offshore trip out of Port Canaveral I will go 30-50 off, troll all dang day and come back and burned around 30-40 gallons of fuel.
Click to expand...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Quicky and SmokyMtnGrady
You must log in or register to reply here.