fuel burn 671tibs 39 express

[edgewalker]

I own a 1996 39 express with a triple hardtop tower,671tibs 485 with zf 3-1 gear spinning 5 bladed rollas on 2 1/4 shafts.Originally the props were 32 by 44 but I was only getting 2350rpm on the top end and at 2150 I was cruising at 22 1/2 knots.I took out some pitch made them 32 by 41 and now I top out at 2550rpm and at 2150 I'm cruising at 23/5 too 23/8.At 2250 I'm cruising at 25/8 at 2550 I'm topping out at 28/5 were as before i was topping out at 26/7.My question is if there is anyone out there with the same boat and power package,or similar boat and package set up with a floscan because I would like to get an accurate fuel burn at 2150 and 2250,with the generator running,My best guess is 35 gallons an hour at 2150 and 38 to 40 at2250.The information would be extremely helpfull to me as I'am a charter boat and do several canyon trips,however i just got the boat last summer and arent sure yet of the numbers.I do have auxiliary tanks and hold 550gallons of fuel.I hope my range is 350 miles. thank you for any feedback it would be most helpful

 

[Roger]

Fuel burn

I had the same boat 95,new purchase in 96, 6-71's full tower etc, used to run boat at 2200 cruised at 25 knots, burned 40 gals, hr
Average trip to canyons 85 miles out and back plus trollling was 320 gals. I installed 2 additional 37 gal tanks and never ever used the extra fuel, just stopped carrying the extra weight, You have more then enough fuel on the boat from main tank not to worry about any canyon trips, and don't wate your money on flowscans.
I don't believe you can make 350 miles range at that rpm,

 

[edgewalker]

Re: Fuel burn

Since I redid the props and faired and redid the bottom my fuel burn has improved.Last canyon trip I ran from montauk to the dip,ran 170 nm round trip ,plus trolled for about 8 hrs and ran the generator from Friday morning at ten till Saturday at 3pm.My total fuel use was 290.On the way out I ran her at 2100 at 22/5cruise on the way back I ran at 2175 and cruised at 23/5 and I was loaded down both ways.She is alot more efficient then expected.And your right roger with the keel and those big 32 inch rollas she tracks like a dream.And if you thought the visibility was bad when you had one,I put my 6man solas raft on the bow,I practically have to run with the radar on.However I would'nt give her up for the world,the rougher it gets the faster she likes to run.Bring it on.

 

[edgewalker]

Re: Fuel burn

Your right I figure my range to be about 275nm maybe 300nm.

 

[Roger]

fuel burn

A few suggestions for the boat on improvements
I had the storage box under the helm seat modified so front panel (facing helm) was a easy removable panel, inside I stored 6 man avon raft (valise), + epirb and flares,very accessible putting raft on front deck is a hinderance, second choice is ontop of hardtop
Stored 10 7' trolling rods in engine room above engines, on each side, 6 50's (4) 80's
Had custom rod racks made for under port seating area, all the way up the back for lighter tackle and standup. had another dozen rods stuffed in there,
Refrigerator freezer is a single combo unit, was Norcold operated on 12 volts, the company has a control box that allows it ot be operated by either 120v AC or 12 volts DC.Must contact them for controller, and have it wired into system. Made no sense to me to be pulling off batteries when there is 8kw gen onboard, doing little work.
The electrical circuit breaker panel is in a stupid location, every time someone went into engine room,a breaker or 2 would be hit and switched something off. need a strip of plastic to cover the breakers so your finger go behind but not easy hit.
The location of Air Conditioner under dinete seat is noisey inside living space, I was thinking of moving to engine room.
the compass needs compensation it is effected by windshield lifting motor
Had to fully enclose the bridge because the station wagon effect pulling mist back in made everything wet on the trips to the canyons, and uncomforable,
The electronics would shut down when engine started, needed to have Nav Start installed, that correct problem.
It caught fish, looks good with a tower, can fish with 2 people and solidly built. Express boats are not my choice any more, too many compromises.

 

[edgewalker]

Re: fuel burn

Everything you just suggested to do to the boat has already been done,Like i said the boat was originally purchased by a guy in new jersey in 1996 and was called toypedo.It was then bought by a bank president in boston and called jesse,he never used it.I got her in august of 2002 and now she lives in montauk and is called edgewalker.When i bought her she only had 420hrs on her,so nobody really used her.Are you sure this was'nt your boat. also now she has 1200hrs and is running great.

 

[Roger]

fuel burn

Small world- that was my boat, I set it all up from a bare boat. It is a 1995 model, I bought new in 1996, That was our 4th new Hatteras, now #5 is still Toypedo, and has a lot of little annoying stuff that will eventually get worked out. But I loved the hull and bought a convertible. Before the express boat it was a 1991 50 hat.

 

[Roger]

curosity

Are the personally autographed Steve Gione pictures still on the bulk head, they were a gift from Steve and when I sold the boat new owner insisted they stay on?
Also mentioned to your friend lee greenwood of stalker, if he likes your boat because it was done right, the same thought goes into our offshore lures, check out www.profishco.com They catch some serious fish!
Your boat has the most radical tower design, it was built by tower power and we designed it first on paper then into real life- I insisted to match the windshield rake, thats why the legs and flanges & everything is oversized for strength. The outriggers are raked back the same, plus my designs of teaser reel attachments in cockpit.
The hard top was the largest they ever built, probably could cover a 65' with it. the entire hard top has ground foil screening in it for SSB ground plane, worked great. I also had it Imron painted not just gel-coat to match boat, The cellphone was 5 watt analog and could call from canyon on clear days. I modified the fish box to make it deeper and insulated, because it was small and useless before, now you can stuff tons of fish in there that work also done by tower power, its a heavy son-a b____h. In 1996 that boat had $60k in improvements, actual cost was $405 when finished, all electronic installed by Martek in Cape May NJ first class, As far as express boats go, it always drew lookers, I had the hatteras badges removed from sides, few people even knew what it was because of the radical looks.
some memorable trips of multiple 200+ big-eyes caught with just myself and 1 friend, 2 people, a real fire-drill but it worked becuase of the bridge to cockpit relationship. My biggest complaint was, f--k what did I just run over again. If I recall that boat ran slightly faster then, maybe engines are showing some signs of age.
Nest season we may meet in the Hudson, or if we squeeze in 1 more trip this year, I have some new lures to test.

 

[edgewalker]

Re: curosity

yeah i figureed it was your boat .the second owner had the whole interior redone.And yes the paintings are still hangig.I had a macerator hooked up to the fish box,added a third battery for the generator,iam in the process of updating the electronics,jarrett bay did some custom work by glassing in the tackle center and cockpit freezer.I installed block heaters and replaced all the water pumps.I left the hatteras name off the boat still ,so nobdy knows what she is and as far as speed she still cruises at 25 at tops out at almost30.I also did alot off work to the engine room took out all the wood and replaced it with starboard and I'm having the engine room painted this winter.I love the boat and she is an absolute tank..if you get the chance give me a call at 646-285 1593 my name is kris.

 

[Roger]

hat

kris-glad the boat is in the hands of someone that appreciates it, I have done a laundry list of things to my 39 convertible as well, to get it where i want it, I think they are a great hull for the size and run good in all conditions, I was in some nasty sh-t with both 39s. I had before the 39X a 91-50C with MAN's which is an absolute battleship awesome sea boat, an 88' 41' which was also very good, (still in the neighborhood) and a new 32 which sucked, took delivery in June traded it back in Oct (4 months) for the 41. The running gear on the 39 is just overbuilt and takes a lot of abuse, little vibration because of the 3 / 1 gear ratio, wheels only turn 725 RPM at cruise.
Here are a few more recommendations to do this winter, add a set of pyrometers to exhaust, ISSPro makes a great unit with white face for marine application, learned the best way to see engine problems early on.
Also add gauges to the gen set in electrical panel, oil pressure and temp, had 2 friends this season lose their genny for reasons that may have been noticed if gages were there during start-up, and full set of gages in engine room (don't remember if I did it or not).
Water level sensors in fresh water engine cooling system, tied into system moniter, a broken water hose and you don't know until its to late for the engine.
Glassing in the tackle center is a good idea, they built it like a modular system because of different arrangements in the cockpit, as a cruiser vs fishing boat and the cauking always would flex and crack, i had it redone twice in the 2 1/2 years I had it. The 39C tackle center is all part of cockpit deck, no separate units.
The other problem I used to have with that boat was the AC sea water pick up used to suck in air, thats why it was moved back sharing the wash down intake, not recommended but always worked, I think because that hull ran higher in bow and more air pushed back to origninal intake (forward of starboard engine), whereas I never had that problem with 39C. Its heavier and weight of house etc keeps the bow down, runs flatter. I'll try to call you Sunday.

 

[Roger]

Block Heaters

Kris- can you send me details on the block heater instalation on the engines, i would like to do this now also, can you e-mail photo of the installation on the block so I can see which access plate it goes into.
e-mail rwlehm@aol.com or call me you have the #. Do you have part numbers etc. and do you have a separate thermostat in the water manifold to contro the temp. and how are they wired. thanks Roger

 

[sdonks]

39 express

Hey Guys I also have a 39SX with Cummins tho.
Would like to see some pics of Edgewater if possible
I fish the NE Canyons also East Ocean to Atlantis.
I still have a lot of wasted space behind the tackle center, would love to see an updated one.

f-papp@msn.com

Thank You. Frank

 

[edgewalker]

tackle center

are you refering to the tackle center in the cockpit,with the rigging station on top?

 

[sdonks]

39 Bait Center

Yes, on the Port side I have a tackle center it has (underneath) 4 drawers to the left, and hardly any space to the right due to a large space behind there, I am planning on putting in all drawers or just open up the right side.
I have a bait cooler setup on the top with aluminum plates (no frezzer plate) I think that is custom.

 

[Boater260]

fuel burn

I have the 39 convertible with 6-71TIs (465hp) - no tuna tower. I had the props (32" 5 blade) adjusted from 44 to 41. I max out at 2550 . At 2150 fuel burn with the gen is 36/hr. I have flo-scans. MPG is 0.58 (which is info you probably don't want to think about). I seldom run it WOT at least not for more than a couple of minutes or so. I never noticed the fuel burn at that rpm. Will check come summer. I usually run at 2000 just to save some wear and tear on the boat. It's not the price of the fuel that concerns me - it's the price of a MOH. Trips to the canyon (from Ocean City, NJ) plus all night of fishing usually run 350 gallons. I hold 490 gallons (no auxiliary tanks). I hope this is some help.