Fuel Mileage - Extra Fuel options
BTK7 said:
About to purchase my first ski & looking at GTX or GTX Limited. I'm really hoping to team up with a couple friends for some long distance touring, so fuel economy is very important to me. I understand the SC burns more juice... BUT how does it compare on consumption *at the same speed*. i.e., if I assume an average of 30-40mph, what kinda consumption can I expect from the GTX/GTX Limited? Also... any long range gas tank options for these?
Thanks
I have a 2004 GTX SC and driving moderately, I can cruise and pull kids in a tube for a few hours before fuel runs low. I can't say how fuel mileage of a non SC compares, but it will be better. Will it be better enough to accomplish your goals, hard to say?
What are your buddies driving? If they are driving a 145HP ski, then you will be running out before they do - thereby limiting your riding time with them. The issue is really how far you can travel, leaving a safe amount of fuel to get back home including a 1/3 reserve. On any of these Ski's (GTX GTX SC), if you follow the 1/3 out, 1/3 back, 1/3 reserve rule, you are talking about 1-1/2 hours max away from home before turning back (on the SC).
I'd suggest this solution: Get the model you want and carry some additional fuel when you go exploring. That is what I do. I am on a lake that connects to a river (30 minutes ride from my marina). Once on the river, I can explore about 45 minutes to an hour upstream until I get to a lock. By the time I get there, my fuel is down to less than 1/2, so I add 5 gallons that I carry in a portable tank and I arrive back home with at least 1/3 tank of fuel, even if I am "hot dogging" a bit on the way back. I really enjoy the exploring, but don't like the stress of wondering whether I'll run out of fuel. Remember that weather and lake conditions you have on the way out may not be the same on the way back. A rough lake with winds will consume more fuel than the flat lake you rode out on in the morning.
The extra fuel is carried on the rear platform in a plastic 5 gallon gas "can". It is secured downward with bungee cords to the rear tie down "eyes" and stabilized by additional bungee cords to the grab handle on the rear of the seat. I've been out on a rough lake and had no problem with the tank moving (I wasn't jumping waves though). I'm a bit paranoid about vapor build up in the tank when travelling on a hot day so I stop every now and again and open the vent cap to allow air to escape.
Another option is a 5 gallon can used to fuel race cars. Hunsaker sports in CA makes a good one. It has a high neck with a tall vent tube to keep everything away from the water. I've seen pictures of a pair of these held down by some PVC pipe (horizontal) with 90 degree ends (fitting over the necks) and then held down with bungee cords as mentioned above. You can see the 5 gallon tanks here:
Hunsaker Sports
So, as you can see there are plenty of options. Now when I tour, I can be out for 3+ hours and still arrive homw with 1/3 of a tank of fuel.
Hope this helps,
grover
I've thought about towing my Sea Doo to the coast this summer. My brother in law has a cabin on one of the Gulf Islands (off the coast of WA) and you can cruise accross the open ocean to Vancouver Island and explore - so I've been thinking about the extra fuel issue. In any event, 4 hours riding time is enough for me. If I wanted to travel longer, I think I'd be happier in a boat!
