28 Topaz fuel consumption

[SteveH2112]

Looking at a 28 Topaz with twin 351 windsors. Any idea of fuel consumption? I am guessing at about 16gph at 22 knot cruise. Any info would help.

[jawz12]

lot's and lot's of variables on this one...

if everything's right with the world on those engines,i would expect close to what you typed...
but,and that's a big butt...old engines like those,ford engine's haven't been available and used for a loooooong time,i would not wanna guess...overall general health of the engines,what props are on the boat,can the engines reach their max rpm,all of these are big factors...

[Questsportfishing]

the variables are crazy down to 'how you load the boat'... .

I do like the Topaz boats though even though some say they are boxy, choppy- choppy in chop.. (I have never heard that until a sea trial in N.J. .... ) they have room, a big wide butt, nice engine rooms for their size..
these boats need diesels though or really good lightweight gas small block engines with hp to spare and fuel injection - electronic ignition type clean / well cooled power..
still a neat boat .. I'd like to see yanmar 230's in one..

[SteveH2112]

I wouldn't mind seeing those Yanmars or 6bta Cummins in it either. My reality is I would be fishing the existing motors for a season before the switchout.

[jawz12]

I wouldn't mind seeing those Yanmars or 6bta Cummins in it either. My reality is I would be fishing the existing motors for a season before the switchout.

trust me on this one...

it's not worth it to swap that rig over to diesel-reason being,you can purchase better,at less cost.with the market the way it is right now,you can buy a better equipped,better quality and much better riding boat,diesel powered as well,for much less than the cost of the repower on that rig.

by the time you get done with a diesel conversion on that rig,engines/gears-prop shafts,props,fuel system,guages,harness's,batteries,thru hulls,exhaust hose,etc-etc-etc,you're gonna drop $50-$60k-add this to what you paid for the boat,and it gets higher...i've seen 29 topaz boats,fully rigged-fishing equipment,diesel power,ready to roll for $30k.a 29' is a much better rig,rides better too ...
trust me,this is what i do for a living,this stuff isn't cheap.if you're reasonably mechanically inclined,you can do some of the work yourself-"reasonably mechanically inclined" is the key phrase
dropping that kind of coin on that rig is throwing good after bad...
look around,you can do much better...

[HROFORDPOWER]

I own a 1976 Topaz 28 with Sea Maxx 351 fords carb. Boat is rigged with 17x16 4 blades from S&S Propeller in Flushing, NY. We burnt about 77 gallons from Greenwich, CT to Montauk point in 3.5 hours. I felt from what I've heard about gas motors that wasn't to bad. Boat ran like a brick S*** house. Plenty of fishing room.

[jawz12]

I own a 1976 Topaz 28 with Sea Maxx 351 fords carb. Boat is rigged with 17x16 4 blades from S&S Propeller in Flushing, NY. We burnt about 77 gallons from Greenwich, CT to Montauk point in 3.5 hours. I felt from what I've heard about gas motors that wasn't to bad. Boat ran like a brick S*** house. Plenty of fishing room.

that's 22 gph...what was the speed ? remember,22kts speed,that's 1nmpg-not very good...17x16 wheels sounds like way too much wheel,what's max rpm you get ?

[Deep C]

That 1mpg seems to be pretty close to what we get with a 28 albemarle with twin 350 block 280 hp engines... Round trip to the Washington from OC is 116 miles... We burn 138 a day almost to the gallon. Of course some of that is trolling fuel. We run at 24.5 kts. Think that boat had 18 x 19 four blade... Not sure of the gear but think it was 2.0:1.. Usually about 3500 rpm...

[jawz12]

That 1mpg seems to be pretty close to what we get with a 28 albemarle with twin 350 block 280 hp engines... Round trip to the Washington from OC is 116 miles... We burn 138 a day almost to the gallon. Of course some of that is trolling fuel. We run at 24.5 kts. Think that boat had 18 x 19 four blade... Not sure of the gear but think it was 2.0:1.. Usually about 3500 rpm...

a 28 albermarle weighs a whole hell of a lot more,plus,it's a deep v hull,the topaz has a modified v hull-alot easier to push...

[Deep C]

a 28 albermarle weighs a whole hell of a lot more,plus,it's a deep v hull,the topaz has a modified v hull-alot easier to push...

Albie is a featherweight ... both are. 9000 loaded. Topaz is 8200 dry. Albie has more V but less beam... I had a topaz for a while she also had GM block 350 but they were 260. 19 knot boat and was about 20 per hour...