Porkchunker":2pe24bhf said:
gerg,
I have never figured why folks report mpg, when gph is a more useable figure. I've never bothered to calculate mph. On top of that, all my electronics are set for knots, so miles has no meaning to me.
Here is why I believe that mpg is a much better measure of economy: for demonstration purposes let me exagerate a bit.........
Using gallons per hour only Thurston Howell III takes his Chris Craft out and perfers to cruise at 20 mph because his fuel monitor tells him he uses 10 gallons per hour (since gas is now up to 37 cents a gallon he is trying to save money)
The Professor has an identical boat (on board is Mary Ann in those little shorts and knotted in the front shirt). They are both travelling the same route to get to a deserted island nearby to have lunch on the beach. The Professer wants to get there first so he can score some private time...... but he knows he only has barely enough gas to get there and back. It's an 80 mile round trip and he had Gilligan fuel his boat that morning (little does he know that Gilligan siphoned off gas from Mr. Howell's boat and now they both have the same amount of fuel..... )
So both boats have 38 gallons of fuel............38!
As the professor matches his speed to Thurstons boat he sees that he is only getting 2 mpg and realizes he will never make it there and back if he doesn't do something to improve his economy. He increases his speed slowly and finds that at 24 mph he can get 2.2 mpg (as he speeds up Thurston and Lovey laugh at the foolishness of wasting gas.....Thurston tells Lovey "why at the speed he must be burning 10.9 gallons every hour......"
So at the higher rate of speed the Professer and Mary arrive at the island 24 minutes sooner that the Howell's..... they have time for a nooner and a swim........ They all have luch together and it is quite a good time for all.
On the way back in they travel at their respective speeds.... however.... 4 miles short of the dock the Howell's run out of gas...... the Professer and Mary Ann are already back at the dock (and at it again I might add)
A big storm that was on the horizon is now making its way over the Howell's. Gilligan finds the skipper and tells him the Howell's are now overdue... and they go out to find the Howells.... but alas.... just as they spot them a giant water spout comes down out of the sky and tosses the Howells into the water into the clutches of hungry sharks......
Back to reality...... by usinngj my Navman set on mpg I can tweak my speed and trim to get better gas mileage..... I cannot calculate fast enough when looking at speed and gph to know what is the best economy......
OK..... so I'm wasting way too much time...
Be safe this holiday....
Richard
