30 foot Carver Santego

D

Dan Kozusko

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Joined
Oct 11, 2007
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28781
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108
I have a 1989 Carver Santego with 260 hp Mercruiser. Anybody with a similar boat to compare economy and props?
 
I think there are a couple on here, Dan, so you should get some suggestions. Do you have twin 260s with I/Os or V drives???
 
quote:
Originally posted by PBardunias

I think there are a couple on here, Dan, so you should get some suggestions. Do you have twin 260s with I/Os or V drives???

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They are alpha 1 drives with 16x16 aluminum props.
 
I have the same boat but normally to get keep records on fuel consumption
 
typically a boat of that size, with those engines will burn between 16 and 18 GPH
 
Ram......I believe he has a single engine. Your estimate is way too high for a single. 350 cu. inch engines will typically burn 10-12 gallons per hr at cruise of 3200-3500 RPM. I had a 27 Montego with a Volvo 350/260 I/O and burned about 11 gph at cruise.
 
I was assuming it was a 3067 Santego with T 260 Merc Alphas. I've never seen a 27 Montego or Santego with a single small block, just a single big block...I've worked for the same Carver dealer for 27 years, and we've only sold 3 27 footers with singles, and they were all Volvo 740 DPs
 
quote:
Originally posted by RamSport47

typically a boat of that size, with those engines will burn between 16 and 18 GPH

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This winter I intend to get some sort of fuel monitor but I can state that the economy I get is around 1 mile to an imperial gallon at 3200-3300 rpm at 27 mph. That would work out to 27 imp gph or about 31 usgph. That seems high but as I am not familiar with boats of that size, I don't know. I run with my friends and I run 20% more fuel.One is a 32 Fourwinns and the other is a 32 Cruisers with 454s. Any thoughts?
 
Basically...you have a 3067 Santego...right? That boat is too big to have alpha drives, however, Carver didn't offer Bravo drives on it. The best they offered is Volvo Duo Props which help alot. All of the 3067's we sold had the duo props until they made the boat available with vee-drive inboards. So, basically the engines are having to work hard to get the boat going and to keep it going creating your excessive usage numbers
 
When you say the boat is too big for the alpha drives, is that because of the gear ratios? Could you suggest any prop changes that would help? They are currently 16x16 aluminums. What about 4 blades or stainless?
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The alpha drives cannot take a large enough prop diameter that is really needed to push your size and weight of boat. I don't blame Carver as the Bravo series was not out yet, or was in it's first year..I actually kind of blame the original dealer for not having the foresight to order the Volvo DPs because "everyone wants a Merc". I for one would take a Volvo anyday over a Merc (I've had both systems)...can I ask what your top throttle RPM is on the boat?
 
starboard engine hits 46oo plus and the port will go 4750 with gps showing 38 mph. The tachs may be out a bit which I will check in the spring.I also had both carbs rebuilt and the starboard burns about 10% more fuel.My mechanic says that these differences are to be expected with twins...I expect some, but is this extreme? I will definitely invest in a Northstar or Lowrance gps with fuel management so I can monitor the situation. As I said, I haven't spoken to someone with the same setup to compare so I don't know whats right or wrong.
 
well...I definately think your consumption is really high for the boat...we've never had anyone complain to us about high fuel usage (at least when the boat was newer). Your top RPMs are right there...5.7 Mercs of that era had a 4600 RPM max. I was thinking you may need a smaller pitch prop, but not so, if the numbers are correct. When you had the boat hauled...did you happen to notice the weight of it? Most travellifts have gauges for the front and back straps so the operator knows when the boat is correctly placed in the slings. If the boat weighs in alot heavier than specs...your engines are pushing more than they were intended to. Spec on my boat from the factory is 6800lbs, but it consistently weighs in at just under 10,000lbs with all the stuff and fuel on board.
 
I don't know what it weighs now, but the specs are for 11,5oo or there abouts.I added an interprotect barrier this spring so I expect some loss due to a rougher bottom, but not extreme. I thought there may be poor performance on the engines but with 5oo hrs, they seem to run well, and the boat seems to hit the speed it should. Again, if someone with a similar boat with mercs could confirm or refute the fuel consumption, I could go from there. If the economy is what it is, then I'll have to live with it!
 
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