Interesting Boating Tips and Facts - Part 1:
Every sport or hobby has its mavens of minutiae, like the baseball fan who can recite the Brooklyn Dodger lineup of 1948 or the political wonk who knows eight ways to stop a filibuster. Well, boating has guys like that too. Many of these little esoteric facts can help you get more out of your time on the water, and impress a few friends along the way.
Intelli-cruising
Head Off Trouble
Telling guests that using too much toilet paper will clog the plumbing is not enough. Be specific. Tests show that six squares at a time is the maximum.
Fast Fuel
You use approximately a gallon of gasoline per hour at wide-open throttle for every 10 horsepower. Not super accurate, but surprisingly close.
Keep It on the Plate
Avoid "round" food, ones that roll around on the plate. Choose hamburgers over hot dogs, niblets over corn on the cob and mashed over baked potatoes. And always square off your meatballs.
Weight Watchers
You know the weight of your passengers, and maybe the gear. What about the sloshy stuff in the boat? It adds up fast.
1 gallon of fresh water = 8.3 pounds
1 gallon of diesel fuel = 7.1 pounds
1 gallon of gasoline = 6.6 pounds
Bed Room
2'4" The absolute minimum berth width that any normal human will be comfortable with. The length should be 4 inches longer than your height.
Cruise Fuel
Approximate fuel consumption at cruising speed can be estimated as follows:
Diesel - 5.3 gallons per hour per 100 hp
Gasoline - 7.8 gallons per hour per 100 hp
Boat-ology
1,500
Number of hours you can expect a gas marine engine to typically last before needing major overhauls. A diesel lasts about 5,000 hours. No hourly figures exist for outboards, but 10 to 15 years in salt water is common.
It Never Stops
To calculate how much it will cost to keep a boat going, figure to pay from 2 percent to 5 percent of the original cost (new) per year in maintenance.
Sound of Silence
The most effective sound insulation is layers of foam core to reduce low-frequency sounds, thin sheets of lead to cut down on higher-frequency noises and Mylar or aluminum foil sheathing to protect the insulation from heat. Look for a minimum combined thickness of one inch.
Breathing Room
Many engine compartments, and the engines in them, are starved for fresh air. increasing a 3-inch round vent to 4 inches almost doubles its volume.
Related Articles: Part 2, Part 3, Part 4
Source: http://www.lakestclair.net/index.php?/topic/95698-interesting-boating-tipsfacts/