Range of PWC with Added Weight

[musubi]

I'm considering a new WaverRunner, the FX HO model and read here the range can vary between 70 and 100 miles depending on the speed you're going and weather conditions you're in. My assumption is that this is for one rider. Is that correct?

How much does added weight affect the range in your experiences? I'm about 160 lbs and plan to add about another 300 lbs.

[HardRider]

I had a 2016 fx ho model weigh about 200lbs and I could go 150 miles or 125 miles driving however i liked. 70-100 miles maybe for the SVHO model but even that sounds low.

[Teufelhund]

I had a 2016 fx ho model weigh about 200lbs and I could go 150 miles or 125 miles driving however i liked. 70-100 miles maybe for the SVHO model but even that sounds low.

eh, not really, I was out this weekend, and not doing a whole lotta heavy throttle (ok, ofc there were the occasional blips ), I got 5.6mpg on my '21 gp svho. 105 miles roughly on a tank

[musubi]

I had a 2016 fx ho model weigh about 200lbs and I could go 150 miles or 125 miles driving however i liked. 70-100 miles maybe for the SVHO model but even that sounds low.

Was this 200 lbs of additional weight to yours?


I'm looking to possibly carry another person with some gear on the WaveRunner. While I expect a reduction in range, is it that significant of a reduction (like half distance)?

[HardRider]

I was 200lbs with 110lb passenger and 15lbs of food, beer, water. I came back with fuel on 120 mile trip. I wasn't in alarm.

[K447]

I was 200lbs with 110lb passenger and 15lbs of food, beer, water.

I came back with fuel on 120 mile trip. I wasn't in alarm.

About 325 pounds total load weight on 2016 FX HO (1.8 liter engine).

120 miles without activating the Low Fuel alarm means perhaps 14 US gallons consumed. That works out to about 8.6 miles per gallon.

Rather good for the FX hull.

Was this on fairly smooth water with steady cruise speeds?
What RPM would you have been cruising at?

[musubi]

About 325 pounds total load weight on 2016 FX HO (1.8 liter engine).

120 miles without activating the Low Fuel alarm means perhaps 14 US gallons consumed. That works out to about 8.6 miles per gallon.

Rather good for the FX hull.

Was this on fairly smooth water with steady cruise speeds?
What RPM would you have been cruising at?

@K447, what has been your experience with range and added weight?

[K447]

@K447, what has been your experience with range and added weight?

I have not measured fuel consumption accurately enough to provide a useful comparison. The dash fuel level display on my pre-Touch screen GP1800 SVHO is quite coarse and not useful for calculating fuel economy.

Cruise speed is probably going to be the most significant factor. Do not assume slower is always better for fuel economy.

The hull will provide best drag/power efficiency when it is fully on plane and riding 'on top' of the water.
The engine will have good fuel efficiency somewhere in the (roughly) 4000-6000 RPM range.
The jet pump efficiency might be happiest in the 5000 ish area?

If your hull has jet nozzle trim up/down adjustments you may find the optimal trim setting (for fuel economy) varies with fuel load and passenger load.

Depending on your FX hull model year you may find an aftermarket ride plate can lift the bow and reduce water drag.

For your particular hull and engine combo, some experimentation should reveal the speed and RPm range where the PWC overall is happiest, in terms of fuel consumed per distance travelled.

[HardRider]

I was going from egret bay in Clear Lake to Galveston Pleasure Pier with a tour behind Galveston island. Pretty smooth water, left early in morning. I would guess we were running 30 mph. Large group of us. I will say the SVHO were in alarm and needed fuel by Texas City. They did run and play there machines hard at first. I told my kid, that will cost them. It did at about $6/gallon.

My FXHO got better mpg than my vxr due to trim. It ran forever on gas. most fuel efficient ski i ever had, just a little boring at times with the power.

[K447]

When we are riding far enough that fuel becomes a real concern, we often carry extra fuel.
Especially when riding in areas that may not, or do not, have marina fuel available.

http://greenhulk.net/showthread.php?t=290345&p=3105515&viewfull=1#post3105515

[HardRider]

I am considering buying "fuel" basket for my svho. Every 10 gallons saves about $25 lol vs prices on the water not to mention accessibility

[K447]

I am considering buying "fuel" basket for my svho. Every 10 gallons saves about $25 lol vs prices on the water not to mention accessibility

I considered a metal cage 'fuel rack' but decided just carrying the fuel jugs as shown would work well for my purposes.

I also have a 12 US gallon marine Low Profile Moeller fuel tank that fits on the rear deck. Unfinished project, it would flow fuel into the main fuel tank inside the hull as we ride. Also without using a metal rack/cage.

[anton74]

This is the trip that we usually make. Goggle maps indicates about 85 miles. Add 5-10 miles for zooming around and spinning ditties on Partridge Lake. By the time we get to Anchor Point Marina on our way back, the FX (SVHO) is beeping low fuel and doesn't read a percentage any more. There is still 3-5 gallons in the tank however.

We fill both runners up there and head back.

We would probably travel faster if both were HO engines. The SV sucks a lot more fuel at high speeds. There are speed runs, but we keep it under 45MPH for traveling distance.

At the end of the day the other week the VXHO used 18 gallons, and the FXSVHO used 21.5.

We are both big people with myself (riding the VX) being well north of 300 pounds.

The other reports here do not line up with my experience. 100 miles is the max on 18 gallons of fuel in my experience.

I get concerned about having the need to tow one PWC back for whatever reason, and not having enough fuel to do so. So I do not feel comfortable arranging things to be almost out of gas when arriving back to the dock.

[musubi]

When we are riding far enough that fuel becomes a real concern, we often carry extra fuel.
Especially when riding in areas that may not, or do not, have marina fuel available.

http://greenhulk.net/showthread.php?t=290345&p=3105515&viewfull=1#post3105515

What kind of range are you getting out of your supercharged GP before the alarm comes on, and about how much fuel do you have remaining at that time? I'm assuming you have an 18.5 gal tank?

[K447]

- supercharged GP before the alarm comes on, and about how much fuel do you have remaining at that time?

I'm assuming you have an 18.5 gal tank?

Another GH member posted how the Yamaha GP1800 SVHO fuel sender ohms readings and dash 'fuel levels' correspond to actual liquid fuel amounts.

http://greenhulk.net/showthread.php?t=270771&p=2945300&viewfull=1#post2945300

Low Fuel warning occurs with 4 US gallons remaining in the fuel tank.

Tank capacity is 18.5 US gallons. Which I think applies to all the full size Yamaha PWC models.