Evinrude Ficht 225 Fuel & Oil Consumption questions

westerlystorm · 23 August 2010, 17:31

Hi All,
I know there are a lot of variables that will distort the answers to my questions but I am looking for "BALL PARK" figures only.

I have a Redbay 6.5 wraparound with an Evinrude 225 Ficht (2003).

Two weekends ago I went from Coleraine to Gigha and back ( Approx 50NM each way).

Did the outbound leg in 2h:30m so averaged 20 knots and did the return leg in 1h:50m (approx 30 Knots)

I used 135 litres of fuel and about 3 litres of 2 oil.

Question is, "Is this about right"

My gut feeling is that the oil consumption is a bit on the high side. I also notice that after you come from 30 knots to troll speed the engine tends to be a bit smokey for a while. Is this normal.

I have also noticed that at certain revs the engine can be a bit rough any suggestions?

I am going to pull the plugs out at the weekend for a look and check that they have been "indexed".

Any help would be appreciated

rgds

Gareth

JABS · 23 August 2010, 17:54

We had a 200 Ficht, a little older. I would say that your fuel consumption is right on.

The oil only works at under 3%, which, although that is a lot of oil, doesn't sound excessive at all.

We now have a 200 Yam, two stroke and fuel is way worse that the Ficht. oil about the same as yours.

Good luck with it. It probably goes pretty well!

Hightower · 23 August 2010, 18:10

Well it does sound a little high, but it's easy to average out a trip after the cruise and doesn't always tell the whole story. I'm assuming that the outbound leg was a bit bumpier than the return leg, hence the speed difference and extra time taken. So I guess that you were working the throttle a fair bit. . . Yes?

I always notice that I use a fair bit more oil after cruising in rougher conditions and attribute this to working the throttle.

Fuel consumption seems spot on

For my 150DI 3 litres for 100 miles seems excessive (even for rough conditions), but a 225?

So you might not be that far off the mark

Hightower · 23 August 2010, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by JABS

The oil only works at under 3%, which, although that is a lot of oil, doesn't sound excessive at all.

and if you were running a 50:1 premix a 50th of 135 litres is 2.7 litres, so I reckon if you were working the engine a bit you're probably on the money

GordyP · 23 August 2010, 20:11

Sounds about right, think I saw your boat at Craobh a few weeks ago? Nice.

Its probably not smoke but steam that you are getting after a long run, i had that with the fichts and the etecs do this as well.

westerlystorm · 23 August 2010, 21:40

Thanks to all for the information and reassurance.

Just back from the marina and I have put almost 50 hours on the engine (according to Evinrude's PC software its now 122 from 72 when I bought it) in the last 6 weeks so I guess a service and plug check is due.

GordyP, correct, we rented one of the cottages in Craobh for two weeks and were berthed next to your dive rib along with my mate in the brand new open Redbay 650. Never did see you the day we both headed to the Corryvreckan though!!

Having sailed that area for the last 10 years in my, (sold this spring) Westerly Storm it was great to be able to have the time to explore the "dents" and land on the islands that we promised ourselves we would when we were not governed by the next tidal gate.

Even though the weather wasn't the best, we managed to do the Corryvreckan at least six times, Grey Dogs, Pig Bay,West Loch Tarbert (Jura), the Garvallechs, Fladda, Easdale, the other slade island next to Fladda ( name forgotten) , the Cuan sound at full flow doing 30 knots against the tide and a gem of a restaurant( The Boathouse) in Loch a'Choire on the Kingairloch Estate all made the trip a great success and left us with plenty to look forward to next year.

Jim (at the marina office) was trying to persuade me to move over and resurrect my old marine electronics training as an MN Radio and Electronics officer on the West Coast as he believes there is an opportunity there, but in the present climate I am still undecided.

Cheers

Gareth

Downhilldai · 23 August 2010, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by westerlystorm

I used 135 litres of fuel and about 3 litres of 2 oil.

Question is, "Is this about right"

I think you've done really well there.

Not many people have managed to get 135 litres of fuel through a FICHT

westerlystorm · 24 August 2010, 10:32

oops

westerlystorm · 24 August 2010, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

I think you've done really well there.

Not many people have managed to get 135 litres of fuel through a FICHT

Having owned and worked on outboards of all makes over the last 30 years, I hope your rib's steering wheel is made of wood.

GordyP · 24 August 2010, 11:02

Ah, that day we went out through Corryvrecken, dived the Garvelachs then did a couple of fast drift dive's through the Cuin Sound. Dived the Corryvrecken Pinnacle the following day which was interesting.

Funny I was staying on my Westerly Storm in the marina! Maybe catch you the next time your over, and i reckon there is a market for a good eletronics engineer on the west coast, got to be better than the current competition.