Fuel/ need for refueling

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barnone80

Member
I'm planning a trip on lake Powell, we will have 2 houseboats and 2 jet skies. my understanding is that the house boats will have a tank that holds 300 gallons gas with a separate tank of 100 gallons for the jet skies. In my research I estimate a 5 hour ride to Last Chance area which would burn 120 gallons. With some moving around with the houseboat and running the generator, should I plan to refuel at some point for a five day trip? For jets skies I'm estimating 35-45hrs of total run time with the 100 gallons.
The need to refuel is really the major factor in setting our plan for trip. Not looking to go much further than Last Chance. Does this seem reasonable and would Rock Creek be too far?
 
Are these rental boats? Are they Aramark or Antelope boats?

If you are leaving from Wahweep (Aramark), I think 5 hours is a bit optimistic anymore with the lower water levels. Maybe from Antelope this is realistic. From what I saw last year, no rental boats were past Padre Bay.
 
Cookie said:
From what I saw last year, no rental boats were past Padre Bay.
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I'd imagine the new rental boat contracts have something in them about the costs of being 'rescued'...... where they bring fuel to you to get back.......or tow you back? Has anyone heard of that happening? :unsure:
 
Cookie said:
Are these rental boats? Are they Aramark or Antelope boats?

If you are leaving from Wahweep (Aramark), I think 5 hours is a bit optimistic anymore with the lower water levels. Maybe from Antelope this is realistic. From what I saw last year, no rental boats were past Padre Bay.
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yes, we would be leaving from Wahweap. I appreciate the response.
 
I would think the houseboat would burn 1 -1.5 gallons/mile. Depending on the generator size, it could be 1.5 - 2 gallons/hour at full load. So 20 gallons/day for the generator.

Not sure they could tell you at what level the generators no longer pick up fuel. (My boat is at a point that leaves 100 gallons)…..enough to get home. Meaning when you lose AC and fridges…….time to head home!
 
Which houseboat are you renting? The smaller boats (46-footers) tend to get close to about 1 mpg... the larger ones (like the 59-footer) get closer to 0.5-0.75 mpg... Let's call it 30 miles to get to the mouth of Last Chance from Wahweap at current lake levels... add another 10-15 just for exploring and deviations... so call it 45 each way. Add another 10% safety factor just for so. I'd say your boat can easily get to Last Chance and back.

Similar story with Rock Creek. Add another 8-10 miles past Last Chance to get into the heart of Rock Creek... 20 miles round trip. You might end up driving 100-120 miles with a trip to Rock Creek and back.

If you've got 300 gallons in your boat, I'd say you're in good shape, especially for Last Chance. Make sure you get a pre-trip handle on the mpg or gallons/hour for the boat you're renting--they are all different. FYI--in the past I've rented houseboats (usually 46- or 53-footers) and easily taken them to Oak Bay and back to Wahweap (with or without the Cut) without refueling. Aramark may not want you to do this (it might be in the contract now, not sure), but it's possible to do.
 
JFRCalifornia said:
Which houseboat are you renting? The smaller boats (46-footers) tend to get close to about 1 mpg... the larger ones (like the 59-footer) get closer to 0.5-0.75 mpg... Let's call it 30 miles to get to the mouth of Last Chance from Wahweap at current lake levels... add another 10-15 just for exploring and deviations... so call it 45 each way. Add another 10% safety factor just for so. I'd say your boat can easily get to Last Chance and back.

Similar story with Rock Creek. Add another 8-10 miles past Last Chance to get into the heart of Rock Creek... 20 miles round trip. You might end up driving 100-120 miles with a trip to Rock Creek and back.

If you've got 300 gallons in your boat, I'd say you're in good shape, especially for Last Chance. Make sure you get a pre-trip handle on the mpg or gallons/hour for the boat you're renting--they are all different. FYI--in the past I've rented houseboats (usually 46- or 53-footers) and easily taken them to Oak Bay and back to Wahweap (with or without the Cut) without refueling. Aramark may not want you to do this (it might be in the contract now, not sure), but it's possible to do.
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Super helpful everyone. We are taking a 59' Wanderer and a 59' Discovery
 
Cookie said:
Are these rental boats? Are they Aramark or Antelope boats?

If you are leaving from Wahweep (Aramark), I think 5 hours is a bit optimistic anymore with the lower water levels. Maybe from Antelope this is realistic. From what I saw last year, no rental boats were past Padre Bay.
Click to expand...
I made it from deep in last chance to wahweap in 4.75 hours last week. 2500 rpms going 7mph
 
sphoppie said:
I made it from deep in last chance to wahweap in 4.75 hours last week. 2500 rpms going 7mph
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I used 120 gallons for engine fuel round trip, twin 5.7 i/o's 75x18 houseboat. Ask the rental dock what the sweet spot is on rpms for those boats for the best fuel economy. I think you will have plenty of fuel for the jet skis and generator.
 
Both your rentals run 115 Merc 4 strokes. Figure 6 GPH for both engines (including 20% safety margin) @ 3000 RPM. That will give you about 6-7 mph putting Last Chance from Wahweap rental dock at about 5.5 hours without stopping. 70-80 gals per boat roundtrip.

Generators can eat fuel, depending on time of year. Summers are HOT so people are gonna want the A/C on.

If the PWCs are going all day, bring extra 5 gal cans for peace of mind
 
These gave have it all nailed, simply, I wish I would’ve paid attention to the gallons used on our Fourth of July trip last year. I had plans of shutting the generator and AC off at night but that just did not happen. I ended up turning it back on within a couple hours. We spent more money on generator gas money than we did on houseboat gas, I do remember that 😂.

But….we had enough fuel for our 5 day trip with the generator running virtually constantly.
 
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