The following information comes from Jim McGraw with US Coast Guard Heartland Safe Boating.
Fuel depletion is an all too common problem for recreational boaters. Often, this is only an embarrassing irritant. It delays our fun or our return. This situation can be expensive to resolve if commercial assistance becomes involved.
Sometimes running out of fuel can pose a threat to your vessel or life. There are times when maintaining propulsion is critical for safety. If we are near a dangerous lee shore with wind or water pushing us toward danger…keeping the motor running effectively is key for safety. If the weather is threatening to be severe, effective propulsion to get our vessel and crew back to shore can be very important. Thus, fuel management is both a safety and “interruption of fun” issue for recreational boaters.
How do we run out of fuel while underway? A simple mistake is to begin our voyage with insufficient fuel. A key tool at this stage is having a good pre-departure checklist and using it. A faulty fuel level sensor or gauge can lead to poor fuel management too.
However, probably the most common causes are related to the skipper’s performance underway. Poor planning, such as not allowing for the potential effect of weather, sea state, or engine speed on fuel consumption can result in fuel depletion. Failing to pay attention to the fuel level can be caused by distraction, fatigue, or consumption of alcohol.
A simple rule of thumb can avoid most of these fuel depletion episodes … the rule of thirds. This rule states that we plan to use one third of our fuel to go OUT, one third to come BACK, and hold one third in RESERVE. Generally, this rule will provide sufficient reserve to allow us to deal with changes in conditions or our plan without depleting our fuel while underway.

Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident.

If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net.

Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.