5 ways to stretch your boating dollars further

But it doesn’t have to be. With a little foresight and preparation, you don’t need to keep dipping deep into your pocket to keep the boat on the water.

Done right, you can make some fairly significant hip pocket savings.

Here’s the boatsales.com.au guide to minimising the hit to your wallet. 

That flash trade ute parked up in the driveway that spends most of its life lugging you to work and back suddenly makes a lot of sense when you hitch the boat up to it.

The cost of towing a boat to the nearest boat ramp can add up significantly, even before you nose out of the driveway, and especially if it is petrol-powered.

If you’re aiming to do plenty of kilometres on tour – and do so regularly – consider trading your petrol tug for a more economical diesel. 

This can be tricky as the cost/benefit analysis has to take in more than simple fuel use – for instance, servicing a diesel engine is more expensive than a petrol equivalent – but all else being equal, go for the more economical diesel over a petrol vehicle. 

When towing a larger fibreglass boat, a typical mid-size six-cylinder petrol SUV can consume about 18.0L/100km while a turbo-diesel four can sip away distillate at around 14.0L/100km – an almost 20 per cent fuel saving.

I cringe every time I see a boat on a trailer with the bimini acting like a big air brake as the car towing it clips along at 100km/h.

Boats are very well designed to have the best fluid dynamics down below the hull, but we often overlook the lack of it above the gunwales. Even things as simple as leaving a VHF antenna upright can have an effect on how well air flows around the boat.

Drag is something that can be the equivalent of a punch in the guts at the fuel pump; it could add as much as a couple of litres per kilometre to the fuel bill.

The best way to reduce drag is to let your vehicle punch a hole through the air, and ensure the boat sits inside the tunnel it creates. 

If your boat has an enclosed cuddy or cabin, it will have a profile that’s meant to help it break through waves, which will also help it slip through the air better on the road.

Low tyre pressures also increase drag – both vehicle and van tyres should normally be inflated to the maximum recommended placard tyre pressure – and check them often, particularly if the boat has sat in the shed or driveway for an extended period.

Check that you’re using the correct tyre pressures while towing, too. Some vehicles recommend running slightly higher pressures when loaded up to reduce rolling resistance.

There is no way around the fact that a properly maintained vehicle costs money to keep it that way. The investment not only helps reduce the chance of a breakdown but allows the vehicle to operate at peak efficiency, saving you cash on your trip. 

If not done recently, fresh fluids and filters should be a priority before you head off.

The Bosch Automotive Handbook says a vehicle’s aerodynamic drag begins to have an effect on efficiency at about 80km/h, so sitting at 110km/h where legal won’t save you money – your vehicle will definitely use more fuel. 

Most newer vehicles have a trip computer that shows instant fuel use – where it’s safe to do so, on a level road at a constant speed, see where your rig is most efficient. 

Many tow tugs have a ‘sweet spot’, so find the speed at which your vehicle is most efficient and stick to it where possible. The only proviso is that you can’t risk becoming an obstacle for other traffic. 

Sitting at too low a speed might save you a bit more fuel but on the open road but you’ll become a hazard to both yourself and other motorists. Sticking to around 90km/h in a 100km/h or 110km/h zone will save fuel and not make you a road hazard.

Even though dragging along every piece of gear in your boat just in case you might need it sounds like a good idea, you’ll pay for it. The extra weight will make your tow vehicle work that bit harder – and use more fuel doing it. Pare back what you take with you to the essentials. 

The same applies to carrying fuel in your boat’s tank – a full 200-litre underfloor tank adds around 150kg to overall weight, the equivalent of another couple of passengers.

Consider whether a belly full of boat fuel makes more sense as you leave the driveway or as you pull out of the last petrol station before the boat ramp.

Try and make it a habit to not buy food on the way to and from the boat ramp.

Packing a few sandwiches and a thermos flask of coffee can save a significant amount of coin – think in the area of $40 by the time a group of three fishers each smashes a coffee and pie at a minimum.

Having food onboard is also great for morale. When the fish aren’t biting or the wind isn’t blowing – these tips apply directly to sailboats – there’s nothing like a few sangas and a hot drink to lift everyone’s spirits.

It’s little wonder that in cooler climates such as Melbourne, pie warmers are one of the most requested must-have accessories on a new large trailer boat. We’ve also seen the odd coffee machine installed.

You’ve bagged out after a good day on the water, so decide to head back in. The first job is cleaning your fish at the filleting station.

The smarter fishers will have a few large zip-lock bags handy. Once a fish is filleted, the leftover frame goes into a bag and back into the icebox to transport back home to the freezer.

Fish frames not only make good soup stock but are also great to mix into commercial burley the next time you head out on the water.

It’s the same with squid. Separate the head from the hood, bag it up, and use it as gummy bait the next time you head out.

With Phil Lord