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Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: hobiephil] #141380
04/30/08 11:12 AM
04/30/08 11:12 AM
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Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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If you drive smart, you can more than save the increase in gas prices with efficiency. Most people that drive my size RV (a 33ft class A with a Ford V8 460) get about 5-7mpg. If you limit your speed to 50 mph on the highways and time traffic lights so you don’t come to a full stop, start slowly, etc., you can get the 12 mpg I got on a trip.
Works with cars/trucks pulling a trailer too.

You are right, much better gas mileage when you drive slower. So, if the government wants to help us to save money, they should reduce the speed limits on all the major highways down to 55 (instead of 65-70).

As it is, when you drive 50 mph on a 70 mph highway, it feels kind of dangerous, and many people are going at least 80.

I don't mind taking a little longer to get where I am going -- especially considering that the long-range alternative is to go back to true "horse" power. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

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Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: hobiephil] #141381
04/30/08 12:16 PM
04/30/08 12:16 PM
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Quote
If you drive smart, you can more than save the increase in gas prices with efficiency. Most people that drive my size RV (a 33ft class A with a Ford V8 460) get about 5-7mpg. If you limit your speed to 50 mph on the highways and time traffic lights so you don’t come to a full stop, start slowly, etc., you can get the 12 mpg I got on a trip.
Works with cars/trucks pulling a trailer too.


Hey, I resemble that remark! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

You're very right. Last year, on a trip back from Wildwood, I was very ill, and my wife had to drive the RV home (yes, with the trailer, and yes, the first time she ever drove the RV). Our RV is a 29-foot class C, with a Ford 464 gas engine.

I never calculated the actual mileage, but we got home with WAY more gas left in the tank than when I drive on that same stretch. May have been less traffic than normal (yeah, right, we're talking about NJ, NY, CT on a Sunday afternoon/evening here). Most likely, she was just driving slower, with a lighter foot than I have.

EDIT: Oh, we were also pulling someone else's boat, which was also a Hobie 16, but was on a Trailex (we have a galvanized trailer). That couldn't account for gas savings, could it?

Mike

Last edited by brucat; 04/30/08 12:19 PM.
Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Mary] #141382
04/30/08 01:06 PM
04/30/08 01:06 PM
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Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
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So, if the government wants to help us to save money, they should reduce the speed limits on all the major highways down to 55 (instead of 65-70).


Mary you are off your rocker!! I loose my fricken mind driving down the interstate at 70mph. The best thing EVER was the reasonable but prudent law in Montana. There is absolutely NO reason you can't go zipping through the middle of butt-punch Montana/Kansas/Iowa/Wyoming/the Dakota's/anywhere people aren't at 95-100mph + The autobahn is proof of that.

Quote
As it is, when you drive 50 mph on a 70 mph highway, it feels kind of dangerous, and many people are going at least 80.


I'm not trying to be a dick here, but stay off the interstates then.


If you want to drive slow knock yourself out. I rarely pull the boat over 70mph, and that is my choice. In fact it doesn't have anything to do with fuel economy, I just don't like the way these light trailers handle rough roads at speed, or a nasty crosswind. I'm much more confident with a heavier load. This doesn't mean that we need more regulation of our road systems. Especially considering when they are literally crawling with useless and bored civil servants.

I got pulled over on at 6:45 on a Sunday morning in Iowa for doing 73 in a 70!! The Troopers reasoning was that I passed him in the right lane! What a crock of [CENSORED]! Then get the [CENSORED] out of the left lane!

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141383
04/30/08 01:11 PM
04/30/08 01:11 PM
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Holy RANT!!! Dude... Two words:

DEEEEE... CAAAAAFFFFF

Mike

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Tri_X_Troll] #141384
04/30/08 01:14 PM
04/30/08 01:14 PM
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Ohio
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TeamTeets Offline
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Ryan, you can stay in the state and come up to Alum Creek this weekend!

See notice at sailocra.com


Mike, Ohio
Former H16, H18, N20, N17, M4.3
Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141385
04/30/08 01:22 PM
04/30/08 01:22 PM
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Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
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Another comment on speed.

I rode a 97' GSX-R 750 from Minnesota to Tennessee to deal with a family emergency. The trip is right around 1000 miles. I never had a cruising speed of less than 85mph. I was doing generally between 85-95mph the entire trip. I went through two tanks in Illinois with my speed hovering around 115mph. I can honestly say I've never travelled that far on a motorcycle with so few incidents. I've made a run to town and almost been hit by numerous cars in less than a 30 mile round trip.

The point is that safety by going slower is an illusion. Your soft, pink, very fragile and lucky if you live through more than the tamest of auto wrecks.


With that being said there needs to be a class system for driver's liscences. Not in what you can drive, but how you can drive.

Class 3- No passengers, no interstate, daylight operation only, no inclimate weather

Class 2- Normal liscence like we all have.

Class 1- Conditions allowing: (traffic, weather, etc) unlimited speed limit on interstate/4+ lane highways not inside of city limits. 10mph over allowed on normal paved roads outside of city limits.


A class 3 would be great for kids. That is similar to the way a motorcycle permit works in Mn. Class 2, just do the same testing we do now. To get a class 1 liscence then some sort of more in depth testing would have to be done. Perhaps a road racing school. And to wean out some of the weak make it expensive, say $10k. I'd pay it. A vehicle would also have to be in good working order as well, and would need inspections annually. The infrastructure is already in place for that with DOT truck inspections. You wouldn't want someone honking down the interstate in a rusted out El Camino just because he thinks he's Mario Andretti.

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141386
04/30/08 02:49 PM
04/30/08 02:49 PM
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IndyWave Offline
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The problem with your idea is that you aren't on the road by yourself. You could be the "world's greatest driver", but you're very likely to encounter someone less skilled than yourself. And increased speed exagerates that skill difference by decreasing the available reaction time. If you're going 115, and someone innocently changes lanes in front of you (leaving plenty of room for another vehicle doing 65), you're going to be into the back of that car before you could react.

There was a poll done once, and every single respondent said they thought they were an "above average" driver.


What - Me Worry?


2006 Hobie Wave 7358
"Ish Kabibble"
Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: IndyWave] #141387
04/30/08 03:25 PM
04/30/08 03:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2005
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Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
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That just means that the testing needs to be better regulated. I've made cars do some really unbelievable things. I've also driven into the ditch at 10mph because I was typing out a text message. Skill would have to be proven. Anyone who does spend a large quantity of time doubling the speed limit has learned what to expect out of other drivers and that is to never expect anything. I had the misfortune of sliding down the pavement without my motorcycle doing almost 130mph because I didn't expect the road to be covered in mud. These are the risks we take every day.

Like I said, it works on the Autobahn just fine.

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141388
04/30/08 03:26 PM
04/30/08 03:26 PM
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Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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If you want to drive slow knock yourself out.

Karl,
I was replying to Hobiephil, who is the one who suggested driving 50 mph. I would not dream of going that slow on an interstate highway. It's like being a rock in a river, and you need your emergency blinkers on. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

That's why I said if the nation needs to conserve fuel, one helpful thing would be lower speed limits so EVERYBODY goes a little slower and vehicles get better gas mileage.

As it is, Rick and I seem to get significantly better mileage with both the motorhome and with our Honda Odyssey driving at 65 mph rather than 70. And a lot of other people seem to drive 65, too (maybe for the same reason), so right now 65 seems like a good compromise. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

By the way, with the Odyssey (without a trailer) I get close to 30 mpg. WITH a trailer and two Waves, I get more like 22 mpg.

And I have yet to figure out whether the Odyssey gets better gas mileage with or without using cruise control. I have an obsession with keeping the rpm's under 2000, and I don't know whether that really matters, either. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> I need to do some more testing on my trip north.

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141389
04/30/08 03:29 PM
04/30/08 03:29 PM
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Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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Like I said, it works on the Autobahn just fine.

I have heard that the Autobahn is three lanes each direction, and that the right lane is for the slower traffic, the middle lane is for the moderate speed traffic, and the left lane is for YOU. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141390
04/30/08 03:46 PM
04/30/08 03:46 PM
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South Carolina
Jake Offline
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That just means that the testing needs to be better regulated. I've made cars do some really unbelievable things. I've also driven into the ditch at 10mph because I was typing out a text message. Skill would have to be proven. Anyone who does spend a large quantity of time doubling the speed limit has learned what to expect out of other drivers and that is to never expect anything. I had the misfortune of sliding down the pavement without my motorcycle doing almost 130mph because I didn't expect the road to be covered in mud. These are the risks we take every day.

Like I said, it works on the Autobahn just fine.


You're not helping your case by pointing out all the mishaps you've had.

I used to think like you - and then I spent considerable time in Germany. The autobahn is not all unregulated - only about 15% of it has unregulated speed 24 hours a day and there are other sections for which the regulation changes throughout the day with flip-down signs. Autobahn is German for "highway" - nothing special about it. Most, if not all, freight trucks are speed regulated so they cannot drive faster than 55mph and the speed differential in the unregulated sections is crazy. I enjoyed parking at rest stops and watching the BMW's and Mercs blow by at 140 for the air ripping sound they made.

There are a lot of things wrong with high speed differentials on a shared road and I would rather have some control over my own destiny. I'm perfectly OK with you driving at 120 somewhere on some road. However, I'm not willing to place my well-being in your hands passing me at 120 mph from behind.


Jake Kohl
Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Mary] #141391
04/30/08 03:51 PM
04/30/08 03:51 PM
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At those speeds you still have a hell of a lot of aerodynamic drag. I seem to recall increasing speed from 60mph - 75mph (25% increase) Aero drag increases 56%, 70mph - 75mph (7% increase)aero drag increases 14%. If you can reduce speed to 55-60 you should see big benefits. Next thing is to reduce gross weight, remove unnecessary junk from RV and sailbox. Good vehicle maintenance goes without saying.

Cheshirecatman

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Jake] #141392
04/30/08 03:52 PM
04/30/08 03:52 PM
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Mary Offline OP
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You missed the point, Jake. Karl thinks that EVERYBODY should be driving 120 mph. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141393
04/30/08 03:53 PM
04/30/08 03:53 PM
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South Louisiana, USA
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DUDE!!!! So what you're saying is those of us that drive the speed limit or below should stay off the interstate? Interesting!

Had a guy like you come up real fast on I-10 once. I was in cruise at around 75 (over the limit...), before I changed lanes I looked, no one there, did see the bike in the distance though, plenty far enough (at normal speed). Blinker on, change lanes, 20 seconds later he blew by doing a 100 or so on the shoulder. Guess he thought I was going too slow. He did that several times that I could see until he was out of site. A few miles down the road as I approached an overpass I saw brake lights comming on. A short time later we passed an accident site. Found out he passed an 18 wheeler on the shoulder and didn't realize the bridge up ahead w/o a shoulder, tried to cut back, loose material on the side... well it wasn't pretty. I'd say he didn't get where he was going that day.

If the majority is doing the speed limit, maybe its you speed demons that need to get on another road... majority rules!!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Slow but still all together,

Clayton

P.S. 2 buddies killed on motorcycles, used to ride myself, not a good thing to speed on, you can't win.

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Mary] #141394
04/30/08 03:59 PM
04/30/08 03:59 PM
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Reno NV
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Some vehicles get pretty much the same mpg at 65 mph as at 50 mph. Usually a vehicle with a larger engine, tall gears and good aerodynamics will be in that category.

Econoboxes usually lose a lot of mileage at higher speeds because they are geared low to make them feel quicker despite a low powered engine. The Toyota Corolla gets better highway mileage than the Toyota Yaris despite being bigger, heavier and having a larger engine for this reason.

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Karl_Brogger] #141395
04/30/08 04:09 PM
04/30/08 04:09 PM
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fin. Offline
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Karl I hope I meet you soon. With your thinking, there may not be a later.

Personally, I think anyone caught going over 80 should have their vehicle confiscated and crushed. And I don't mind being a dick about it. If that bothers you, stay of the public highways.

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Clayton] #141396
04/30/08 04:09 PM
04/30/08 04:09 PM
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Posts: 4,118
Northfield Mn
Karl_Brogger Offline
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DUDE!!!! So what you're saying is those of us that drive the speed limit or below should stay off the interstate? Interesting!


No. Mary said that doing 50 on the interstate with traffic going by at 70mph felt dangerous. That's where I said you should stay off the interstate.

Pointing out my own mistakes Jake? Come on man! Everyone has made a mistake going down the road. It happens.

I'm digging a hole here, but it's my opinion. You're just as screwed hitting an immovable object at 55mph, or 70, or 170. The only difference is you has less time to figure out you've F'd up. At 30mph if you piled into the preverbial brick wall you wouldn't come out of it very well.

Quote
There is absolutely NO reason you can't go zipping through the middle of butt-punch Montana/Kansas/Iowa/Wyoming/the Dakota's/anywhere people aren't at 95-100mph +.


If you're curious "butt-punch" is my way of saying middle of nowhere. As in no people. For those in a less rural area than I am accustomed to, this doesn't apply. If you haven't experienced the shear hell of driving entirely across the Dakota's or Montana you may not understand this either. There is nothing to hit.

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Cheshirecatman] #141397
04/30/08 04:19 PM
04/30/08 04:19 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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At those speeds you still have a hell of a lot of aerodynamic drag. I seem to recall increasing speed from 60mph - 75mph (25% increase) Aero drag increases 56%, 70mph - 75mph (7% increase)aero drag increases 14%. If you can reduce speed to 55-60 you should see big benefits. Next thing is to reduce gross weight, remove unnecessary junk from RV and sailbox. Good vehicle maintenance goes without saying.
Cheshirecatman

What do you mean by "unnecessary junk"? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Your junk may be our treasure, and we have a lot of junk and we never know when it might become "necessary."

To me, the "unnecessary" junk in the RV includes the bed, the couch, the chair, the TV, the stove, the refrigerator, and that stupid washer-dryer. If we got rid of all that, we would have a lot more room for sailing junk. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: Mary] #141398
04/30/08 04:25 PM
04/30/08 04:25 PM

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This will all be moot in a few years when our cats are being pulled by a mule!

Re: Will high gas prices affect regatta attendance [Re: ] #141399
04/30/08 04:34 PM
04/30/08 04:34 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 5,558
Key Largo, FL & Put-in-Bay, OH...
Mary Offline OP
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Mary  Offline OP
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This will all be moot in a few years when our cats are being pulled by a mule!

Then it will be what, miles per gallon of oats?

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