2008 Challenger 180 Range with 215 engine

[Mueller]

Hi all! I just finished break-in with my Challenger 180 and now want to get out to see the world. Unlike some of you lake bound boaters, the whole Potomac River is open to me and I can go 40 miles north or 75 or so south until the waves get to be too large.

Question: What is your experience with distance with your Challenger 180. This obvioulsy depends on RPM and speed, but I was led to believe you could get about 3 miles to the gallon at 30 mph if the water is relatively calm. I have seen a power fuel curve from Boat Test, but you all's experience would be a great guide for me and my 28 gallon tank.

Thanks!

 

[rexsteiner]

never realy tried to calculate milage. around here the rivers twist and turn quite a bit but if you realy want to no what im dealing with you can go to google maps and find saginaw. i can take the saginaw river from the south end of saginaw north to the saginaw bay and about a mile up the kawkawlin river then back and be at aroud 3/8 of a tank. dont no if that helps you any but if i had to guess id say it was between 60 and 80 round trip

 

[Mueller]

I have a chart plotter and starting at Route 675 in North Saginaw, your trip is about 40 miles roundtrip. With the tank at 28 gallons you burned about 17.5 gallons which is about 2.3 miles to the gallon. Since this is a twisty river and you don't run at optimum speed this is well within the parameters you'd expect. I was estimating 2-3 miles to the gallon so your experience is pretty close. You had about another 24 miles before you would have run out of gas.

I also am tying to figur out how bad performance is with 97 octane if I can't find any high test on the river and have to use a lower grade fuel. Fortunately a place near my dock sells high test, but if I get too far away I don't want to paddle back.

Thanks for your experience, it is helpful.