BOAT PLANNING TOOL

Boat Fuel Calculator

Estimate travel time, fuel use, reserve fuel, estimated range, and trip cost for a recreational boating trip. Enter your planned distance, cruising speed, fuel burn, fuel price, and optional usable fuel capacity.

Plan smarter. Leave with reserve.

Why Fuel Planning Matters

Safety First

Running out of fuel isn’t an option. Plan ahead and stay in control.

Weather Changes Everything

Wind, current, and sea state can significantly impact fuel burn.

Plan With Reserve

Build in reserve so you have options when conditions or plans change.

Fuel Planning Inputs

All units are standard for recreational boating

Trip & Speed

NM
kn
kn
GPH
%
hrs

Performance & Consumption

GPH
GPH
Matches the Route Generator max-speed burn input. Pace and weather adjustments are derived from this value unless Efficient Speed uses the efficient inputs instead.
hrs
gal
Usable fuel can be less than nominal tank capacity.
$/gal

Estimated range is a planning value. Actual range can vary with sea conditions, current, wind, vessel load, engine condition, throttle use, and the amount of fuel that is practically usable.

Estimated Results

Total Distance

0.0 NM

Manual distance input

Total Travel Hours

-- h

Enter distance and inputs

Estimated Fuel

-- gal

Required + reserve

Adjusted Speed

-- kn

Weather adjusted

Expected Avg GPH

-- GPH

Across all running time

Estimated Range with Reserve

Enter fuel capacity

Optional usable-fuel estimate

Fuel Cost

--

Based on fuel price

Calculation Breakdown and JSON
Metric Value How computed

Turn your fuel estimate into a trip plan

Use FloatPlanWizard to organize your route, stops, schedule, vessel details, and shore contact.

Plan a Route

How to Estimate Boat Fuel Usage

Enter your trip distance and select a pace.
Provide your boat’s fuel burn at efficient speed.
Adjust for weather, idling, and reserve.
Review results and plan with confidence.

What Affects Boat Fuel Consumption?

  • Wind direction and strength
  • Current, tide, and water conditions
  • Boat load, gear, and sea state
  • Speed, throttle, and engine efficiency
  • Idling time and route deviations

FAQ

How accurate is this calculator?

It provides an estimate based on your inputs. Actual fuel use can vary with conditions, load, speed, and engine performance.

What is a good reserve percentage?

Many boaters plan with a meaningful reserve such as the rule of thirds, but the right reserve depends on the trip and conditions.

Should I plan using max speed?

For conservative planning, compare efficient cruise numbers with higher burn scenarios so you understand your margin.

How does weather factor work?

The weather factor increases estimated fuel use to account for wind, current, chop, and less efficient real-world operation.