Ferry mpg

[User]

 

[gavintc]

It would be interesting to learn the equivalent fuel consumption of the channel tunnel trains. I would expect the train to be more fuel efficient.

There is too much friction in water to make ships efficient users of fuel.

 

[Dave Davenport]

That sounds like a high speed one, I'd think a standard ferry would be much more efficient.

 

[rich p]

With 170 cars and maybe 500 people perhaps they could row some of the way to save fuel. They might have to change their cororate name though to something like 'Quiteslowferries'.

 

[Melvil]

It would be interesting to learn the equivalent fuel consumption of the channel tunnel trains. I would expect the train to be more fuel efficient.

There is too much friction in water to make ships efficient users of fuel.

In that case, why not more hydrofoil ferries?

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

There's just been a report on the BBC about ferry companies increasing their charges because of fuel costs.

Apparently Speedferries carry 170 cars per trip, and use 4000 litres per trip.

That's 5.3 gallons per car per trip. That's a lot isn't it? How far is Dover to Boulogne?

About 25 miles. 5 mpg. You'd do better giving it the gun in a 4x4.

 

[numbnuts]

Isle of Wight ferry has gone up by £2.00, but it’s still good £12 return mid week off peak

 

[LLB]

Isle of Wight ferry has gone up by £2.00, but it’s still good £12 return mid week off peak

Is this for a car or for a foot passenger ?

 

[Fnaar]

In that case, why not more hydrofoil ferries?

Or just leave the cars off, then they'd use less petrol!

 

[numbnuts]

Is this for a car or for a foot passenger ?
__________________

foot passenger/bike

 

[Graham O]

In that case, why not more hydrofoil ferries?

We may have the wrong sort of waves! That may sound stupid, but the waves in the Eastern Atlantic and off the UK generally have short periods and displacement hulls are better under typical conditions. As the wave period extends, such as found off the US coast and in the Pacific, hydrofoils and hovercraft are ideal. The hovercraft is often cited as being a British invention exploited by others, but as the size increases, you need longer waves, hence the US Marines were able to build very large hovercraft when we couldn't.

Of course, I could be wrong.

 

[Melvil]

We may have the wrong sort of waves! That may sound stupid, but the waves in the Eastern Atlantic and off the UK generally have short periods and displacement hulls are better under typical conditions. As the wave period extends, such as found off the US coast and in the Pacific, hydrofoils and hovercraft are ideal. The hovercraft is often cited as being a British invention exploited by others, but as the size increases, you need longer waves, hence the US Marines were able to build very large hovercraft when we couldn't.

Of course, I could be wrong.

Maybe, but you sound infinitely better briefed than me!

 

[4F]

There's just been a report on the BBC about ferry companies increasing their charges because of fuel costs.

Apparently Speedferries carry 170 cars per trip, and use 4000 litres per trip.

That's 5.3 gallons per car per trip. That's a lot isn't it? How far is Dover to Boulogne?

Nice ferries though and Boulogne is so much easier to get in and out of than Calais About 50 min crossing time.

 

[ufkacbln]

Gosport Ferry has bikes free this week!

 

[LLB]

Ah yes, but the noise.......

the whistle of those two huge engines.

..........sucking fuel through at an astronomical rate.

Do you feel the same way about the space shuttle lifting off ?