| Subject: |
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Re: Re: Re: running costs |
| Name: |
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Alan (Hawksmoor) |
| Date Posted: |
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May 7, 08 - 10:42 AM |
| Email (optional): |
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lorraine.sencicle@tesco.net |
| Boat Name: |
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Hawksmoor |
| Message: |
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"Running costs for Soudley,4th.-11th.April
Diesel £38.14
Pump Outs X 2 £25.00 (4 aboard)
Gas Nil
Valet £35.00 (Dog aboard)
Coal. £ 7.50
Total £105.64."
It is interesting to compare these costs with those for a 2 week Hawksmoor cruise from 4th to 18th April.
Diesel £108
Pump Out 1 @ £15
Valet £25 (No dog)
Coal. 2 x 25 Kg £10.50
No Gas
Total for 2 weeks - £158.50
The above figures demand some explanation of course to be meaningful. There were only 2 of us aboard for an extensive cruise of 210 miles. Central heating is gas fired though it was not used at all which had a very significant effect on the overall cost during what turned out to be a very cold period in early April.
We did of course have the solid fuel stove in service day and night for the entire duration of the cruise.
The boat was warm throughout, at all times of the day and night. With a suitable draught setting chosen in the bottom door vent this is a very economical option in very cold weather. If additional heat is required the lower door may be opened for short periods to increase the fuel temperature from 'red' to 'orange' heat.
I am confident that if we had attemted to heat the boat using the propane fired central heating then we would have used 4 bottles of gas at £80 or 7 times the cost of solid fuel!
This should come as no surprise if you do the maths?
Diesel, propane and smokeless fuels will have similar calorific values per kilogram. Additionally when burnt they will convert this to useful heat with similar degrees of efficiency.
For my money the solid fuel stove is the most efficient as heat is radiated from the entire chimney area within the boat resulting in very little heat being lost to the outside world.
The resulting costs for the 3 fuels are as follows:
Diesel - 85 pence a kilogram @ 75 pence a litre
Propane - £1.54 a kilogram @ £20 for 13 kilograms
Solid Fuel - 21 pence a kilogram (£5.25 for 25 kg)
or 32 pence a kilogram (£7.95 for 25 kg)as some yards charge this higher price.
The most impressive fuel we used for the stove was called 'Superheat'. It was also the cheapest bought this year. I have full details of the source of this fuel if anyone is interested.
Alan |
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