MILEAGE MAY VARY. PHOTO: KAYDI PYETTE
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With gasoline prices in America at an all- time high, fillin’ ‘er up can feel like a punch in the gut. On a recent trip, my fuel economy
dropped by six miles per gallon, about 25 percent, with a single car-topped Prospec- tor. With local gas prices hovering around $5 per gallon, the round-trip fare for my canoe alone cost $60—equal to the cost of renting a canoe for my weekend trip. The decrease in gas mileage with a car-
topped canoe varies with vehicle model, ranging from five to 25 percent according to the U.S. Department of Energy. “You’ll really notice a decrease in ef-
ficiency if you’re driving an aerodynamic design, like a Prius. A Ford F-150 is barely going to notice the difference with a canoe up top,” says Dave Condon, senior design engineer for Yakima. “If a vehicle has been created to move very efficiently and you add a boat, you’ve just added a lot of drag; a little Honda is going to suffer far more than a big rolling brick.” The shape and size of your boat, tie-
down method, road conditions and terrain, as well as wind direction and speed are all variables that will also affect your mileage. To get the most distance for your dollar, Condon recommends a dedicated system
for transporting your boat, such as roof racks or a trailer. Though trailers have a larger ecological footprint, they offer bet- ter fuel economy because they cruise in the slipstream behind your car. Canoeroots readers shared stories of
experimenting with their own DIY hacks for making the gallons last, including transporting canoes with inflated flo- tation bags and spray decks to create a more aerodynamic shape. They reported marginally better fuel economy with than without. However, the most effective way to
increase fuel economy is unfortunately also the least popular—get out of the fast lane. “Taking the back roads, compared to
driving at 70 miles per hour on the free- way, will increase your mileage,” advises Condon. “The power required to push a car (and boat) through the air increases expo- nentially with increased speed.” This means that wind resistance increas-
es more between 70 and 80 miles per hour than it does between 50 and 60. Just slow- ing down from 65 to 55 miles per hour can increase your fuel economy by as much as 15 percent—that’s mileage you’ll need if you’ve got a car-topped canoe. —KP
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