Claims of Fuel Economy: The Indian Chief Parable

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Performance
  Claims of Fuel Economy: The Indian Chief Parable

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Claims of Fuel Economy: The Indian Chief Parable

jimh posted 10-17-2005 11:36 PM ET (US)
I have found the solution to resolving the conflict often apparent in claims made by proud outboard owners about the fuel economy of their motors. It is contained in this old story of an Indian Chief, which I here re-tell as a parable:
An Indian Chief had a beautiful daughter who was coming of age to be married. There were two braves in the tribe who wanted to marry her, and to her father both seemed equally qualified to marry. The decision of which brave to choose for his daughter was a difficult one.
The Chief meditated on this problem for a while, and then one night a vision came to him in a dream which gave him the solution. The Spirits told the Chief that a horse race must be held and his daughter must marry the brave who had the slowest horse. The Chief awoke from this vision with great happiness, for the problem of who could marry his daughter was now resolved.
Of course, the Tribal Elders soon advised the Chief that this was not going to be a good solution. Since both braves wanted to marry the beautiful daughter, a horse race was not going to produce a true indication of who had the slowest horse. Both braves would surely hold back and try to finish second.
The Chief grew despondent, and sought the counsel of his Medicine Man. The old mystic smoked his pipe for several hours, then came up with the solution.
"How do we solve this problem," asked the Chief.
The medicine man responded wisely, "Have each brave ride the other's horse."
Of course, this is the solution to all these claims of fuel economy. Each boater begins by filling his tank to the FULL mark. The course is run, then, the two boater's switch boats, and each re-fills the other guy's boat to the FULL mark. Now we see the real fuel economy of each boat!
Thank you, Medicine Man.

17 bodega posted 10-18-2005 12:09 AM ET (US)
I don't know if the radio spot is running up your way from the Chevron Corp, but in my area on AM radio, Chevron claims that sudden acceleration and stops (in a automobile) can increase your fuel consumption up to 40%. This would lead me to believe that a motorboat could contain even more variables with regard to fuel economy. Ocean currents and waves, wind, smoothness in boat bottom, weight, engine tuning are just a few variables that can also have a huge impact. I notice that large boat operators avoid sudden changes in engine rpms, and seem to maintain a very steady hand on the accelerator.
I do agree, however that exaggeration is a problem with these claims.
jimh posted 10-18-2005 12:56 AM ET (US)
Sorry, but the Chief's vision did not include this recommendation of constant speed.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Claims of Fuel Economy: The Indian Chief Parable
jimh	posted 10-17-2005 11:36 PM ET (US) I have found the solution to resolving the conflict often apparent in claims made by proud outboard owners about the fuel economy of their motors. It is contained in this old story of an Indian Chief, which I here re-tell as a parable: An Indian Chief had a beautiful daughter who was coming of age to be married. There were two braves in the tribe who wanted to marry her, and to her father both seemed equally qualified to marry. The decision of which brave to choose for his daughter was a difficult one. The Chief meditated on this problem for a while, and then one night a vision came to him in a dream which gave him the solution. The Spirits told the Chief that a horse race must be held and his daughter must marry the brave who had the slowest horse. The Chief awoke from this vision with great happiness, for the problem of who could marry his daughter was now resolved. Of course, the Tribal Elders soon advised the Chief that this was not going to be a good solution. Since both braves wanted to marry the beautiful daughter, a horse race was not going to produce a true indication of who had the slowest horse. Both braves would surely hold back and try to finish second. The Chief grew despondent, and sought the counsel of his Medicine Man. The old mystic smoked his pipe for several hours, then came up with the solution. "How do we solve this problem," asked the Chief. The medicine man responded wisely, "Have each brave ride the other's horse." Of course, this is the solution to all these claims of fuel economy. Each boater begins by filling his tank to the FULL mark. The course is run, then, the two boater's switch boats, and each re-fills the other guy's boat to the FULL mark. Now we see the real fuel economy of each boat! Thank you, Medicine Man.
17 bodega	posted 10-18-2005 12:09 AM ET (US) I don't know if the radio spot is running up your way from the Chevron Corp, but in my area on AM radio, Chevron claims that sudden acceleration and stops (in a automobile) can increase your fuel consumption up to 40%. This would lead me to believe that a motorboat could contain even more variables with regard to fuel economy. Ocean currents and waves, wind, smoothness in boat bottom, weight, engine tuning are just a few variables that can also have a huge impact. I notice that large boat operators avoid sudden changes in engine rpms, and seem to maintain a very steady hand on the accelerator. I do agree, however that exaggeration is a problem with these claims.
jimh	posted 10-18-2005 12:56 AM ET (US) Sorry, but the Chief's vision did not include this recommendation of constant speed.