How can you prevent running out of fuel while boating?

The idea of thinking in thirds—allocating one-third of your fuel for getting out, one-third for the return trip, and one-third as a reserve—is a practical and effective strategy to prevent running out of fuel while boating. This approach ensures that you have enough fuel for your journey both ways and reserves in case of unexpected circumstances, such as changes in weather, delays, or detours.

This method promotes careful planning and awareness of your fuel usage. By dividing your fuel in this way, you can better assess how far you can safely travel and make informed decisions about when to turn back or look for a refueling point, thereby enhancing safety on the water and reducing the risk of getting stranded.

In contrast, simply refueling every hour can be excessive and may disrupt your trip unnecessarily. Carrying double the necessary fuel can also be inefficient, as it adds unnecessary weight to the vessel, affecting performance and fuel consumption. Only using fuel when needed may not account for contingencies and the importance of having a safety buffer. Using the thirds strategy helps balance safety and efficiency effectively.