Here's some advice from our friends at BoatUS and West Marine on saving gas while boating.

1. Clean That Bottom
If you moor your boat, be sure to fight plant and barnacle build-up because the extra friction it adds burns fuel. A fresh coat of antifouling paint prevents growth.

2. Trim Properly
Pushing water costs money. Getting up on plane is a fuel-saver. Distribute the weight on your boat evenly and install trim tabs if necessary. If you've got an outboard, consider the option of after-market hydrofoils.

3. Change the Oil & Replace the Filter
Gasoline-powered engines require mindful tuning. Replacing the air filter and changing the oil every 100 operating hours is an intelligent way to keep your engine fuel efficient and in tune.

4. Get Up on Plane A.S.A.P.
If you want to save money on fuel, get the bow down! As soon as you're out of the no-wake zone, apply only as much power as necessary to plane. Don't cruise at top speed -- pushing your engine to its limits wastes fuel. Try to make as few throttle adjustments as possible, and find your boat's optimum cruising speed.

5. Watch Your Gauges and get a Flow Meter
Monitor your speed, RPMs and fuel consumption to help find your boat's "happiest" speed. If you install a Fuel Flow Meter, you can monitor fuel consumption in real-time. This allows for accurate adjustment of throttle and trim.

6. Pay Attention to Your Prop
Make sure your propeller is true. Dings and irregularities cause cavitation or turbulence, so get it reconditioned. If you're running a three-bladed screw now, consider switching to four. You'll plane quicker, stay on plane at lower speeds and get more power at similar RPM levels.

7. Watch the WOT
WOT, or Wide Open Throttle range is key for maximizing power and fuel efficiency. Check your owner's manual to find your recommended optimum RPMs and select a prop that allows your engine to reach its WOT (generally between 5000 and 5500 RPM). Increasing the prop pitch reduces RPM and vice versa. Too much pitch is better than too little, because exceeding your WOT will burn fuel.

8. Reduce the Weight
Hauling around a bunch of extra gear forces your boat to do unnecessary work. Take a hard look at what you're carrying: can you leave behind extra deckchairs, coolers or bulky barbeques? Cutting weight brings your fuel efficiency up. One of the major mistakes boaters make is carrying as much fuel as their boats will hold. Carry just what you need -- gas is heavy! Besides that, stored fuel that stays in your reserve tanks all season isn't healthy for your engine. Fresh gas will keep you running stronger, longer.

9. Navigate Intelligently
The shortest distance from A to B isn't always a straight line. Be familiar with the area where you boat. Currents, swells and coastal obstacles make a difference. You're less efficient in messy chop -- do what you can to avoid nasty water. Driving inside the kelp beds can help you find glassy water, as can getting out into deeper ocean. Avoiding opposing currents and riding sympathetic currents can be helpful, especially if you've got a boat whose hull draws a lot of water. Carry a GPS and paper charts of your area and plot your course with fuel saving in mind.

10. Use a Trolling Motor
If you're an angler, buy a trolling motor. Running your boat's main engine(s) at idle speed -- outboard or I/O --burns a lot of fuel and reduces engine life. Switch to a removable trolling motor that uses very little gas when you're fishing and you'll save money. Better yet, use an electric trolling motor, and consume no fuel at all!