Fuel prices these days seem to be changing recreational fishing from boats like never before.

Anglers are picking and choosing their boating days with care, targeting the peak fishing times to maximize the chances of hooking up, trying to avoid getting skunked while spending the bucks on fuel.

Waters are noticeably less crowded, and for sale signs on vessels are more abundant.

But will fuel prices end fishing from boats?

No. They won’t.

But anglers running boats will pay more attention than ever before to factors affecting the cost, including fuel efficiency.

A FloScan can help maximize fuel efficiency.

FloScans electronically show the amount of fuel that engines consume.

An obvious use is to help boaters determine whether enough fuel is available to run from Point A to Point B or avoid running out of fuel.

But FloScans can be used to see how fuel flow varies at different speeds and running conditions, so boaters can cruise at the most fuel-efficient rate.

This can also help boaters know whether the engine and vessel themselves are running at peak performance to save fuel.

If the fuel efficiency changes from what the boater already determined is normal, something’s amiss, like a nicked prop, a fouled hull or an engine problem that otherwise might go unnoticed.

Even a defective spark plug can increase fuel consumption 20 to 40 percent with no other noticeable change in the engine’s performance, the company says.

Skippers can save 10 to 15 percent on the fuel bill by running at the most efficient speed, the company adds.

A FloScan is also simply more accurate than standard fuel gauges that imprecisely show the amount of fuel in the tank and fluctuate as fuel gets sloshed around from seas.

A trip across any substantial distance is no place to guess like that.

FloScans come in many different models for gas engines, diesel engines and various options.

Click here for a Model Selector to choose different FloScans that work with your specific engine.

For more information and details, visit the FloScan web site.