Before You Head Out On Your Boat, Remember The 1/3 Rule - Jalopnik

A recent boating note highlights the “one-third rule” for fuel planning before departing. The idea is to mentally split your available fuel into three parts: one third to reach your destination, a second third for the return trip, and the final third as a safety buffer. If you can’t cover all three segments, the article argues you don’t have enough fuel. It also suggests a simplified variant—having enough fuel to theoretically make the trip three times. The guidance cautions that even if a boat has a built-in reserve tank, fuel in that reserve doesn’t count toward meeting the rule.