On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 13:07:43 -0400, Ryk
wrote:
On Thu, 01 Sep 2005 01:41:23 -0400, rhys wrote:
So while I would consider taking a free diesel, and would
insist/prefer a "big iron" Perkins 4-107/8 for a cruising/bluewater
boat, the Atomic 4 is ideal for me currently. A buddy just put 125
hours on his in three weeks of cruising the Thousand Islands due to
fluky or contrary winds. He swapped out a failed 30 year coil (he
carried a spare) and did an oil change.
I've put a lot on mine this summer, from Kingston up to the North
Channel, and have had to do some minor maintenance. The simplicity of
the engine is a huge advantage. A bigger plus -- many of the parts
have automotive equivalents. I replaced the entire ignition system out
of an auto parts store for about CDN$120. Then I swapped some pieces
back in to determine where the problems were.
On the other side of the equation, it eats through something
approaching a gallon an hour, which would get into serious money for a
trip down the ICW.
Ryk
Heres an opinion partially based on fact and just opinion:
The A4 is rather old but estimates are that half of the 40,000 are
still in use. They are easy to repair. In anything less than a 30
footer they are to heavy and takeup to much space. Fuel economy is
not great, 50 to 75 % more than a diesel. Though the cost of
maintanence and repair is less than a diesel, according to Pascoe,
which I believe.
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/GasNdiesel.htm
I believe those that have one on a boat and are selling it is
considered a liability, just as those who are buying a boat with one
in it. My guess is half of those who had an A4 and require
replacement go for an outboard, but than depends on its usage and LOA.
Saildrives are an interesting concept and in someways make sense. But
they are also not as desirable and have some big negatives.
http://www.saildrive280.com/
http://www.saildrive280.com/gob.htm
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/rcray/pol...ve280parts.htm
PRICE LIST
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/rcray/polarbear/SD280.htm
http://www.vonwentzel.net/Prout/01.P.../10.Saildrive/
http://home.planet.nl/~g.boere/home.htm
THE DEFINATIVE? SAILDRIVE INFO PAGE
My preference is an outboard in a lazarette and I like the retrofit
James Baldwin did on a 28 footer.
http://www.atomvoyages.com/projects/TaipanRefit.htm
It seems that outboards tend to be a preference on alot of CATS either
as singles or duals.
The HP rating of engines vary depending on where they measure it at so
comparing HP doesnt necessarly mean much.
Electric motors make lots of sense, even to the extent of having an
aux diesel gen. for that purpose. Which I have seen a few discussions
on. But yet again it depends on the type of usage of the craft.
http://hardydiesel.com/gen/generators.htm
A while ago I thought about and researched the usage of car or truck
engines to replace boat engines. Well it can be done but there are
just too many issues. There is a company in England that provides
"marinization" kits for various engines, and very few in the US.
http://boatdiesel.com/Articles/APage...troduction.cfm
Engine Life vs. Engine Loading
GREAT ARTICLE
There is even such a thing as and Outboard diesel.
http://www.woodenboatshop.com.au/def...anmar/c129/490
To create this remarkable outboard unit, Yanmar built the
world's smallest and lightest diesel engine in its class.
This is a directly injected, water-cooled, 4-cycle powerpack
with a weight to output ratio as low as 1.69 kg/hp.
* Powerhead 4-stroke, water cooled, vertical crankshaft diesel.
* Direct injection, direct sea water cooling. 3-cylinder, two
output choices 27hp and 36hp.
http://www.boat-links.com/linklists/boatlink-30.html
http://www.marineengine.com/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi
MarineEngine.com Discussion Board
http://www.mesamarine.com/
MARINE EXHAUST SYSTEMS OF ALABAMA, INC.
Marinization Kits
Give us any engine and we can design a Keeled Cooled and Heat
Exchanger Cooled Kit including Water Cooled Manifold, Expansion Tank,
Heat Exchanger, Raw Water Pump, Fan Guard, Water Inlets, Water
Outlets, Wet Exhaust Ell's, Wet and Dry Exhaust Risers, and etc... The
design is then priced and you are quoted the prototyping cost as well
as the purchase cost.
http://forums.boatdesign.net/showthread.php?t=4630
DIESEL TRUCK engine Marinization discussion
http://forums.boatdesign.net/showthread.php?t=5765
Isuzu Diesel Engines
Humm SOMETHING NEW, HERES A LINK AND YOU FIGURE IT OUT
http://www.smartplugs.com/faq.htm
http://www.smartplugs.com/index.html
http://www.smartplugs.com/about.htm
Details
The SmartPlug is a self-contained ignition system that may be
retrofitted to existing spark-ignition and compression-ignition
engines. The SmartPlug consists of a prechamber containing a catalytic
heating element. Cold starting requires up to 25 watts/igniter from an
external power supply. The SmartPlug can be started with a 1.5 volt
"D" cell all the way up to a 40 volt battery, depending upon
application and design. Once the engine is warmed up under moderate
load, the power supply is no longer necessary. The SmartPlug becomes
self-sustaining while under load. This unique ability of the SmartPlug
is due to its catalytic ignition source.