Larry wrote:
Don't forget to add to this list of ignition starters of the gas
fumes the thermostat points in that electric heater in the cabin
that's keeping the pipes from freezing. Every time those points open,
if the glowing coils don't set the bomb off, the arc from the
thermostat points opening easily would.

I'm sorry, Larry...but Horsefeathers! Something like that could only
happen if you were stupid enough to put the heater in the engine
compartment--and then only if you had a fuel leak. All switches,
thermostats etc that are installed in the engine compartment or in the
same compartment as the fuel tank are spark protected.

Gas engines aren't anywhere near as fuel efficient as diesel engines,
but they're every bit as safe if you follow a few very simple rules.

Most fires are caused by bad/faulty/neglected wiring. Diesel powered
boats are no more immune from that than gas powered boats. And it's a
myth that any fire on a gas powered boat will cause it to explode...they
don't unless the fuel tank or a fuel line is ruptured, which is rare.

A 250 hp gas engine on a 28' PERFORMANCE cruiser is totally
appropriate...although a he might be smart to go with a larger engine
that would provide the same performance at 2/3-3/4 power (the only thng
you were right about is, gas engines don't profit from much running at
WOT). The only question should be, can he afford the fuel to run it, or
should he settle for something designed to be slower and more
economical? The answer to that depends on how he plans to use the boat.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://www.seaworthy.com/store/custo...0&cat=6&page=1
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