On Thu, 01 Dec 2005 19:14:08 -0500, Chuck Cox
wrote:

Roger Long wrote:
I suggest concentrating on diesel. The gas version ABSOLUTELY must
have no self starting feature for boating applications unless you have
a line on amazing liability insurance. Starting a gas engine, or any
other flame producing device, on a boat that carries gas must always
be done after careful determination that there have been no leaks. It
wouldn't be much different in any other enclosed space and that's
where something like this is apt to end up.

A small diesel could burn K2 which is nearly as available as gas now.


I agree about the safety issues with gasoline and we would definitely
prefer to use diesel. Regardless of the fuel source, any automatic
charger would have to be deployed on deck, away from vents and fuel,
never in an enclosed space. I was assuming (perhaps foolishly) that
there would be a bigger market among outboard users than inboard users
and therefore more demand for gasoline than diesel. I would be
delighted if there were a market for a diesel version, it should be a
safer and more reliable, if louder, system.

We could probably make one that runs on used cooking oil.

I must be missing something: why would you want to install a diesel
genset on the weather deck of a cruising sail boat?

Being on deck means that:
1) the genset is exposed to salt spray, hence corrosion etc; and
2) its mass is high, detracting from the stability of the boat.

My small (26 foot LWL) cruising sailboat has a genset made up of a 523
cc 2-cylinder 7.5 hp diesel engine driving an alternator outputting a
maximum of 250 Amps of nominal 14VDC, with a permanent exhaust
installation. The diesel set, with electronic speed control to suit
the load demand and a three-phase voltage regulator for battery
charging, consumes about 1 litre of fuel per hour. Mass is 100 kg and
noise level is 80dB. Fuel fed from the installed tanks, via the usual
filters. And it's below decks.

And the company assembling (ie putting together the marinized diesel
set, the high output alternator, voltage regulator, electronic engine
speed control, etc) and marketing that unit discontinued it, due to
lack of demand (ie the market is tinier than you think, Chuck, and the
cost of mating together quality components is higher than buyers
expect).

To be used in a seaway (as opposed to in a harbor), a genset has to be
sheltered, low and as close to the centerline as possible. Note also
that small diesel sets do not lubricate well at the angles of heel
that monohulls commonly adopt - so that puts the on-demand idea at
question.

Cheers

Bil