On Apr 20, 5:18*pm, Larry wrote:
nom=de=plume wrote:
*wrote in message
.. .

On Mon, 19 Apr 2010 20:46:58 -0700, "nom=de=plume"
*wrote:

Seems like unless you're close to shore, you really don't need a lot of
engine power. Maybe in a storm, but wouldn't the concern be running the
engine without intake water or running out of fuel if you run it too long?
I'm mean that's why it's a sailboat... to sail.

There are two times when you need power on a sailboat: Bad weather and
good weather.

Most cruising sailboats spend more than 90% of their time underway
with the engine running. *Either the wind is from the wrong direction,
too weak or too strong.

I thought most sailboats spend more than 90% of their time sitting in a
berth or anchored.

Why would you need to run the engine offshore when there's lots of wind?
Seems like it wouldn't help that much. I can understand needing to get away
from a shoreline, but in the middle of an ocean? If it's really that bad,
wouldn't you want to try and slow the boat? I saw parachutes for this at the
boat show.

Did you see sea anchors?

Diesels do like to be run hard. A big problem with sailboat diesels
is they often do not get hot enough to get carbon out. They need to
be run at high rpm for a few hours a month. Fortunately, the engine
on my 28' boat is easy to access and I have actually crawled in the
compartment with the engine (being a caver, small spaces do not bother
me).
One change I made that I really like was to put an electric fuel pump
in line with the mechanical fuel pump. This makes "bleeding" the
engine very easy. Sooner or later, someone will have to do this while
cruising (after you run out of fuel once) and it sure helps to have
that electric pump.
I have taken my sails completely down in a thunderstorm and run under
bare poles with the engine running in reverse to make her go very
slow.
Sometimes, close to a lee shore in strong wind, the safest thing to do
is to take the sails down and use the engine to get further out.