In article
,
Bob wrote:

Hi all:

Does anyone here have a hydraulic start engine in their sailboat? Id
especially like to hear from those with 50 HP.

Stuff like where ya got the starter or any reliability issues.
Bob

There was a River Tugboat up on the Lower Yukon River that was designed
with NO Batteries, as it was left each fall, and frozen in all winter,
and restarted each spring, for years. It had 4 Diesel Engines aboard.
Two CAT 3408's for Mains and a 3406 Genset/Aux, and a small Isuzu
20Kw Genset. The CAT 3406, and the Isuzu, both had Hydraulic Starters,
that replaced the Standard Marine Electric Starters. You pumped a
handle on the Hydraulic System, until the Pressure Gauge Needle moved
into the Green, and then Tripped the Starter Valve on the Isuzu. Usually
took two tries. Once the Isuzu was running, it powered the Primary Power
Buss, and a small Hydraulic Pump that then charged the Hydraulic Starter
System, to start the CAT 3406. Once the 3406 was running, it then
powered the Primary Power Buss, and ran a High Pressure Air Compressor,
to charge the Air Start System on the twin CAT 3408 Main Propulsion
Engines. It took about an hour, from Cracking the Hatch, to firing the
3408's, but it took about 12 hours to knock the COLD, off the Steel
Hull, and house, and feel comfortable, again. All the heat in the boat
came from circulating the Cooling Water off the engines, and all the
power for the Electronics, was 120 Vac from the Gensets, via the Main
Power Buss. Very interesting little vessel for a unique application and
use.

--
Bruce in alaska
add path after fast to reply

I remember seeing a 'spring' starter for motors. It replaced the
existing electric starter and had a pull cord on the side. In normal
use, the spring would auto-wind, but if needed the pull cord could be
used to 'recharge' the starter.

Google search might turn it up.

-al-

On Sat, 24 May 2008 00:37:11 GMT, Al Thomason
wrote:

I remember seeing a 'spring' starter for motors. It replaced the
existing electric starter and had a pull cord on the side. In normal
use, the spring would auto-wind, but if needed the pull cord could be
used to 'recharge' the starter.

That is based on the certainty that the engine will start instantly.
I can't imagine accumulating two minutes cranking time. That motor
better be in top shape. Air is the way to go.

Casady