GL: What's the Difference?

[Bob Austin]

Sorry to disagree with your comments on diesel engines.  I have run two medium
power, diesels which had WOT of 2500 RPM a total of 8,000 hours at mostly 1300
RPM--with absolutely no adverse affect.

What is not recommended for the modern high speed diesels is prolonged running
at low speeds without running up to 80/85% WOT to blow carbon out of the turbo
every few hours.

He is considering the older mediums speed diesels in this price range--like in
the Mainship with the Perkins.  No probelm running these engines in the 1200
to 2000 RPM range full time.

These type of engines get at least 10,000 hours if they are maintained well.
The worst abuse of these diesels is not running them.  There is some evidence
that the light weight high speed, highly turboed diesels do not last as long
as the older engines--and as I noted above subject to carbon deposition in the
tubo.  (the average gas engine gets less than 2000 hours, and has the
additional complication of electrical components in the spark system to run)

Incidently I have also owned a couple of the high speed diesels, which did
fine with the recommended spooling up the turbo every few hours.

The diesel is about 30% more effecient than gas engines to start with.  If he
is going to travel much--then I would definately consider a diesel.
Especially with a limited budget for fuel.  In a private post, I indicated
that with twin gas engines, you have two transmissions, two engines, two
shafts, two props and probably more susceptable to damage if one grounds.

I have gone from diesels for about 25 years now to outboards (with one I/O
inbetween--mostly because of draft considerations, and need to trailer the
boat.  However outboards in the smaller boats have much more appeal to me than
inboards do.  They are easier to service, they can be pulled all of the way
out of the water, they have become extremely reliable, there is no running
gear to be worried with.

However the decision is his.

Bob Austin