[PUP] Diesel electric

[John Marshall]

I would think that if you are very far from shore, the Wing engine is  
just there to let you keep your head into the seas long enough to fix  
whatever is wrong with the main.  Running for long periods in a seaway  
without stabilization (presuming you have active fins with a main  
engine driven pump as on most moderate sized trawlers) and only a  
small fraction of your original horsepower, not to mention off center  
shaft requiring a lot of rudder correction, isn't going to be easy or  
fun. You may not be able to even make progress toward the closest port.

We have to approach keeping the main running with even greater  
diligence than a single-engine fishing boat. Fishing boats do lose  
their engines from time to time, but they usually have buddies around  
who can tow them home. Their "get home" solution is simply another  
fishing boat. You don't have to hang around a fishing port very long  
to see this happening.

We don't always have that luxury on passagemakers.

And I agree on not reopening the twin versus single argument... most  
of the things that stop a diesel engine are related to fuel, and  
that's common to both engines on a twin. Also badly fouled props. In  
addition, if the problem is bad fuel, you'll still have to refill the  
Wing engine tank from the main if you run it long enough.

Bottom line... single engine boats with Wing engines are still single  
engine boats.

John Marshall
Serendipity - N55-20

On Feb 15, 2008, at 8:43 PM, Scott E. Bulger wrote:

> While there are lots of stories about people coming home on a wing  
> engine, I
> think a net is likely to foul both props.  Like it or not there is  
> risk in
> all this, it's about managing that risk.  A way to go over the side  
> and cut
> the net free is probably as important as a wing.  On our Nordhavn  
> it's not a
> Get Home engine, it's a Get Someplace engine, as you would be hard  
> pressed
> to make steerage against a headsea.  On the other hand, if that Get
> Someplace engine got me someplace I'd be singing the praises of it  
> to the
> ends of the earth!
>
> Seems like the system I'd employ (if I had the time and energy to  
> design
> these things from the ground up) would be a primary engine and a  
> genset that
> can be put into service as an alternative form or turning the main  
> wheel.
> In the event you foul the main wheel it would be really cool to be  
> able to
> turn a second shaft, but I wouldn't go through more than about $10  
> grand to
> add this capability.  All those fishing boats have single wheels and  
> they
> are in net strewn waters more than we are.   Just my humble opinion!
>
> On the other hand, seems to me Alan's custom trawler has twin keels,  
> perhaps
> that's the real answer?  Oh God, here we go, the twins vs single  
> discussion!
> It never ends.  Thinking again, it may have been twin keels with a  
> single
> wheel?  Not sure, Alan, care to comment?
>
> Scott Bulger, Alanui, N40II, Seattle WA
> Currently at 5000 ft in Oaxaca MX
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