[PUP] Ok, what is your thoughts about get home engines

[Ken Williams]

I'm guessing my boat is the one Ron is referring to... 

As he mentions, I am considering swapping to the feathering (Hundestat)
props, although I probably won't do it for cost, and space reasons. I'm
still interested in being able to run in single engine configuration (on my
twin engine boat), during super-long passages, but the most likely scenario
is that I'll go with some sort of shaft locking system.

Here's a link to a PDF document I did for the Nordhavn group talking about
the special issues of major passages with twin engines:

http://www.nordhavn68.com/uploads/952/shipdigitallibrary/twin%20engine%20eff
iciency%20v1.3.pdf

It's a little specific to my boat, and Nordhavns, but would probably be of
value to anyone contemplating a major passage with a twin engine boat.

Just to tell "the rest of the story" - we abandoned our plans to go to
Hawaii, and instead are crossing the Pacific via a quite unusual route.
We'll be leaving next May with three other boats (two Nordhavn 62s, and a
Northern Marine 75) to Alaska, across the Aleutian Islands, into Siberia,
and down into Japan. All of the boats have the range for a run to Polynesia
or Hawaii, but the idea of doing the trip this way seemed fun. Our longest
passage will be only 500 miles.

-Ken Williams
www.kensblog.com
Nordhavn 68, Sans Souci

-----Original Message-----
From: passagemaking-under-power-bounces at lists.samurai.com
[mailto:passagemaking-under-power-bounces at lists.samurai.com] On Behalf Of
Ron Rogers
Sent: Monday, October 27, 2008 9:52 PM
To: mark424x at yahoo.com; 'Passagemaking Under Power List'
Subject: Re: [PUP] Ok, what is your thoughts about get home engines

Unless they used two different boats, the comparison is not valid - period!
With one engine running, the other engine's prop is dragging through the
water. The owner of a Nordhavn 68 with twin engines estimates that he uses
10% more fuel than a single engine vessel. To save fuel, he realizes that he
could install two controllable pitch props (and their special shafts) at
significant cost and remove this as an issue by feathering one prop. This
also gives him control over the optimal pitch for his props in varying
conditions plus instant reverse. Either or both these strategies will save
fuel.

Ron Rogers