[PUP] Get home power

[Les Dobbe]

Lorenzo asked:
    Has anyone rigged up a 20K genset to supply get home power? I've got 
a 63ft shrimpboat with a 200hp 8/71.
   
    I have done exactly that.  I have a Northern Lights 20k genset 
equipped with a hydraulic PTO.  The PTO drives a Keypower "get home" 
system.  As Bill stated, who is using a Wesmar, Keypower used to cut the 
shaft.  They now have a unit that leaves the shaft in tact.  When called 
upon I start the genset, turn on the PTO and remotely engage the get 
home.  It is pushing a Selene 53' loaded to the gills at 100,000 + 
pounds to a max speed of 4.5 kts.  We generally will exercise the unit 
at about 4 kts.  It has it's own hydraulic cooling loop to keep things 
cool.  Depending on your weight I would expect similar performance.  The 
calculations aren't too hard to interpolate the anticipated speed to HP 
relationship.  Remember that KW is at a ratio of .746 to the HP input.
    I have seen the Wesmar unit as well as the Vetus version and a 
couple of one off's.  I saw Townsend Bay marine, where Bill's Wesmar was 
installed, fabricate a unit using a Harley Davidson belt drive system to 
push a Diesel Duck. 
Les Dobbe
"Voyager"
Selene 5334
Brunswick, GA