|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: Dennis Bruckel (no email)
Date: Tue Sep 02 2003 - 05:55:30 EDT
Roger Purdom asked...
> Since commercially-used engines seem to have a much longer life, what
> pleasure boat operating characteristics account for their shorter
> life? I've
> read the discussions about cruising at the proper engine temperature
> being a
> factor. Does less frequent use and shorter trips also account for
> shorter
> life?
Dennis replies...
My observation is that pleasure boat owners have a very low tolerance
for things unreliable. They often use their boats only infrequently,
often for short periods,and demand absolute reliability when they do.
Work boats, on the other hand are regularly used, generally for long
periods, and needed maintenance done on a regular schedule.
Add to this the fact that most larger pleasure boats are owned by
people with relatively high incomes and low real working knowledge of
the deep down workings of their engines, as well as other systems. This
makes them easy prey for boat yard maintenance workers, who for the
most part have a mentality of "Take it out and bolt up a new one",
rather than fixing what's wrong. It's the easiest path for the
mechanic, and pretty much guarantees customer satisfaction. Who's not
going to be happy with a brand new yellow or red beast in the engine
room?
With these two philosophies, it's not surprising that so many engines
are replaced with relatively small hours compared to the service life
which should be expected.
Add to this the fact that replacement parts for many 20 year old
engines are getting harder and harder to find. For example, I had
perhaps 15 starter and engine shops tell me recently that a solenoid
for my Paris Rhone starter (I know, lots of you are smiling at this
piece of revenge from the French) was absolutely unavailable. My search
even included Goggle for foreign car parts, but with no success.
Several mechanics and starter shops suggested it was time to consider
re-powering.
With more money and less time available, might very well have bitten
the bullet and talked with engine dealers. At the time we were in the
Canadian Canals lock system, where they don't allow leaving engines
running when in the lock. As many as five or six times a day it was
"down in the engine room and hot wire the starter", sparks and all.
Finally, while we were off the boat for more than two weeks at Grand
Haven's Trawler Fest, a major New York state diesel shop (D & W Diesel,
in several upstate NY cities) found the exact replacement solenoid. We
were lucky, we had the time and were in the right place. Others,
perhaps on the Great Loop "Trip of a Lifetime", or equally busy, might
not have the same luck, and be sold a complete re-power for the lack of
a readily available cheap part.
Of course, there comes the time when a re-power is economical. With it
one generally gets new gauges, wiring harness, alternator, starter,
transmission, injectors, injector pumps, etc., etc. In this regard, a
total re-power is probably more efficient in the long run than a
rebuild. The rub is finding one's self in the right place to do it with
the boat still running.
The Peugeot (there's that smile again!) engine in Sadie B has 7,100
hours on it now, and I'm hoping to cruise long enough to just barely
wear it out, limping into a re-power specialist on three cylinders.
Lying Waterford, NY at the eastern end of the Erie system, southbound
on the ICW to Solomons, MD.
Dennis
Dennis Bruckel, M/V Sadie B
Program Coordinator
West Marine Trawler Fest
www.trawlerfest.com
206 818 7910 cell phone
_______________________________________________
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-list
To Unsubscribe send email to
Include the word "Unsubscribe" (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message.
|