Re: [PCW] Power Catamaran Rally
Most sailboats transmission are not hydraulic and can be free wheeled, but not
so with most of the setups in powercats, need feathering props or shaft lock
installed.
----- Original Message -----
From: mike@chrysalisvoyage.commailto:mike@chrysalisvoyage.com
To:
power-catamaran@lists.samurai.commailto:power-catamaran@lists.samurai.com
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 12:30 PM
Subject: [PCW] Power Catamaran Rally
OK, the Bermuda comment was a little far fetched. In any case, I like the
idea of doing something on the East Coast of Florida around mid Nov. so
that you northerners can participate.(as an aside, I've been using a
British Insurance Co. and my rate including named windstorm coverage is
now about .8% of hull value. It includes US and Bahamas + 300 miles
offshore.)
If you guys want to email me directly if interested, I'll start to compile
a database.
Regarding running on one engine. I was going to do this across the
Atlantic because it was going to save some fuel(I forget what the number
was, maybe 10%). The problem of course is burning up your transmission
which sailboaters will tell you is not a problem as they freewheel their
props all the time. But do you really want to take that chance. Then
there is also keeping your seal lubricated. If you have variable pitch
props, like Wild Wind IV, you don't have to worry about this. I have a
couple of CV joints between the transmission and thrust bearing and was
going to just run one engine/day, disconnecting the down engine shaft and
then lock the propeller shaft to protect the seal. Plan B was to just
have an aux pump that would cool both the transmission and lub the seal
while the prop would be freewheeling.
I would recommend taking your boat out with a known quantity of fuel in
the tanks, run it for several hours on one engine making sure your
transmission is ok while in neutral, and then calculate your savings
afterwards.
Mike
M/V Chrysalis
mike@chrysalisvoyage.commailto:mike@chrysalisvoyage.com
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