Ken wrote:
As an indirect offshoot of this discussion, I was just googling compressed
air
starting systems. As people have said, the obvious answer is to "get the
diesel engine running", which can be tricky without batteries. My current
thinking is that I'll have plenty of compressed air on the boat (scuba tanks,
air horn), and although I haven't found it yet I'm confident such systems
exist. It might be that a cheap adapter stored in a closet, provides a simple
way to get the diesel engine turning.

Brian replied:
Turning the engine over is not the whole equation. Plenty of semi-trucks etc
have air starters. Its the injection of fuel that;s the problem

Ken wrote:
John Marshall raised the question of electronic engines. I raised this issue
with Steve Shultz of Lugger a few months back. My Nordhavn 62 had a
"mechanical engine," and was much simpler, hence more reliable. The new
Lugger
engines, and I suspect all new diesel engines, have computers and electric
fuel pumps. I had Steve walk me through a zero-electricity
scenario, and it wasn't pretty. .

I bought backup computers for each of my engines (I think they were like
$1,800 each! and are specifically programmed for the engine they apply to) I
did ask Steve whether or not it was possible to order a "good old fashioned
mechanical engine" and he said that the computers were now mandatory for
emissions compliance.

Brian replied:
Good idea...did you isolate them from an 'electric event'??

I brought this concern about the new-tech engines up a year or two ago when I
became concerned about what to do in a remote location with these motors
Brian Eiland

beiland@usa.net
www.RunningTideYachts.com
distinctive expedition yachts

Old Detroits could be fitted with a Hydraulic starter. It had a hand pump
for charging or could use an electric pump to charge. It was an acumulator
setup. These were standard equipment on remote power units, Detroits are
notoriously easy to start anyway so it didn't take much.
The subject of electronic/computerized engines has been hashed out on the
Trawler list a few times, personally I like nonelectronic, but that's where
most of my experience is. I am confident that I can make an old Detroit or
Cummins run, come whatever. I would be pretty much lost if my new electronic
engine quit me. On the other hand, if I didn't have the abilty to repair/fix
a major problem on either type of engine then electronic would be my choice,
they're quieter, more economical, user friendly, etc.

From: "brian eiland" beiland@usa.net
Reply-To: Passagemaking Under Power
Listpassagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com
To: kenw@seanet.com, Passagemaking Under Power
Listpassagemaking-under-power@lists.samurai.com
Subject: Re: [PUP] Electronic Injection Diesels
Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 11:21:27 -0400

Ken wrote:
As an indirect offshoot of this discussion, I was just googling compressed
air
starting systems. As people have said, the obvious answer is to "get the
diesel engine running", which can be tricky without batteries. My current
thinking is that I'll have plenty of compressed air on the boat (scuba
tanks,
air horn), and although I haven't found it yet I'm confident such systems
exist. It might be that a cheap adapter stored in a closet, provides a
simple
way to get the diesel engine turning.

Brian replied:
Turning the engine over is not the whole equation. Plenty of semi-trucks etc
have air starters. Its the injection of fuel that;s the problem

Ken wrote:
John Marshall raised the question of electronic engines. I raised this issue
with Steve Shultz of Lugger a few months back. My Nordhavn 62 had a
"mechanical engine," and was much simpler, hence more reliable. The new
Lugger
engines, and I suspect all new diesel engines, have computers and electric
fuel pumps. I had Steve walk me through a zero-electricity
scenario, and it wasn't pretty. .

I bought backup computers for each of my engines (I think they were like
$1,800 each! and are specifically programmed for the engine they apply to) I
did ask Steve whether or not it was possible to order a "good old fashioned
mechanical engine" and he said that the computers were now mandatory for
emissions compliance.

Brian replied:
Good idea...did you isolate them from an 'electric event'??

I brought this concern about the new-tech engines up a year or two ago when
I
became concerned about what to do in a remote location with these motors
Brian Eiland

beiland@usa.net
www.RunningTideYachts.com
distinctive expedition yachts

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