>===== Original Message From Frank Burrows <fburrows@csi.com> ===== >Marine service is a lot more severe than truck service since the boat is >always going up hill... Is this really true - at least for the majority of trawler cruisers? It seems that most of us use our engines in a lightly loaded mode - 1800 or so rpms for 8 knots, give or take. I've estimated, based on some information gleaned from the list, that running my engine (rated for 120 hp) in this way, and using 2+ gallons per hour, means I'm only using 30-40 hp. This doesn't seem like it qualifies as 'severe service.' Seems like there's a big difference between blasting up the hill wide open and going up the hill slowly in a lower gear. Mel Knott Sandpiper West Indian 36 Annapolis, MD