| Specifications |
Within the past few years we've seen some pretty amazing advents in auxiliary power systems for sail boats and from the beginning Dena and I were dead set on ultimately eliminating petrochemicals from our lives completely with technologies such as wind power and solar power but the problem lies in generating enough horse power to move 25 tons of wood and steal through the water. I mean the human race about covered every square centimeter of this planet without the crutch of the internal combustion engine and I know that there are alternatives out there that don't cost a million bucks. I can't find them, so, still, here I sit at the top of the food chain at the top of the 21st century and my only inexpensive alternative to jibing and running with the storm is the ancient technology of a Diesel fuel-injection, internal combustion engine. Although we did meet a family of four in Port Angeles who were going offshore in a Junk rigged steel ketch with no engine. I know few sailors that would even think of going out in a fifty foot boat without an auxiliary motor of some kind. That family had also been waiting in that weird little town for weeks for a weather window. Most sailors don't have that kind of patience any more although we could all learn a thing or two from their tenacity. Out of all the duties on an 'ol wooden sailboat that absolutely have to be done, engine work is the one thing Dena and I both will put off for as long as possible! I'll rebuild that head and scrub that bilge with a tooth brush before I think it's a good idea to check the oil in the auxiliary. And that is the reason the engine on the SVSN is Stone-Cold-Frozen Solid! I just think that petrochemicals and the industry that is built around petroleum is one of the biggest things in our way to becoming a truly civilized world. As a society it is our greatest addiction, as a civilization it could very well be our final downfall. Although presently frozen-up*, the engine on the SVSN is an absolute workhorse in it's running state. It's the 1971 Volvo Penta MD3B, 36 hp marine diesel engine. We have the installation handbook, the instruction book, and the workshop manual. We also have schematics for the fresh water cooling system and the engine exhaust and muffler system. Any question you have can be answered by these manuals, except where to get parts. If you're in the SF Bay Area, you'll go to Helmut's in San Rafael. One of the best things about this engine is that we've averaged 0.4 gallons per hour in a wide range of conditions. The engine will be rebuilt when I finish with my tooth brush duties...
* We were going to do the rebuild ourselves, it has and will take a very long time to do if our present pace is any indication of our future motivation. It is! We've been quoted almost $8,000.00bucks for a used engine installed by Helmut's of San Rafael, Ca. They're good, and I trust they know what they're talking about. We will go down $8,000.00(USD) on the price of this boat if you want to do the job yourself. That would make the final price without taxes Only $21,500.00(USD) for this beautiful sailing vessel!
|
9/9/1999
to 9/9/2001 |
 |
|
