Just getting used to her...

[CrazyIslandMoFo]

Hello,
I have just run my new to me 97' 29 tourment from Cape May New Jersy to Martha's Vineyard Ma. I am changing from my Bertram 28, I like the Lurhs lay out better, my starboard engine bured a considerable amount more "Gas" than port... 70 gal! any info... of corse i will be going throgh her... Vortec..350's
also, should there be a gen-set? any info to be aware of will be greatly apreciated. Thanks!!

[chuckm]

I have a '97 290 with twin Marine Power 350's both engines burn the same amount of gas usually within 1 gallon after a burn of 1/2 a tank. Some thing is definitely messed up if you used that much more fuel. Check the engine manual for excessive fuel consumption issues (plugs, distributor, timing).

The Genset was an option. Mine has a 4kwh kohler.

regards

chuck

[CrazyIslandMoFo]

Cool, thanks for the insite I think this site will be very educational. Some where on this site there is a good article about catipillers working nicely in the lurhs, The article was originaly written by a seasoned boat suveyor, I too am interested in a repower with deisel...one diesel motor buys a lot of gas ...

[chuckm]

The link to the articles by the surveyor is:
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/

He has an article about gas engines but it mainly holds up crusader as the gold standard of gas engines. Most of the stuff he points out about Crusader are incorporated by MP with the exception of the Risers which can cause many problems. He really rags on Mercruiser which was designed as an inboard for freshwater boats and unfortunately has made it into several saltwater models.

Regarding diesels he has several good articles ragging on the lightweight diesels that are out there. I'm beginning to think that these would be a waste of money. They cost way more than a gas engine, have about the same life, in many cases require replacing transmission, struts, shafts, props, etc. making the conversion even more expensive. In the long run the only advantage may be an increase in range. If I had a bigger boat 36+ I'd go with the big diesel (cat or cummins) but for the 29 the only diesel option is one of the lightweight diesels (yanmar).


chuck

[jaychump]

if so called "light weight diesels" were so problematic do you think just about every boat manufacturer would be offering them as an option is this size range? i have a 2007 28ft with yanmar 6by 260s, we fish the canyons off south texas, we run, as in 22 knots run, 100 miles and fish another 100 miles, plus cool the cabin with our diesel generator on 90 GALLONS TOTAL. i would like to see any gas inboard, or out board for that matter, do that. Diesels are safe, dependable, economical and well worth every penny when your 75 miles offshore with your family on board.