knotheadcharters
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2011
- Messages
- 338
- Vessel Name
- Amar la Vida
- Vessel Make
- 1989 Carver Californian 48' MY
Alright, How come when the question of diesel reliability comes up, ie. How long will my SUCH AND SUCH diesel engines last there is really no right or wrong?
I have spent hundreds of hours on the subject from Boat diesel (excellent source) to every boat forum out there and no one agrees on diesel engine longevity. It really was daunting when I bought my first diesel boat and made me even question the purchase at the time.
I understand that useage,nonuseage,load/underload, turbo, natural there are hundreds of variables.
It just amazes me that there are no useful guidelines. For example I have twin 1989 DD 6-71 Ti's with a little over a thousand hours. I have heard they are grenades and will blow between now and 1500 hours to they'll out live me. Now I run them at a steady pace of 1000-1200 rpms and every 4 hours or so run them up to 1800 to blow them out. At the lower rpms they maintain proper operating temps and I will change the oil and coolant every season. Have only had the boat for a year now so time to service everything.
I have even contemplated bringing them back to Naturals because I dont need 900 HP for the type cruising I do, shes a big, deep, heavy motoryacht and I have no desire to cook along at 18 kts everytime I take her out, but have been told it's notnecessary but with no real clear understanding of why it's not necessary to do so. I thought it would save money on those items from wearing out and needing to be fixed or replaced?
What I really would like to do, but it is not cost efficent is to pull the Detroit iron and install a couple of small 100 hp diesels to move along at 8-10 knots with a decrease in fuel burn. I would then have to add ballast as the DD's and gears weigh in at around 6-7k pounds total. While my boat is not a "trawler" but a motoryacht, She is perfect for the wife and I and I will use her as a "trawler".
I know a long winded rant but something that I would like to find out what others here think.
I have spent hundreds of hours on the subject from Boat diesel (excellent source) to every boat forum out there and no one agrees on diesel engine longevity. It really was daunting when I bought my first diesel boat and made me even question the purchase at the time.
I understand that useage,nonuseage,load/underload, turbo, natural there are hundreds of variables.
It just amazes me that there are no useful guidelines. For example I have twin 1989 DD 6-71 Ti's with a little over a thousand hours. I have heard they are grenades and will blow between now and 1500 hours to they'll out live me. Now I run them at a steady pace of 1000-1200 rpms and every 4 hours or so run them up to 1800 to blow them out. At the lower rpms they maintain proper operating temps and I will change the oil and coolant every season. Have only had the boat for a year now so time to service everything.
I have even contemplated bringing them back to Naturals because I dont need 900 HP for the type cruising I do, shes a big, deep, heavy motoryacht and I have no desire to cook along at 18 kts everytime I take her out, but have been told it's notnecessary but with no real clear understanding of why it's not necessary to do so. I thought it would save money on those items from wearing out and needing to be fixed or replaced?
What I really would like to do, but it is not cost efficent is to pull the Detroit iron and install a couple of small 100 hp diesels to move along at 8-10 knots with a decrease in fuel burn. I would then have to add ballast as the DD's and gears weigh in at around 6-7k pounds total. While my boat is not a "trawler" but a motoryacht, She is perfect for the wife and I and I will use her as a "trawler".
I know a long winded rant but something that I would like to find out what others here think.