Hi Folks,
I have been using this forum as a guest for about a year and have found tremendous educational tools here. Have recently 'retired' to the Chesapeake Bay and am looking at Trawlers. Just had an opportunity to board a 2000 Ocean Alexander 430 Mark I. Was quite impressed with the design, layout and overall boat quality. Am quite reluctant to proceed with this boat as it has twin Cummins 5.9 6BTA engines, but have read here and elsewhere that these engines are good and can be run a low rpm's and will yield good gph at low knot speeds. Anyone out there who can advise as to the truthfullness to this? I like this boat very much. Price is pretty attractive and I think this may be the trawler for me, however, am rather shy as to committing to twins, especially of this size, as I am trying for 2-3 gph burn rate at 6-8 knots. Do you think these engines can move this vessel along at these speeds with this kind of burn rate, and if so, will the engines be able to sustain it for long periods without undue engine wear? Have read that cranking them up to 2400-2500 rps every couple hours could be a solution? Anyone out there have this configuration in a OA?
I am novice to all this, but have 40+ years as a farmer/rancher and am somewhat familiar with dry land diesels. Have had Cats, JD"S etc.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts
I have been using this forum as a guest for about a year and have found tremendous educational tools here. Have recently 'retired' to the Chesapeake Bay and am looking at Trawlers. Just had an opportunity to board a 2000 Ocean Alexander 430 Mark I. Was quite impressed with the design, layout and overall boat quality. Am quite reluctant to proceed with this boat as it has twin Cummins 5.9 6BTA engines, but have read here and elsewhere that these engines are good and can be run a low rpm's and will yield good gph at low knot speeds. Anyone out there who can advise as to the truthfullness to this? I like this boat very much. Price is pretty attractive and I think this may be the trawler for me, however, am rather shy as to committing to twins, especially of this size, as I am trying for 2-3 gph burn rate at 6-8 knots. Do you think these engines can move this vessel along at these speeds with this kind of burn rate, and if so, will the engines be able to sustain it for long periods without undue engine wear? Have read that cranking them up to 2400-2500 rps every couple hours could be a solution? Anyone out there have this configuration in a OA?
I am novice to all this, but have 40+ years as a farmer/rancher and am somewhat familiar with dry land diesels. Have had Cats, JD"S etc.
Thanks in advance for your thoughts