Diesel vs Gas in a boat.

With access to Gov't auctions, I may come home with one of these, hull only. It has a rudder but no driveshaft or engine. Out of the showroom it had a 25hp diesel engine.

It's 26 ft. long and old tech fiberglass, so I suspect heavy.

What would you put in it? Miatas are too big.

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/boatcat/cat-0028.htm

Dan

chev 350?

a hole to sink it with?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Gas-Turbine-Engine-T50-BO-8A_W0QQitemZ250455708583QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Aviation_Parts_Gear?hash=item3a5052d3a7&_trksid=p4506.c0.m245&_trkparms=65%3A12|39%3A1|72%3A1171

Gas Turbine Engine - T50-BO-8A

whatever you do, I hope it runs better than the Bat-Van!

Ah, the motor whale boat... it's been a long time, but from what I recall, they're built like tanks and have a pretty good bit of room for in the engine compartment.

You suspect it's heavy? My friend, I lived with those for years, they are darn heavy! As in thousands of pounds.

At best, it'll be a fuel sucking pig of a boat.

Get a diesel.

Conventional wisdom is that diesel is safer (doesn't explode) and more reliable in a marine environment.

I'm assuming that is a displacement hull, so more power is mostly irrelevant once you reach hull speed.

Here is a forum with a classified section of used boat engines.

http://forums.torresen.com/sailing/viewforum.php?f=22

Some diesel with a bunch of Banks Power stuff or Bully Dog with propane injection

That's a true displacement hull. Gobs of HP will be wasted. Once you reach hull speed(the speed the hull is designed for) that's basically it. If it will run 7 knots with 25 hp, 100 hp might get you 10-12 knots and handle like crap. I would go back with a small diesel. If that is out of the budget, small gas. 3cyl Geo? Kubota makes a bunch of small 3-4cyl diesels.

Do they have two of them, cause I have been looking for one of those for a while now. How much and where.

Hmmmm... According to the Spec above, hoisting weight is 5400 lbs.

Toyman, what would you do with one?

Dan

if that would do 7 knots at full weight, and had a range of 110 nautical miles at full weight on 30 gallons, that means 1.9 gallons per hour running. if you could make a mini-tug or mini-trawler out of it, maybe with a single berth with a double bed, a porta-crapper, and a little pilot house/salon area, it might be a fun little toy for bouncing around the bahamas or the like. especially with only a 2 1/2 foot draft fully loaded, might make a decent boat for diving too, since it sits low in the water and carries lots of people and their crap.

cool boat.. there is something to be said for not having a planing hull.

And yes, a small diesel (vw?) with a large wheel and you are set to go.

yanmar.

In reply to 914Driver,

I happen to have, in my shop, a 3cyl Kubota Diesel that is just begging for a boat. It puts out 20-25hp and would be perfect for a boat like that. I have been keeping my eye out for a life boat since I got two of the engines. One of them went on a GRM style generator. The other I'm saving for the right boat.

I would love to build a efficient cruiser for boat camping and just cruising the harbor. I've done the 50mph+ boats, and feeding them is tough when they burn 6-8 gph. $200+ for a day in the boat kind of sucks.

It would be a waste of money and time to put anything other than a marine diesel in there. 50hp max, 25-30 better. This is a hull that is made to handle horrible water and not sink, not to go waterskying behind. To go cruising with it will require patience, not deep pockets. I would LOVE to have one here or in the Keys. Fish, dive, swim, but not dazzle the chickees. Relax. Soon come Mon.

cwh wrote: It would be a waste of money and time to put anything other than a marine diesel in there. 50hp max, 25-30 better. This is a hull that is made to handle horrible water and not sink, not to go waterskying behind. To go cruising with it will require patience, not deep pockets. I would LOVE to have one here or in the Keys. Fish, dive, swim, but not dazzle the chickees. Relax. Soon come Mon.

hey! ft. lauderdale! i just got back from the bahamas and delray beach. my parents have a mainship trawler, so we've had plenty of practice in being patient getting to our destination.

Toyman, this could be your lucky day. Or not, there's nothing as expensive as a cheap boat.

I'm going to pass on the Navy Whaleboat MK8, when all is said and done it just won't do what I want. All up it weighs 5400 lbs, I'm guessing the hull alone is about 4000lbs, I don't know if my stuff can tow that.

Here's a link to the sale. I spoke to the owner who says he has $1200 into it but realizes he'll never get all that back; and I think I was the only crazy to even call on it.

http://albany.craigslist.org/boa/1233033822.html

Here's one man's interpretation of what they could be, he made it into an African Queen wannabe, although the Queen was white.

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2689857510102064736yzpjiJ

It's the second from the outside, grey and green.

Merry Christmas and put pictures up when she's finished.

Dan

If only it wasn't a 1600 mile trip to go get it.

I found one about three miles from my house one time, but the guy wouldn't sell it because he had goldfish in it. The next time I saw it, it was cut up and stuffed in a dumpster. Man that pissed me off.

I've promised myself that there are only two watercraft I will allow myself to own.

(machine gun optional)

That boat would require a permenant dock. Pulling out on a trailer would mean a really powerful tow vehicle. Not anything for the faint of heart or a half ton pick up. Several times I have seen boat, trailer, and truck in the water, waiting for the big tow truck. Seems that as the weight of the boat comes onto the trailer, the drive wheels come off the ground. Funny to watch, not so funny if it's your truck.

GameboyRMH wrote: I've promised myself that there are only two watercraft I will allow myself to own. (machine gun optional)

theres a house on the intracoastal just south of delray beach that has one of those hovercrafts parked on a lift in the backyard.

is that second one the airboat from HL2?

docks around here can be expensive too.. but sometimes you can find some deals. Especially with a boat with so little draft.

When my parents had their sailboat, they had to spend a fortune due to the 6 foot fin keel beneath the boat

Strizzo wrote: is that second one the airboat from HL2?

Yes it is