Rebuilding and marinizing tractor trailer

[charlesakeem]

okay this is an idea for a catamaran to be powered by 2 400-500 hp
diesel engines from a commercial tractor trailer.
The proposed cat is a 70+ cat made out of steel or aly going to try and pick a metal after my idea get bombed and torn apart in my other topic

what would go in to marinizing an engine like that.


About me
Competent but not extrodinary carpenter
amateur welder and machinist
bio diesel enthusiast
has access to small foundry and potential to build a large one

I also have a few good friends who have the following skills
master carpenter
mason
Under water welder
electrician
car tuner
cement man
forester
sailor

and access to tons of free labour
and some industrial machining tools that i get to use from college or have a friend machine something for me from on base


heres a volvo 465 horse power 11,000 bucks
http://www.trucks.com/parts_spec_sheet.asp?page=&category=11&id=46444&orderby=HORSEPOWER&makeSearch=VOLVO

heres a 525 horse power 8,900 bucks
http://www.trucks.com/parts_spec_sheet.asp?page=&category=11&id=46267&orderby=HORSEPOWER&makeSearch=

plenty of others here
http://www.trucks.com/parts_inventory.asp?orderby=HORSEPOWER&category=11&tt=&makeSearch=&sort=1&dir=asc

I admit to being pretty inexperienced but hey i'm giving my self about 5 years to learn before i build

[FAST FRED]

You are WAY out of line on the size engine required , far far smaller would be better choice.

If you have the vessels displacement in pounds divide by 2240 and you will have the weight in tons.

The combined power you need is at MOST (unless you are dreaming of towing water skiers) is 5 hp per ton.

This gives 2 1/2 hp per ton , on single engine operation , still enough for reasonable speed.

A pair of early International DT 360 or DT 466 , non turbo , non electric injection would be OK choice , and mates I think to a SAE 2 tranny pair (Twin Disc if uoiu have the bucks).

PBB Pro Boat builder has an article on keel cooling and dry stack exhaust on line for free , and is simplest way to marinize a commercial engine.

FF

[Pericles]

Hello there,

FF has given you the clues. Here are the articles.

http://www.proboat-digital.com/proboat/20080203/ Page 66

http://www.proboat-digital.com/proboat/20080405/ Page 48

Here are the rest of the magazines on the Internet.

http://www.proboat.com/

There is a massive amount to read, but the answers are there. Good fortune on your project.

Pericles

[charlesakeem]

Thanks for the link will read that article then I am going to start at the beginning and work my way through I'll probably have a blaze of posts after I'm done with this