Making a virtue from a vice.

[juiceclark]

by the way, I really like that electric motor because it would be easy with that belt drive to run the main shaft. We'll have to have a 15kw generator on the boat anyway (for a/c, freezers, etc)...so the only additional cost would be for that motor.

The only question is how much less fuel would the genny, running hard, use than the big Cat at only 800+- r.p.m.

[Pericles]

Tony,

Diesel gensets need to be fully loaded, otherwise the engine wears out faster. The price for a THOOSA 17000, included Motor Controller is € 5.800,00., then you would need a Throttle, € 499,00 and a battery monitor € 382,00. That's about $9,450-00, excluding freight and and US sales taxes.

Email Birger Pedersen birger.pedersen@asmomarine.com for his advice. Most of your questions will be answered on the FAQ section http://www.asmomarine.com/2005/asmo_uk/04.shtml#Q01_12

Your big CAT gobbles fuel compared with a 15 kW genset. More information may be gleaned at http://www.ossapowerlite.com/

Good luck,

Pericles

[juiceclark]

Pericles,
I am grateful for your input and am sure you understand what a large decision this is for me.

An ol' commercial fisherman suggests using my generator engine (it appears we have a deal on a 30kw, 100hp Isuzu) to run a hydraulic motor on the main shaft. Electric is so clean...no leaks, no gaskets, etc. But I wonder how I can compare performance?? Hydraulic may have been great on a 90 foot, fully loaded shrimp boat, but how would the performance compare on a 25 ton, 50 footer??

By the way, I see that 30kw genny burns just over 1 gallon per hour. If we can get 7 knots from this alternative power, it will make fuel a nominal fee!

[Pericles]

Tony,

Get all the specification figures for the genny and email them to Birger. He will contact their US distributor for you and you can take it from there. The decision should be taken jointly by you and the distributor.

Good luck,

Pericles

[Pericles]

Danish Bagger,

Latest information from Preston Services.

"The 25 KW Sissons set would require approx 35 HP. As a single cylinder p.v. engine at a guess, the steam consumption would be around 875, say 1,000 lbs/hr with a margin. 180 psi is about right for a steam launch but obviously this will depend on boiler and engine design etc....."

So, a bit less than my initial estimate. "Have learned that a rule of thumb about steam consumption is 25 lbs of steam per hp per hour, thus a 50 hp steam engine requires a boiler capable of raising 1250 lbs of steam per hour at around 175 to 200 lbs per square inch. Saturated steam rather than superheated steam is preferred in order to minimise lubrication difficulties, however a steam dryer to eliminate water carry over could be useful."

Time to talk with steam launch boiler builders, m'thinks! http://www.steamboat.org.uk/smallads.htm

Pericles

[DanishBagger]

Oh, that's good news, Perry!

Do you think that might translate into a small weight savings?

[juiceclark]

That would be great but I'd need a watermaker to desalinize seawater right. Or do those use a closed system?

A client of mine just retired from the Merchant Marine and was on a steam powered ship that moved nat. gas. He loved that system. Their water boiled at only 180+ degrees because they created a bit of a vacuum. But as an engineer, he checked the closed-system water every single hour...was vital.

Tony