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When my A4 reaches the point where it is not worth fixing, I will probably install an electric inboard. The big cost with electric propulsion is the battery system. But all I need is enough range to get in and out of the slip. It doesn't take much battery power to move a T27 in and out of the marina in a no wake zone. It takes a lot of power to get up to hull speed. It takes a lot less to go a knot or two. Using a diesel just to get in and out of the marina is a diesel engine's worst nightmare -- because it never gets up to operating temp. If there is no wind -- then I don't know why I'd leave the slip in the first place :p If the wind dies while I am out sailing about -- then I guess I'll just have to wait it out. I'd rather spend a night sleeping on the water now and then than spend a couple weeks and lots of $$ on engine repairs all the time. I've sailed a lot on Colgate 26s with outboard motors. They are flakey, tend to clunk around on the motor mount a lot, and look ugly. But it gets the job done. It does mean less drag -- plus you can glass over some holes in the boat and reduce your chances of sinking due to a failed seacock. If I definitely wanted to be able to motor a significant distance -- then I would install a diesel. But.. I really don't want to install a diesel. On Fri, Jun 24, 2022 at 12:27 PM Ned Wood <nwood@...> wrote: This is my 2nd summer with Rocinante #760. Sadly, I've spent many weeks unable to sail because of issues with my Atomic 4. When this engine runs, it purrs and provides excellent power. But too often it refuses to behave as it should. My latest predicament is that it is stuck in forward gear- no neutral, no reverse. My mechanic, who is very knowledgeable of Atomic 4's (especially mine) is puzzled, and we have been speaking with Moyer Marine to try to understand the issue. |
