Car engine in sailboat?

[Ex-Calif]

COBG & Ex-Calif get together to rewire Rustic's cabin lights to LED...

So fire from the solar controller - A good thing or a bad thing?

[crazyoldboatguy]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

COBG & Ex-Calif get together to rewire Rustic's cabin lights to LED...

So fire from the solar controller - A good thing or a bad thing?

I know I have a flux capacitor around here somewhere.

[Xlantic]

Here's the Thai approach to marinizing car engines ...

[crazyoldboatguy]

Originally Posted by Xlantic

Here's the Thai approach to marinizing car engines ...

Sure makes maintenance easier.

[rwidman]

How about connecting the car engine to an airplane propeller and aiming it at the sails?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by rwidman

How about connecting the car engine to an airplane propeller and aiming it at the sails?

It's been done, and don't ask me how, but it worked!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKXMTzMQWjo

[GILow]

Originally Posted by crazyoldboatguy

God help you if you relied on my electrical expertise.

Oh crap, does that mean I have to rewire AGAIN?

[GILow]

Originally Posted by crazyoldboatguy

Sure makes maintenance easier.

No need for bilge blowers either.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by GILow

It's been done, and don't ask me how, but it worked!

[Jim Cate]

Well, FWIW the lower explosive limit for petrol is around 1.7 %, depending a little on type of petrol, temperature and other variables.

If you can't smell the fumes long before that concentration is reached, I think your nose was shot off in the war or something... "high school science experiments" or not.

Jim

[cajucito]

Many people have used gas car engines in boats with varying degrees of success. There is no doubt that a significant % of boats in service have Gas engines. Having seen 3 of them ignite during my sailing life I just dont like them. Its a personal choice. We have all got the smell of spilled fumes at some time on our boats. Spilled gas will disperse easily on a road vehicle and to a certain degree on an Outboard, but it gathers in the bilge on a boat where it can accumulate undetected and then it has a good chance of finding an ignition source. Thats the simple logic of why I prefer diesel (gasoil). No disrespect to anyone but I would still describe a boat with an inboard petrol engine as a bomb that has not yet gone off: No smoking please!!

[sailcay]

I recently talked to a guy in the Bahamas, from England. He said using a motorcycle engine and transmission was a common practice in the UK. BMW K series engine

[Twilight 2]

Motor cycle engines are very good but no reverse, so would be a last resort auxiliary.
Even cheaper is a motor mower engine.

[SkiprJohn]

Originally Posted by Twilight 2

Motor cycle engines are very good but no reverse, so would be a last resort auxiliary.
Even cheaper is a motor mower engine.

And, if it were a lawn tractor engine with transmission you'd have reverse.

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by SkiprJohn

And, if it were a lawn tractor engine with transmission you'd have reverse.

Obviously one can put anything in a boat, but a lawn tractor engine would be a pretty poor choice.