[Public-list] repowering

[Don Campbell]

J
    "What did people do in 1900 when small craft auxiliaries were not in
general
use? They went sailing."

In 1900, there were almost no pleasure craft as we know them today.
Pleasure and race boats were the property of the very rich who had time
and money to use them.  The rest of those with time and access to water
used small craft like canoes,  sailing canoes and rowboats.  Yes they
went sailing but towed them in and out of the harbour when needed and
often had moorings where thay could sail to and away. There are still 8
meter boats with no power and they tow them to and from the race course.
Before tugs, they used rowed tenders to tow and put a ship into a dock.
As George says, to-day's harbours and docks are not the same design as
then and the skipper is expected to be able to get around within
to-day's designs.
    You should also remember that in 1900 the fastest vehicle on the
planet was a sailboat. Granted it sailed on hard water but there was
nothing that could go faster than an iceboat then. 100 mph was where
they were then and still are to-day. No auxiliary there either.
    Somewhere along the line, you will need to get it into your head
that maintenance of motors is not a chore but a necessary part of life
with machines. There is nothing quick and easy about it because of the
way engineers have designed them and then cut costs and corners to
manufacture them cheaply, so oil filters are at the back and under the
edge, lifting brackets are nowwhere to be seen, oil fill spouts are over
the head so spills get burned off etc. Go figure that this is part of
life on a boat. We are fortunate that we have not gone to computer
panels on these motors and that many of us still can cope with
rebuilding them ourselves with a good manual and a torque wrench because
we enjoy doing it, or because we want to, which includes keeping vintage
objects in a usable state. We are certainly not at the point where a
parts shortage forces motor replacement. It may be a question of $. So
be it.
    You also mentioned that you did not know of any small gas engines
currently made. Have you looked at any small gas engines that are in
lawn equipment that might fit? - anything from Yanmar, Kubota, Honda,or
Kohler? After all, the Kubota in the Beta and the Yanmar diesels are
used in places other than boats. John Deere does have a marine engine
division, but their blocks are also used in farm and forestry tractors.
Don
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