Interesting, as I had not really thought about a VW diesel. I was really thinking more along the lines of a gasoline engine. It need not be a high reving thing. An old Chevette engine would likely do if I could find one that was intact. It only needs something like 25 HP at 2000 RPM if memory serves correct. I don't have the article in front of me. The hull shape is such that more power won't really help much in terms of speed.
Randy B -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Zeitgeist Sent: Wednesday, March 15, 2006 4:35 PM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] OT Boats I think a company called Pathfinder Marine used to market a kit to install a VW diesel engine in a boat. Since they're relatively inexpensive, robust and plentiful, they'd be an interesting choice. I think the later 1.6L NA w/hyd lifters would be ideal. On 3/15/06, R A Bennell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Anyone on here read Wooden Boat magazine? Most recent issue has an > interesting article on a boat designed by Atkins (if I recall correctly) > called in his plans, Rescue Minor. It is an interesting hull configuration > that will run in about 6 inches of water. The original design (from a long > while back obviously) called for a 4 cylinder engine. The author of the > article/builder in this case modified the design substantially (using strip > and epoxy for curves in place of plywood with sharper corners) and installed > a modern 3 cylinder Kubota diesel engine. > > My reason for bringing this up, apart from the fact that it is an > interesting article and I would be happy to "chat" with anyone who has or > will read the article to try and pick their brains, is to seek some advice > on an alternate engine source if I were to build one of these things. What > would be a good modern engine to drop in if one did not wish to spend the > kind of money required to purchase a new Kubota type engine. The fuel > economy on it is apparently great - about 1/2 gallon per hour at 17 mph > loaded or empty. It might not justify the cost of the engine in my case > given how much I might use it. I might be happier to acquire a cheap used > engine of some sort. An MB diesel would likely be too heavy. Most modern > small car engines are rather complex what with the FI computers etc. One > wonders how successful a transplant into a boat might be. So that would > leave one looking for an older small 4 cylinder car engine maybe and the > carbed versions are becoming much more scarce. Casey Olympia, WA Biodiesel: "I drive in a persistent vegetative state" '87 300TD intercooler (211k) '84 300D (211k) Gashuffer: '89 Vanagon Wolfsburg Edition (187K) _______________________________________
