Range for inboard engine

Trevor,

As a rough guide, I normally work on 4 hrs per gallon or to be modern, an hour per litre.

I'm wondering why you are asking at this time in the season, planning a nice cruise for next year perhaps?

Graham

Thanks Graham, yes exactly that.  In the periods while I'm waiting for the varnish to dry I'm trying to work out how far I can reasonably travel from West Mersea.I've investigated going into the Broads but I have been put off by the requirements for inspections and such like.  I'm kitting up the boat with an autohelm and a new VHF/DSC and GPS chartplotter just to make single-handing a bit easier

I'm reckoning on a speed of 4 knots under engine or favourable wind, plus the tide. Its about 35nm to Ramsgate (I think). Doable in a day do you reckon?

I'd be interested if anybody has any views on passage planning.

Trevor,

I'm no great expert in long distance passages but I would have thought that 35nm or 9 hrs is just about as much as you would want to do in a day single handed. I suppose it all depends on the tide and the weather on the day.

Best of luck

Graham

Trevor,
This summer I completed a passage from North Cornwall to Chichester Harbour - 300nm. ( The full account should be appearing in the next Shrimper Owners Magazine). I would concur that 1 litre per hour is about right without flogging the engine to death. Do remember to carry plenty of spare fuel  - just in case. I placed one spare 5 litre can in the aft locker and had two more stored for'ard in the anchor well secured to the sprit. I note your other points re autohelm and navaids etc. I mainly used a handheld VHF although I did have a DSC down below. I used a Garmin handheld GPS which was brilliant. I don't think it's necessary on such a small boat to have fixed GPS instruments. I placed my charts in plastic covers on the engine cover and off we went!! I'd happily answer any other queries that you might have. Julian ( Bybyn-Bubyn 384)

Thanks Julian and Graham for your responses.  Julian, look forward to seeing your report, how long did that passage take?   Good idea about the fuel cans storage, thanks for that.

I think you're probably right about the GPS.  I've been a bit spoilt on bigger boats but on the Shrimper have only had a Garmin GPS 12. The cheapest chart plotter is around £350 which makes it an expensive toy.

Trevor, I used a Garmin GPS Map76Cx loaded with an English Channel chart chip. I could not fault it and with my Imray Charts we were fine. Take plenty of spare batteries - although having said that I think I used about 6 on my trip. I left Rock on July 2nd and arrived Bosham on July 16th. We got held up for a few days with gales. Net sailing time was 10 days. Julian

I use a Garmin 278 (can also be used in a car) mounted on a bracket just inside the cabin which can swing out for passage making into the companion way or detach and mount externally on a washboard in rough weather. It communicates with my tiller pilot steering to a course which is a god send as I'm almost always single handed. It also communicates with my VHF DSC meaning in an emergency I just press the big red button and my position from the GPS is relayed with the distress call.
 
I would never rely on all of this technology nor allow it to spoil the enjoyment of hands on sailing but using it judisciously can make you safer and less tired on a long passage - which also means safer again. On one occasion, a bank of dense fog appeared out of nowhere on passage around the rocky north coast of Guernsey.  My Garmin allowed me to focus my attention on keeping watch for rocks, depth sounder and fisherman's bobbers.
 
Hand held devices are OK but you often have to multi-task in the cock pit on your own so I prefer fixed instruments and have my hands free for sheets etc.
 
On nicer days it's good to go below and make a cup of tea without emerging to find the wind has changed and your going in the wrong direction!
 
Although I've never run out (don't enjoy bleeding the engine!) the info with my boat said 4 gallons capacity and to play safe I work on the assumption of  8 hours at sea cruising at 5 knots on a single tank but top it up every few hours from a portable container.

Pete
 

That's interesting Pete, which tiller pilot do you have? I'm assuming these things don't put a huge load on the battery?

For the Garmin 278 did you have to buy addition charts or did it come pre-loaded?

T

Trevor, the tiller pilot is a Raymarine ST2000 (highly recommend) and the load isn't a problem as when I'm sailing I tend to use it just occasionally for the odd break. I tend to keep it on more if I'm motoring and the engine supplies ample replacement charge to my single battery. I have also installed a battery condition monitor just to keep an eye on that.
 
My Garmin package came with BlueChart Atlantic v9 charts which cover Europe.

"A 1gm 10 uses about 1 litre per hour at 2600 RPM. This rises to about 1 3/4 litres at 3000 RPM."

http://www.flicka20.com/Data/Engines/Yanmar1gm10/tabid/726/Default.aspx

Best wishes,

Phil & Kim
Georgie Girl 572
Mylor

Thanks to Pete, Phil ad Kim for more useful engine data. Interesting article on Flicka.  I have to say I've had very little trouble with my Yanmar and that mainly through not using it enough. The yard engineer has told me I need to run it every time I go out for an hour.  I've had an impeller go which is a bit fiddly but doable.  Other than that so far so good!

Trevor

My guess is your Yanmar will run just fine even if not run very often provided your fuel is clean and free of air or water. The battery is the main consideration and if you use it to start the motor (big draw), you should run it for long enough to replenish the charge.

They are great little engines.

You may already know about this but just in case you don't, access to your impeller can be made much easier with a 'Speedseal' cover.

I wonder if anyone has considered replacing the 1GM with this:
http://www.nannidiesel.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28&Itemid=7&lang=en

...the Nanni-Diesel two-cylinder N2.10 with all major dimensions designed to enable a direct replacement for the 1GM.  We're told that two cylinders are better balanced and smoother running than single cylinders.  Our marine engineer sayes that the 1GMs have quite soft mountings and the motor 'bangs around' a lot, which ours does even with brand-new mounts (over £100 a piece!) a couple of seasons ago.

Phil & Kim
Mylor
Georgie Girl 572

I didn't know that!  What are they are where do I get one? I spent 90% of the time on the last change looking for the screw that fell into the bilges and then going ashore to scrounge another one.