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Burning gas!?

Discussion in 'Chris Craft Roamer Yacht' started by smcmanus, Jun 11, 2007.

  1. smcmanus

    smcmanus New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2005
    Messages:
    23
    Location:
    KY or MI depending on the season
    I spent Memorial day up on Lake Michigan, in my cabin. Not many boats out but it was absolutely beautiful weather for this time of year. I checked at White Lake MI and gas at the dock was $3.23 which was actually cheaper than the gas stations. Don't worry though, they jacked it up to $4 just as prices on the road started to drop a little.

    So I'm wondering how many of you are actually boating this year; at the dock or in drydock? How much gas are you burning at what speed? Is there a most economical cruise speed for your boat? Is there a point where gas prices keep you off the water?

    This has me thinking small diesel trawler instead of big Iron Roamer, but I digress. I have also been thinking of burning coal in a Roamer. Which model would have the most bunker space available? I need a cockpit for fishing. I also like the steel hull so I can weld attach points to the transom for the gasifier. I'm thinking a water cooled gasifier might be best for safety and to reduce bulk, but it would still need to be a large unit to supply 2 big blocks.

    Is there anyone interested in this concept? The gasifier would only work on gas engines and would probably reduce your max HP but it is possible and not overly complicated to make it dual fuel and retain gasoline capability for high speed runs.

    No, I'm not kidding. I may be a little nuts though.:rolleyes:

    Have a nice day
    Steve

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  2. alloyed2sea

    alloyed2sea Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2004
    Messages:
    871
    Location:
    Alex, VA
    Remember the Maine

    "At 9:40 on the evening of 15 February, a terrible explosion on board shattered the stillness in the harbor - virtually obliterating the forward third of the ship. The remaining wreckage rapidly settled to the bottom of the harbor. Most of the crew were sleeping or resting in the enlisted quarters in the forward part of the ship when the explosion occurred. Two hundred and sixty-six men lost their lives as a result of the disaster: 260 died in the explosion or shortly thereafter, and six more died later from injuries.

    Spanish officials and the crew of a nearby steamer acted quickly in rescuing survivors and caring for the wounded. The attitude and actions of the former allayed initial suspicions that hostile action caused the explosion.

    A board of inquiry was immediately formed to determine the reason for the destruction. The inquiry, conducted onsite, lasted four weeks. The condition of the submerged wreck and the lack of technical expertise prevented the board from being as thorough as later investigations. In the end, they concluded that a mine had detonated under the ship. The board did not attempt to fix blame for the placement of the device.

    When the Navy's verdict was announced, the American public reacted with predictable outrage. Fed by inflammatory articles in the "Yellow Press" blaming Spain for the disaster, the public had already placed guilt on the Spanish government. Although he continued to press for a diplomatic settlement to the Cuban problem, President McKinley accelerated military preparations begun in January 1898 when an impasse appeared likely.


    In 1911 the Navy Department ordered a second board of inquiry after Congress voted funds for the removal of the wreck of Maine from Havana Harbor. U.S. Army engineers built a cofferdam around the sunken battleship, thus exposing it, and giving naval investigators an opportunity to examine and photograph the wreckage in detail. Finding the bottom hull plates in the area of the reserve six-inch magazine bent inward and back, the 1911 board concluded that a mine had detonated under the magazine, causing the explosion that destroyed the ship.

    Technical experts at the time of both investigations disagreed with the findings, believing that spontaneous combustion of coal in the bunker adjacent to the reserve six-inch magazine was the most likely cause of the explosion on board the ship. In 1976, Admiral Hyman G. Rickover published his book, "How the Battleship Maine Was Destroyed". The admiral became interested in the disaster and wondered if the application of modern scientific knowledge could determine the cause. He called on two experts on explosions and their effects on ship hulls. Using documentation gathered from the two official inquiries, as well as information on the construction and ammunition of Maine, the experts concluded that the damage caused to the ship was inconsistent with the external explosion of a mine. The most likely cause, they speculated, was spontaneous combustion of coal in the bunker next to the magazine.

    Something to consider.:rolleyes:

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  3. smcmanus

    smcmanus New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2005
    Messages:
    23
    Location:
    KY or MI depending on the season
    Hazardous fuels

    I agree that coal is flammable. So is gasoline or diesel fuel. Gasoline is the worst. One of the reasons I'm thinking of using a Roamer for the prototype is the steel hull. The bunker area would be partitioned off with plate and I'm thinking of a CO2 flood in the bunker.

    My total knowledge of the Roamers is from your most excellent web site:D . Which model do you think affords the most useable bunker space? I'll be making the gasifier and testing it on a big block Ford truck engine before considering installing it on a boat.

    Either everyone is out on the water or everyone has given up on boating for the year. I'd appreciate some cruise speed and consumption info if you have a few seconds. I'm trying to figure out how many CFM I have to produce to power your Roamer. If you can post cruise RPM and speed I can figure the rest.

    I might add that significant fuel savings could also be attained with variable mixture control carburetors. Is anyone out there fiddling with mixture?

    Have a nice day
    Steve

    PS, just a small sample for your reading pleasure:
    http://www.danerd.com/media/93_explode+boat.fire+fall+hurt
    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19031319/
    http://www.krcg.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=36779
    http://www.ktvu.com/news/13400414/detail.html
    http://starbulletin.com/2007/04/22/news/
    http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=12874&z=3
    http://www.smh.com.au/news/National...-boat-explosion/2005/01/01/1104345032352.html
    http://www.nbc30.com/news/2301448/detail.html
    http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3236&urlarea=incidents
    http://www.click2houston.com/news/9287189/detail.html
    http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Apr/21/br/br0961385274.html
    http://www.topix.net/city/las-vegas-nv/2007/05/4-hurt-in-lake-mead-boat-explosion
    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E4D9123BF93BA3575AC0A963948260
    ETC............
  4. Shangri-La

    Shangri-La Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2006
    Messages:
    146
    Location:
    Pensaukee, WI
    Wow!

    WOW... A coal burning Roamer. That would be something to see. I'm in Sheboygan, WI. The gas prices here are $3.59 on the river and $3.72 at the marina last I checked. We haven't done any cruising yet this year.. mainely fishing. Our Roamer is co-owned by 2 couples so the way we look at it fuel prices for each of us is only half the pump price.:cool:
  5. smcmanus

    smcmanus New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 1, 2005
    Messages:
    23
    Location:
    KY or MI depending on the season
    What speed do you troll?

    What speed? We use around 2 knots on the cannon ball on Lake MI for Coho:eek: and such. If you are trolling that slow, do you run one engine at a time? What is your fuel burn rate while trolling:confused: What RPM and size engine(s)?

    I see very few boats out on the water.:mad:

    Have a nice day
    Steve
  6. Shangri-La

    Shangri-La Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 15, 2006
    Messages:
    146
    Location:
    Pensaukee, WI
    We run 2.5 to 3 mph to troll using 1 of the MerCruiser 454's @ 700 rpm. We'll run 1 engine for around 2 hours then switch the other engine for 2 hours to keep the fuel tanks level. I'm guessing we burn around 2 gallons/hour while trolling. There are several boats out from Sheboygan with most of the big boats being charters. We're about the only big non-charter out there though. Since 2 of us share the fuel cost it’s not bad. My thoughts if gas got to be unaffordable to weld a deeper keel on her, put a mast on her then I’d have a Roamer motorsailor.:D
  7. roamertim

    roamertim Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2005
    Messages:
    31
    Location:
    Cincinnati Pool, Ohio River
    Here on the Ohio River, we haven't stopped boating. We do take fewer long trips though. We used to be at Laughrey Island every weekend where this year, we're skipping a couple. We're lucky enough to have plenty of great riverbank to nose into so we spend some weekends there, a bit closer to home this year. It's going to have to hurt more than gas is now for us to stop, I'll tell ya that. It's just too nice out there to stop.
    I am looking for alternatives though.... My 38 gets just about a mile per gallon, as do most.

    Watching with interest on this thread.
    Good topic!
  8. wally erickson

    wally erickson New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2004
    Messages:
    24
    Location:
    san diego
    Shangri-La, Your famous! (As if you didn't know) Last page in the BoatUS magazine July 07. A small picture of your green Roamer or as they say your "35' Chris-Craft"
  9. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2005
    Messages:
    7,388
    Location:
    My Office
    Hi,

    I would like to say as an experienced steel boat person that I just this last week enjoyed a jaunt around Seattle looking at boats and the area in general in a fully wood 1950 Chris Craft with twin 454's.

    I understand it was reworked from original 350's where the engines were sold on E Bay with the counter rotator going like hot cakes.

    This boat lives in a shed under cover and is an amazing example of a long surpassed craft- the simple wooden boat.
  10. alloyed2sea

    alloyed2sea Moderator

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2004
    Messages:
    871
    Location:
    Alex, VA
    Gas burns/explodes great!

    Nothing more to add about the coal/fuel economy issue presently - I would direct folks attention to these URLs regarding fire/EXPLOSION safety on board.
    Never hurts to run those bilge blowers (especially with family onboard). :eek:

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