Systems & Propulsion

Winterizing an inboard engine installation means a lot more than filling the cooling system with antifreeze and stuffing a rag in the exhaust outlet. It means taking care of the exhaust system, the fuel system, the engine controls, and other components of the drive train, such as the shaft and prop. If you want to do these things yourself — none of them is difficult, only time consuming — plan on a long day of work, or perhaps a leisurely weekend. It's work that will pay off, however, both in im­proved understanding of your boat's propulsion sys­tem, and in money saved. At $25 per hour, the simple projects described here will save you about $200. Few special tools are required, and the only skill necessary is a modicum of common sense.

Just when you thought Practical Sailor had covered all marine head topics, we found another subject our readers are interested in: toilet paper. We followed up our reviews of marine toilets (PS, March 2011) with a look at some of the toilet tissues available for use in marine toilets and on-board sanitation systems. Practical Sailor evaluated 10 TPs from seven manufacturers: Coleman, Dometic, Kimberly Clark (Scott Paper), Thetford, West Marine, Camco, and Charmin. The test centered on well and how quickly the different toilet paper brands dissolved in water. TP that doesn't readily break down can eventually clog marine toilets, holding tanks, and the rest of the sanitation setup. The toilet tissues also were evaluated on tear strength, weight, softness, sheets per roll, and price per square foot.

The Catalina 30 is a remarkable success story. We suspect that more Catalina 30s have been built than any other boat of that size anywhere in the world. While the basic boat has remained unchanged since it was introduced in 1975, there have been dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of minor developments in the boat in the course of a production run that is approaching 4,000 hulls. The advantage of a boat in production for so long is a high degree of product refinement over the years. The challenge for the owner of an early version of the boat is to upgrade his boat to the standards of models currently in production.

The trend toward “smart” freshwater pumps has expanded into the realm of “intelligent” pumps. Today, sailboat water pumps monitor and respond to variations in freshwater systems and even identify problems and alert users. Practical Sailor tested 11 electric water pumps for boats from five manufacturers: Shurflo; Jabsco / ITT; Johnson Pumps; Whale Pumps; and Groco. We looked at pump performance, amp-usage, ease of installation, durability, features, and cost.

Our testing apparatus included a pressure gauge and shut-off valve rigged on an upright board that provided about a 6-foot lift—about the max for boats 40 feet or shorter. The rig has a 3/4-inch outlet with 3/4-inch hose leading down to a calibrated container; this permitted precisely timed runs to determine the actual gallons-per-minute flow. Pumps that offered multiple hose-diameter options were tested using the largest option.

Most test pumps featured “quick connect” input and output ports. These are easier than the threaded style to use, but we’ve seen instances where a bad design caused them to fail easily. Be sure to closely examine pump connections when choosing a pump. Quick-connect fittings should be robust and operate smoothly.

How far are we from Lithium-ion-powered boat engines? Practical Sailor is watching the developments of the lithium-ion battery in marine applications and hybrid electric-diesel engines for boats. In this article, we look at where the technology is currently and where the lithium-battery trend is heading. Mastervolt and Torqeedo are two of the major lithium-battery players in the recreational boating market. A third company, Valence Energy, is developing battery packs in both 12-volt and 19-volt configurations. PS also examines the differences in the lithium-ion chemistry, with a look at lithium-cobalt, lithium-cobalt nickel, lithium-iron phosphate, lithium-manganese, lithium-iron magnesium, or lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt blends.

A request for an electric-powered Alerion Express 33 prompted Pearson Yachts and Mastervolt to undertake the construction of an electric-propulsion version of the boat. The heart of the system is a pair of 160-amp, 12-volt DC lithium-ion-phosphate batteries from Mastervolt. The system also includes two 60-amp Chargemasters chargers designed for maximum efficiency.

When we last touched on electric propulsion conversion in September 2008, PS noticed several small companies catering to the niche. Among them was Above the Waterline Marine in Santa Barbara, Calif. (www.abovethewaterline.net). Owned by James Lambden, the company specializes in alternative energy systems; it also builds and markets an electric propulsion system, made by subsidiary Propulsion Marine.

Your September 2010 issue had a great article on electric bilge pumps. My Pearson 424 ketch has a bilge sump that has to be 4 feet deep, which would be a lot of water to move if it ever started to fill. In the article, you recommended a mix of a small pump for “everyday duty” with a couple of large-capacity backup units, you didn’t mention how to plumb these. Would each pump have to…