Litres per hour and the answer to a question

I have mentioned on the blog in the past that I don`t keep much in the way of records. Some boaters keep records of miles and locks travelled and all sorts of other things which is fine as we all travel through life in many ways.
Anyway i was on the CanalWorld Forum and someone asked what amount of diesel members boat engines used. Obviously all sorts of factors will need to be taken into account to get an accurate consumption, engine size, speed etc.
So filling up soon after this I kept the receipts and 67litres costing £63.05($95) over 53 hours of the engine running produced a figure of  1.26 litres per hour. This is roughly £1.18($1.80) per hour. That figure if cruising will not only move you to a different location but will give you hot water and electricity and most important a stress free life, bliss as Jaq sums it up.

Talking of engines and diesel reminds me of being asked via e mail about the power source aboard Nb Valerie. We have below the decks a 33hp  4 cylinder Vetus engine. It is basically a Mitsubishi  engine that has been marinised by Vetus. (pictured below left) To answer the readers power source question fully lets go below decks to look around.

Above this view of the engine shows the black oil filter and just out of site above it the fuel filter. The silver coloured thing is the electric fuel lift pump. All these 3 things are easily accessed for servicing as the above picture shows.

On the right is pictured the Eberspacher also located in the engine bay but operated from inside the boat. It is a diesel fueled boiler that supplies hot water to a storage tank and to four radiators in the boat. Our heating is mainly the wood stove but this boiler is ideal for a cold morning when the stove is not in use.






On the left is the weed hatch with the cover removed. It gives access to the propeller when at best some plastic bags and string or plants have become attached to the prop. At worst it could be anything from a car tyre to a blanket or carpet. The latter are best if attracted in summer as the amount of time your hands are in the icy water is considerable to cut away the items.

 

 

 

Last of the picture tour below decks is the rear end or to be nautical the stern. The yellow lump is the gearbox from which the prop shaft emerges. The shaft exits through the stern via a Vetus water lubricated bearing system. it has it`s good points but I find it drips water in every now and again no matter how much grease i insert as recommended between the seals.

The vetus replacement unit is very expensive but I have replaced the seals within the unit for just a few pounds from a bearing/seal centre.

The red canister top left is the fuel filter/water separator in the fuel line. Fuel passes through 2 more filters before it reaches the injector pump.

So there you are your questions answered. Please feel free to ask questions as in this case by e mail or even via comments. This is a great life but i am quite willing to share my experiences if you feel it could be the life for you.


Just like to say hello to the crew of `CASSIE TOO` who as they passed used sign language to ask how Jaq`s foot was.
Also the crew of `SOKAI` recent liveaboards who after a brief chat cruised off. Next time we can have a chat over a cup of tea but I`m sorry I was in the middle of tiling and had the wood stove removed and sitting in the cabin.