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When
I found my Tartan it had been neglected and out of operation for six years.
The companionway hatch had been left open and the boat had two feet of water
in it. The Atomic Four engine was under water with trash, garbage, wet
clothes and food floating everywhere. After laying out a plan for her refit,
I set to work stripping everything from the hull, and I mean everything
(except the toe rail).
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 First to come out was the old
Atomic Four, then the port side birth where the fuel tank is housed. The
engine bed and navigation station were modified, the fuel
tank cleaned and retrofitted for diesel fuel. All hardware was rehabbed,
powder coated and set-aside until all wood and fiberglass work was
completed. The hull and top deck were sprayed and the bottom barrier coated
and then all hardware reinstalled.
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It was now time to make the decision on what diesel
engine to choose. This was not an easy choice to make. I looked at all the
brands on the market.
 After comparing their dimensional characteristics I
discovered that the only engine that would fit into the Tartan’s engine space without
raising the engine cover was the Universal M-25 XPB. It was in fact designed
to replace the Atomic Four. Everything is in the correct place (starter,
exhaust, shaft output, raw water pump) for instillation in the Tartan.
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 After designing a set of angle
iron mounting brackets (one of the products we now offer at SailPace.com) to
hold the M-25 to the Tartan’s engine stringers, I set about solving the
problem of propeller diameter. Because a diesel engine runs at a lower RPM
it is necessary to increase the size of the prop. One way to accommodate
this increase is to add a strut to hold a large diameter, feathering
propeller, along with a longer shaft. That solution, though, is very
expensive and time consuming not to mention having to drill holes in your
hull. There is also the problem of aligning the new shaft.
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Our custom shaft extension (see
Products page for details) eliminates the need for a strut and feathering
prop, while keeping the cost down. You can complete the conversion for
approximately three hundred dollars ($300.00) worth of water lift muffler
products. Contact us for the name of the products I used to complete
my Tartan.
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After engine installation it was time to finish the
cosmetic work and to try out the finish assembly. It was clear from the
start that all the planning had paid off, because the boat performed
perfectly and reached hull speed with little effort, even in a head current.
My Tartan is proof that the products that I developed work to the desired
performance expectations. I invite any one who is thinking of starting this
process to view my test platform. Witness for yourself the advantages of my
design and installation process.
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Please tell me your
story at
captain@sailpace.com. |
