| Re-powering |
| "matriarch" |
| As discovered in LaConner, Washington, the motor yacht "Legend" was in an advanced state of disrepair. Her former owner had been using her as an aquatic crash pad...permanently moored. Aside from the fact the she was afloat, most everything else needed remodeling, restoration or replacement. Of major concern were the engines, neither of which had been run in years. A quick inspection of both revealed that the port engine block was cracked and the starboard engine, full of water, was seized. She was a dying dowager queen...but she had the will to live ! |
| Although originally powered with Kermath Sea Raider flathead 6 cylinder gasoline engines, by the time we acquired the yacht, these 392 CID Palmer big blocks were in place but were no more useful than 800 lb paperweights. |
| The existing plumbing and electrical made the engine look like an octopus with an attitude. Some lines actually went from nowhere to nowhere. |
| We soon determined that: A) the engines would have to be replaced and B) a vessel with gasoline engines used for a cruise business was uninsurable. We would have to re-power with diesels...BIG cash outlay? Maybe not. Where can you find good running 300 HP marine diesel take-outs? Where else...Ebay! |
| After a 1,000+ mile transport from Massachusetts to South Carolina, the engines were thoroughly cleaned, compression tested, and re-painted Maserati White. The propeller shafts were too close together to allow the wide V8 engines to go in side by side. Also, the fuel tanks, which could not be removed or altered without removing the entire salon floor framing, were in a location that would not allow the transmissions to reach the flanges. After careful measuring, it became apparent that the engines would not fit unless serious alterations were made. |
| The original steel C-channel engine stringers were discarded in favor of 6" I-beams to support the additional 2,200 lbs of each engine. The original hangers were inverted to drop the mounting plates 2-1/2" which would allow the exhaust pipes to clear the decking but still give enough space for the oil pans to clear the bottom of the hull. New aluminum catch pans were fabricated and installed. Heavy rubberized engine mounts were located in Spain. They were positioned to allow each engine to be offset 2" to the outside. This would allow a calculated 3" clearance between exhaust manifolds. In order to clear the fuel tanks, the engines had to be positioned 23" forward. This distance was taken-up by 24" heavy duty V-drive torque tubes (marine drive shafts) which would also allow the propeller shafts to be driven at a 7 degree angle of approach. A crane was brought in and the engines were lowered through the roof of the building, the skylight opening in the salon roof and the hatches to the engine room in the salon floor. |
Port engine suspended in the salon
Starboard engine begins its' descent
| With the hatches and a 2' section of floor removed, the engines dropped in for a perfect fit at all points with 2-3/4" clearance between them. |
| The 24" torque tubes installed. Many said, "You can't do that. It won't work." Since re-launching, Matriarch's engines have logged over 1,300 trouble-free and vibration-free hours. |
| At 2,600 RPM's with 24x26 4-blade propellers, Matriarch reaches her flank speed of 21 kts. |
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| Site design by Progressive Graffix Inquiries 864-710-5870 |
| Purchased through Ebay and found resting in their wooden cradles at Martha's Vinyard, MA, this matched pair of Cummins V-903-M marine diesel engines were exactly what we needed... well, almost. |
"matriarch"
Re-powering