The Tryanny of the Temporary

[Joe Myerson]

I don't give a darn about wind instruments (a breeze on your face and a thread of yarn on the stay will do nicely thank you very much), I'm not about to give up on my "simple" diesel engine.

Count me in there, Hilbert. I gave up on my Windex after having to replace it every season after the local osprey hatchlings bent the vane. But my noisy little one-cylinder Yanmar keeps chuggin' along. Somebody, on this board I believe, once said that engine was "as complicated as an anvil."

--Joe

[mgphl52]

While I don't give a darn about wind instruments (a breeze on your face and a thread of yarn on the stay will do nicely thank you very much)...

I agree! And if yarn cannot be had, bare nipples work nicely as well...

[John Stone]

Well sure a good diesel is usually pretty reliable. So, my thoughts about unnecessarily complicated and unreliable equipment does not normally extend to diesels.

But now that you mention it, I happen to have a very good friend having a whole lot of trouble right now with a new diesel. It’s out of warranty as it was installed during his multi year boat build. Serious aggravation and expense.

And I recall we had a Cape Dory couple up at Robinhood last year that had a lot of trouble with a newly installed diesel, installed by “professionals” no less. And let’s not forget all the moaning on the forum about stuffing boxes, cutlass bearings, shaft logs, exhaust elbows, and excess smoke in the exhaust or the troubles so many folks seem to have finding reliable mechanics to fix these problems.

And here I was seriously thinking again about installing a small diesel in the Far Reach ... I think I just changed my mind.

[Carl Thunberg]

Joe - I had the exact same thing happen to my Windex. The nice thing about Ospreys though, is they never poop on the deck. I just have to pick the fish carcasses off the deck. It's better than seagulls or cormorants.

I however, replace mine. I use the Windex as a reality check of my sail trim, to see if I'm pointing to maximum efficiency. If the telltales are all streaming when close-hauled and I'm still not pointing high enough, it means I need more backstay tension and mast rake. It helps having an adjustable backstay and a flexible mast (there are a few advantages to being a Brand-X sailor). Without the Windex, I'm really just guessing at backstay tension.

[Tom Keevil]

As the complexity of a system approaches infinity, the time between breakdowns approaches zero.

[mgphl52]

As the complexity of a system approaches infinity, the time between breakdowns approaches zero.

Heheh... reminds of my signature quote... see below.