Choosing the engine for your narrowboat.
The
engine is the single most important component in your narrow boat. Whether
you want your engine hidden away, or on display as a "hobby project",
your choice of engine can make or break your trip. There are 5 major camps
of opinion regarding the choice of engine to install:
Modern Diesel
Obviously the most popular choice is the modern Diesel engine. Easy and
cheap to run, these are "High Speed" engines, running at around
two to four thousand RPM. These engines can be bought specifically for Marine
use, or a standard engine can be obtained and converted. When choosing you
engine, your best bet is to choose a higher powered engine, which will run
quieter, have power in reserve for emergencies or windy weather, and also
increase the sale ability of your craft when you finally decide it's time
to move on. The downside to this is that larger engines require a bigger
propeller, and thus your boat must lie lower in the water, meaning more
weight and resistance from the water in motion. Modern diesel engines will
fit easily under the deck of cruiser and semi-trad boats, and in a box in
the rear cabin in traditional barges.
Vintage Diesel
Increasingly popular among the traditionalists of narrow boating, these
engines are also becoming increasingly rare. It is still possible to find
these engines as many are being tracked down overseas, and returned to the
UK by several operators. Obviously vintage Diesels are more expensive to
find and maintain than their modern counterparts, and are also often less
powerful. They do however in general have a much lower speed, higher torque
and weight, and always provide that classic Diesel noise so many boaters
love. Many owners choose to show off their engines with side doors opening
directly onto the engine room to allow passers-by to see exactly what's
going on.
Steam
The Original form of mechanical propulsion for canal barges, Steam engines
have a huge number of drawbacks in the space they take up, and their fuel
store, but are often popular for the fantastically"retro" sound
and the smell of burning wood or coal. This is not an engine type for the
faint hearted, and it is recommended that you seek advice from a specialist
steam power organization before you embark on this massive task.
Electric
Another unusual method of propulsion for narrow boats, mainly due to a lack
of recharging points along the canal. There is a very limited range on electric
boats without recharging, and this has been a problem that prevents them
being a really mainstream consideration.
Outboard
Only a realistic consideration for the shortest of narrow boats, outboards
are a cheap propulsion option, with several distinct advantages. They do
not require a shaft, propeller or rudder, and there is no space taken up
inside the boat, however they do have a limited life span, run on petrol
which is often not readily available on the canal side, and are vulnerable
to theft.
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