It was interesting to read that Zeke Anderson on Texas Cookin' had his TV fall and die during his recent voyage, precisely the situation I am trying to avoid. Once, I forgot to move the TV onto the cabin sole before getting underway, and it fell off the entertainment center, but thankfully did not quit working. Just pure, dumb luck!

Any one ever use them in a "do or die" situation or are then all bought as toys? Any advice for or against purchasing? I picked up a cheap Gen I unit from Harbor Freight - can't beat $89.00 to try out a fantasy. It is a "Zenit" and seems to work acceptably. Appears to be Russian military surplus (or a knockoff).

But my idea that turbo diesels >had only a little advantage in fuel efficiency was based, among other >things, on the article on diesels on the web site provided by Michael Since this thread does not seem to be able to die a naturally aspirated death. I thought I would throw in another few cents worth.

The vents are so small and they are an invitation to bugs to camp/die in to the detriment of fuel intake flow rate. Richard

OTOH, the >noisy pump may be telling you that it is about to die. I've learned to do a couple of things that help check the fresh water system on the boat. If I leave the boat for a few days, I leave the water system preasureized, (with the power to the 12Vdc pump off).

The only beauty of a NiCad is that it will give up to 95% of it's capacity at the rated voltage and then it will die. 4. Nicads will develop a 'Memory'. If you discharge and charge it the same amount day after day it will not deliver it's full capacity much beyond what you are normally do on the daily basis.

If I have to we will hole up in Cathlamet or find some shelter to wait for the wind to die down. 30 I can live with, 50 is downright nasty, at 60 I would rather be somewhere else, at 80 or more it's everyman for himself. Here is the URL http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/Eureka/getproduct.pl?PDXCWFPQR

Well, I consider rechargeables a PITA because leaving them in a charger is not always good for the batteries, and replacing them is sometimes almost as costly as the basic radio, and they die off suddenly. Another aspect of my hand-held radio usage is that I rarely use one.

I do realize that should the tube break I would get an influx of air into the fuel system and probably have the engine die and then dribble fuel all over everything but what is different about that, than any other line / hose / fitting within the fuel system? Are they not all possible sources for leaks?

If the engine was selected properly so it wont die from the light loads in most displacement boats , its just a fuel burner, . In other words an engine that will live a certain time burning 3 gal an hour will only last 1/10 of that time when run at 30gph.