Bart Hodge said: >>Friends with a single engine trawler, a Grand Banks, argue that twin engines are a headache and do not really provide the >>redundancy because most diesels quite due to bad fuel or clogged filters. They say both engines would die at the same time, >>anyway. It would seem to me that once one quit and there might still be a significant time lag until the second one quit. >>Maybe time enough to get the problem sorted out. I'm wondering if any of you twin-engine trawler people have had any >>experience with one engine continuing to run after the other had quit? Three times on my old boat, which had twin Hino diesels, we ran on one engine when the other one failed. Once was due to an oil pump leak (God knows what good fortune made me look in the bilge at that point, but we ran that engine in neutral for the balance of the trip, as it seemed only to leak when in gear.) The second time was due to the failure of the safety solenoid on one engine. We were at anchor in a crowded harbor, and only one engine started. Later on Hans walked me through a "hot wiring" session over the phone and I got it started. And finally the third time we had a clogged fuel Line on one engine due to rough going in heavy seas. We throttled back on the good engine, and limped into port under the mantle of the blackest storm clouds I ever want to see. Isolating the fuel tanks didn't work that time as the real culprit was the fuel pickup hose, which had too fine a screen at the end of it. I'm sold on two engines. One doesn't get you there as quickly as two or with the same maneuverability, but by golly it gets you there! Peggy Carr Bjarno "Aqua Vitae" 1986 Albin 43' Kent Narrows, MD

"....the real culprit was the fuel pick-hose, which had too fine a screen on the end of it." The fuel pick up hose should not have ANY screen on the end of it. That is what the primary fuel filter is for. It is far easier to change a filter than access and remove and replace the pick up hose. Most responsible builders do not permit a screen on the fuel pick up hose or tube. Then there is the issue of maintaining clean fuel, etc. Bob Petrie "NOEL" Nordic Tug 32 Port Townsend, WA