I had an interesting experience yesterday. I got to take a tour of a 86 foot long, 1944 vintage steel harbor tug still operating here in the Duluth, MN, harbor. It was built for the US Army during WWII. Interesting systems in the engine room. She is powered by a huge 8 cylinder Enterprise Diesel engine (about the size of a pickup truck) with direct drive on the prop  no gear. The engine thus is shut down and restarted in reverse to go astern. With modern electronic throttle controls, the captain said he can shift into reverse and restart the engine in about 2.5 seconds. All other ancillary and auxiliary systems on the boat are essentially electric. Hence, there are three Detroit Diesel gensets, and one has a huge direct-drive alternator bolted on the side. There are two large industrial-grade electric air compressors feeding two 150 gallon air tanks. The engine is started pneumatically, thus the need for plenty of reserve air and the compressors and gensets to power them. Interesting. Fuel tanks hold 16,000 gallons of diesel. Imagine the bill for fuel. Anyway, the captain uses the boat for some commercial tug services, though it is more of a hobby business. Great Lakes Towing is the major tug service on the Great Lakes. But Captain Ojaard picks up enough business to keep his old tug running. What I found particularly interesting is that the captain said he gets better fuel economy than a mutual friend of ours does in his 55 foot Ocean Alexander with twin Cat 3208s. David Sorenson Duluth, MN Still plenty of hard water ____________________________________________________________ Digital Photography - Click Now. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTDvmQpQGf8jkgbqmxW75UvZcWyJHhwpsnsoBFI181HFGOx0xyPCIA/