Push Start a Sailboat?

[a64pilot]

First one that comes to mind that you can't push start is the old two speed slip and slide Powerglide which came about around 1950 I think, the old Powerglide is very robust and you still see many on drag strips.

I would have bet by 1965, you couldn't have push started any automatic, but I'd obviously been wrong.

[a64pilot]

So who's gonna rig up a Milwaukee as an emergency starter? I bet it would work
I would, but I don't have decompression on my Yanmar, or at least I don't think I do.

[Panope]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

First one that comes to mind that you can't push start is the old two speed slip and slide Powerglide which came about around 1950 I think, the old Powerglide is very robust and you still see many on drag strips.

I would have bet by 1965, you couldn't have push started any automatic, but I'd obviously been wrong.

Actually, the 65 Chevy that I mentioned has a Powerglide and not only does it push start fine, my owners manual spells out the procedure for doing so. Sorry for the contradiction

Steve

[Matt sachs]

I dont see this ever happening, think about it, does your engine turn over when at hull speed?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

I dont see this ever happening, think about it, does your engine turn over when at hull speed?

It just might, if you could dump all the compression, dumping the compression is the key here, then just maybe if you could get it to a high enough RPM so that inertia would carry it through a couple of compression strokes, it might well run.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Panope

Actually, the 65 Chevy that I mentioned has a Powerglide and not only does it push start fine, my owners manual spells out the procedure for doing so. Sorry for the contradiction



Steve

With a little looking, you have one of the very last rear pump Powerglides they discontinued the rear pump in about 65, although a later model Powerglide could be modified to push start, it's often done on race cars
http://www.tciauto.com/tc/powerglide...start-kithtml/

[sailorchic34]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Sorry have to disagree and this is the yacht, although not my photo. It was called British Soldier but had to be re-named Sabre when we started to interfere in countries we had no right to. Anyway on rough down wind trip from Weymouth to Portsmouth along the Jurassic Coast the engine repeatedly bumped started. I think they had a Perkins in them at the time with a 3 blade prop offset to Port. Needed about 10 knots so surfing down a wave would do it just nicely and when you least wanted extra speed.

Pete

Ah, I I had forgotten surfing down a wave. That would do it, depending on engine and transmission ratio. Bet that was exciting..