Throttle Adjustment

[Pura Vida]

One of the thing I have noticed sailing OPB (Other People's Boats) is how people have set up their throttles. Some allow the operator to set the throttle and leave it at that RPM while others return to idle when released or cause the engine to stall entirely. It seems that this second method almost always has an assist to keep the throttle at the desired setting, frequently a bungie cord. I'm looking for pro and con opinions on each practice.

[Comfortably Numb]

Hey PV

I replaced the TM controls on our boat this year for that very reason. It just seems disconcerting that you'd have to jury rig your throttle with a bungee cord. I think a lot of people resort to this instead of replacing worn throttles as most are intended to stay in the set position. The TM controls have a series of friction plates to hold the position and eventually they wear out beyond the ability to adjust them.

I've seen too many return springs on carbs that have enough pull to return the throttle to idle. Why that happens is usually a problem with returning to idle due to worn or corroded cables or too many bends in the cable enroute from controls to engine causing more resistance.

Pro for bungee cord controls: Cheap, good indicator for next owner on level of maintenance, or lack thereof, the boat has received.

Con for bungee cord controls: Cheap, could it be a hazard in an emergency? Dunno, maybe.

Rick

[S/V Elusive]

A dock mate of mine has his throttle controls set so that it is possible to go past idle and kill the engine ( it is diesel, so I'm presuming that this is a design function?). I would find this to be dangereous - such as when trying to maneuver by using forward & reverse - too easy to stall the engine. He has, apparently, become adept at getting it just right, but what has happened before (and potentially in the future) is that someone else is driving and attempts to set to idle and the engines dies.

I know that when I shift the tranny in any direction, I push the throttle to idle before doing so - I count on the stop to position the throttle correctly. This is critical for my boat (modified full keel and heavy displacement) when trying to turn in tight situation using prop walk.

[never monday]

Usualy a throtle that returns automaticly is worn out. It needs to be replaced or repaired. THere are tensioning devices that can be added but will only be a band aid.
Some early Westerbeke and Universals had a cut off that was activated by pulling the lever beyond idle. They've since revised this.

[S/V Elusive]

Thanks Pat - always comforting to know there is a professional diesel mechanic floating about.

[Pura Vida]

Thanks for the input. On the one hand it seems plausable that a single hander would want the boat to idle or better yet die if he unintentionally left the controls. On the other hand if that safety feature was constantly overriden by a bungie then what is the use?

[never monday]

There were many hours during my delivery. We would set the throtles and walk away. I think a deadman throtle would induce fatigue in a sailor, even singlehanding. Having a proper throtle that hold speed so you can get up and strech is more beneficial. It would be fairly easy to rig a dead man to a teather for use in rough weather.

[S/V Elusive]

If you are single handing, you are most likely harnessed in - it really wouldn't do you much good to wear a life vest if you seperate from your boat. Even with some sort of dead man switch, in seas enough to have you part ways with your boat, the time the boat would "slow down" could be too far to swim (provided you are capable of doing so). Even 'idle' would likely have the boat making 2 to 3 knots. And, while an Olympic swimmer might do that for a couple of hundred feet (in warm water?) - well, I don't think that "we" are Olympic swimmers (in Olympic condition).

[Alan Wheeler]

Depends on the probability of Sharks in the water Thomas. See shark? See me break all records! ;-)

Two Men were running from an angry Bear. One yells to the other, "Hey! we can't outrun a Bear". The other replies, "I don't have to outrun the Bear, I just have to outrun you!"

[S/V Elusive]

ahhhh friendships - so fragile ...

[delmarrey]

A ture friend would give his life for you. :kissy:

Oooops! we're OT now!

Hey Alan, What are you doing up so late? Sat. night party?..................._/)

[Pura Vida]

Originally Posted by S/V Elusive

And, while an Olympic swimmer might do that for a couple of hundred feet (in warm water?) - well, I don't think that "we" are Olympic swimmers (in Olympic condition).

Hey I did get the Mile Swim patch in Boy Scouts. OK, so I was last out of a troop of 200 kids but I did get it. And I think my shape has changed to make me more bouyant since then.

But the point was well taken. I was considering this before I headed to the boat this morning and thinking that the real difference a deadman switch makes is watching the boat float away slowly, not quickly. And yea,m I do wear a harness... well most of the time...

[Alan Wheeler]

No not up late, up too damn early.