diesel engine conversion/another way

Sean B · Post by **Sean B** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 4:26 am

quote:Originally posted by franklyprice Well today I officially have a diesel Bertram. She splashed this morning and the sea trial went very well. So far a cruise of 23 to 24 KTS and incredibly smooth and powerful. At 22 KTs you have to hange on when you hit the throttle, the accelleration is almost instant to 29 KTS. I am very pleased. I have some good pics of the install and such, will post them, or have someone post them for me soon. I still have a lot of clean up to do before Plymouth but it's coming along. Frank that is great news. I'm glad you were able to get everything to come together. Looking forward to the pics too. I've yet to see what 6BTA's look like installed in a late model SF, but I bet they fit really nicely. You've got to love those speed numbers too. I'm curious: did the heat exchangers end up under the forward area fixed top of the engine boxes? That's how it goes with the bigass 3208's and the late model SF engine boxes, and it's a serious access problem. If so I have info to share about how to do an acid cleaning of the heat exchangers in place. You shouldn't need that anytime soon though. One day I suppose I might be installing those same engines in my boat too.... now I know where to go look for inspiration. Congrats again

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 6:24 am

Well Frank that is a city where you grew up. I grew up in Owego, just west of Binghamton. In the sticks. My Dad owned the Chevy dealership there. I was very familiar with the Catskills and the "Concord". But I grew up in boats. My parents had a big cruiser on Cayuga Lake , and later a cottege in Laural Lake ,Pa. You are right ...good place to be from. Gene Dugan Boca Raton, Fl. "Nauti Marie" 1989 33 FBC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:29 am

Gene... After high school I went to Broome Tech in Binghamton.. did not graduate though.. then left that area for Boston in the early 60s. Spent three years in Maryland just outside of Wash DC and returned to Boston with my wife. Then about 4 years ago we got tired of the cold weather and moved south. My interest in boats sort of started with my step-father who was Chief Engineer on tug boats in NYC harbor. Occasionally I would spend a week with him on a tug.. they gave me an old tee shirt and a can of Brasso and had me polish every brass thing on the boat. I never got serious about personal boating until I got involved in sailing in MA.. and never looked back. Retirement is great.. but I can't figure out how I ever found the 50-60 hours a week I needed to devote to my business when I was self employed. Now I tell people I am self unemployed!

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:43 pm

Sean, The heat X isn't under anything, it's on the side of the engine.. The coolant fill tank is under the bulkhead but it has plenty of room(about 6") to top it off. The access to everything is perfect. Better by far than the old 454's. Anne and I put about 8 hours on them the other day and it's just fantastic.The acceleration is like a ski boat.

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:40 am

Great job and congrats Frank. Sounds like a world of difference between the 454's & the Cummins. Hope to experience myself someday. I'd love to know how much more range you picked up in the process someday. Rick Ticket 85 SF Merc 454 MPI's Falmouth, MA

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:12 pm

Frank asked me to post a few pics of the install. Port engine going in. Frank on the left & my best view on the right. There was another guy down in the bilge in the center. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/IMG_0006.jpg[/img] Almost in here. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/IMG_0011.jpg[/img] Frank getting ready to dive in. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/IMG_0014.jpg[/img] If you look carefully, you can see a little flash of red on the port side. That is Frank. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/IMG_0016.jpg[/img] Frank is really getting into it now. Look closely. [img]http://www.bertram33.com/images/uploads/IMG_0017.jpg[/img] After learning on the stb, the port went in much easier. Frank had everything all set up & ready. The engine mounts he fabricated are almost a work of art. I'm still amazed he is in the water & running strong already. Al GREAT JOB FRANK!!!!!!!!!

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:46 pm

Nice pics! It's a sweet install, the whole set up is mint. I know Frank is looking forward to showing the gang in Plymouth this weekend. See you there!!!!!!!

mistersea · Post by **mistersea** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:14 pm

Frank, Your boat was beautiful last year and more so now. I was visiting in Mass a little over a year ago and was driving around and caught a glimps of a clean 33 (your boat) sitting at the dock. I pulled over and parked, with my wife and kids waiting in the car, went over to check her out. She really looks nice and deserves those new engines and all the work you put into the project. Enjoy, Robert

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:30 pm

Thanks guys./ Thanks Al for posting them for me and thanks for your help with the install. They were a squeeze, weren't they?

chip51maker · Post by **chip51maker** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 8:10 pm

Hi Frank Harry Babb here.........looks like you did a great job rebuilding and repowering your Bertram ! ! ! Funny story........A while back I was cruising around on Youtube....I did a search for diesel engines then more specific Cummins engines and one of the videos I watched was some guy starting a 6BTA engine. Tonight I was following this series of post about your repower and came across the link to Youtube that featured your Cummins startup.......Never knew that I was watching you a couple of months ago......congrats on a good job.........feels really good to hear them run doesn't it?? Harry Babb

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 7:53 pm

Hi Harry, Glad you saw the pics and the video. Yes it does feel good to hear them run and I keep pinching myself that they run the same every time . I kind of half joke that they might break down on the way home or something but they are just as consistent as anything I've ever seen(so far). Certainly the best thing so far that I've done to a boat. Now hurry up and get yours done...

chip51maker · Post by **chip51maker** » Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:29 am

Frank Recently I have been devoting a lot of time to the exhaust system. My new plan is to stay on the hill this winter.......then launch in the early spring.....hopefully in time for Cobia season. I am really happy to hear that you are very satisfied with your repower.......sounds encouraging....I have always thought that it is the right thing to do. We are dodging hurricanes/tropical storms right now........Fay was not much to us at all (at least right here on the Alabama Coast) but Gustavo looks like one to be concerned about. Harry

Brian Davin · Post by **Brian Davin** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:03 pm

Frank, I'm disappointed I only saw the engines from a distance in Plymouth ... we were late for a breakfast rendezvous. Next time I'd love to take a peak, they look impressive! Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Yanmar 370's Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:06 pm

The last quick trip of the season for me is the trip from the boat's slip in Gloucester,Ma. to the town where I live, Rowley, up the river and then hauled to my yard. This video is kind of the sequel to the video of my engine first starting. I took it last October and my son just got around to editing it for me, so I thought I'd post it here. Near the end of the vid. the sound is really weird but if you listen you can hear the egines screaming at wide open throttle. I think the high frequency of the turbos was too much for the mic. 2500 RPM was OK but that blast at around 3000 was evidently hard for the camera to copy, at least with the engine boxes open. I know it's kind of lame but I like listening to the engines spool up. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR_nH0eMa-Q

BECCA ROSE · Post by **BECCA ROSE** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 4:28 am

Warp speed is hard to pick up on film. Good video