CHAPTER SIX

Powering

How Much Power Do You Need? POWER RATING YACHT TYPE ENGINE DISPLACEMENT

Having discussed sailing rigs, it is only fair to Light Bluewater cruisers and
ocean racers 5-8 cubic inches per ton
consider engines. First lets look at engines for sail-

boats and displacement motorboats.

Moderate Coastal cruisers and
As a general rule, most Amencan-built sailboats light powerboats 8-11 ci per ton

are overpowered. For economical cruising speeds

under power, assuming an efficient hull, 3 to 4 brake Generous Heavily powered
auxiliaries and moderate powerboats 12-15 ci. per ton
horsepower per ton of displacement is adequate, 5
b.h.p. per ton is ample, and 6 is often too much.
High Motorsailers and husk)'
One of my designs, a 40-foot LWL schooner of displacement cruisers 15-20 c.i. per ton
48,000 pounds (21.4 tons) displacement, cruises at

almost 6 knots with only a 30 b.h.p. engine, a mere a modem fiberglass 45-foot production planing
1.4 b.h.p. per ton. yacht from a round-bilge hull to a chine hull, I

A better guide to engine selection for sailing increased the speed by almost 10% and greatly
yachts and displacement powerboats is cubic inches reduced the stem wave.
of 'engine displacement per ton of boat displace- The following formula (courtesy of Arthur
ment. The accompanying table gives a general rec- Edmonds) seems to work well for planing yachts of
ommendation. good hull form:
Enough reser\'e power should be available to
V^ X Displacement (Pounds)
power engine-run auxiliary devices. Bilge pumps, b.h.p =
28750
refrigeration compressors, generators, hydraulic
pumps, and other auxiliaries can consume consider-
able b.h.p. on larger vessels.
Propeller Sizes
Powering planing hulls is different because so For displacement hulls, if efficiency is a prime
much depends on hull shape. Recently, by reshaping factor, the reduction gearing should be chosen to

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