I just remembered another factor separting the bigger boat experience from
yours.  Do you have a 3 blade prop?  The 3 blades make a big difference
converting the engine power to boat speed.

Josh
On Jan 12, 2015 10:45 AM, "Josh Muckley" <[email protected]> wrote:

> When you are experiencing heavy currents and can only go 3 kts to round
> the mark.  Is that 3 kts being measured by the gps or is it 3 kts measured
> by the speed log?  It sounds to me like it is 3kts by gps and if so then
> from all of the other listers comments and my own experience a larger
> engine would only allow you to proceed at 4kts.
>
> When people experience a mismatch between boat size and drive train
> performance it is most often experienced in heavy chop.  I believe there
> are two main factors at work in these "under powered" cases.
>
> The first is the diameter of the prop.  Smaller engines = smaller props =
> less bite in the water and when things get sloppy the prop slips and
> cavitates more.
>
> The second part is prop speed.  In order to use a smaller engine to do the
> same job the designers will gear it to gain mechanical advantage.  The prop
> will have to spin faster than its higher powered counterparts.  Faster
> prop=less bite and closer to cavitation.
>
> When these two factors are at play the speed log will slow
> disproportionately to the gps speed.  Everyone has probably experienced
> plunging the bow into a breaker and seeing the boat speed come down.  The
> question is how long does it take go recover.  These smaller props spinning
> at higher rpm slip and cavitate more so speed recovery is longer.  If the
> next breaker gets to you before the speed recovers....
>
> Remind me, your boat, Lolita?, has an A4 right?  Is it direct drive?  If
> my recollections are correct then you have a couple of things that set your
> experiences apart from what you could expect from a larger diesel powered
> boat such as a 37+, 38LF, or a 40.  Forgive me if my recollections are
> incorrect.
>
> First is that the gas engines don't have as much low end torque so when
> those breakers come and the boat needs to make up, the engine has a harder
> time coming back up to speed.
>
> Second, the direct drive (1:1) means that right from the start the prop
> has to spin much faster and an increase in load at the prop is directly
> felt as an increase in load at the engine.  There are no gears to help in
> having less low end torque so the prop pitch is much less as well, again
> meaning more cavitation.
>
> Third, being a shorter and lighter boat means that the breakers will cause
> the boat to hobby-horse around a lot more and also push the bow off
> requiring more helm.
>
> All of these factors make for a less comfortable ride and slower progress
> in the thick stuff.
>
> Good Luck,
>
> Josh Muckley
> S/V Sea Hawk
> 1989 C&C 37+
> Solomons, MD
> On Jan 12, 2015 7:10 AM, "Danny Haughey via CnC-List" <
> [email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I think my point is;
>>
>> Where we sail there are some pretty good currents and the chop picks up
>> quite often.  Sometimes, you have to make it home heading into both.
>> That's when you want the extra hp.  We sometimes have guests that get a
>> little nervous when the conditions get exciting and we try to get them in
>> as quickly as possible.  Sure, you can move along at hull speed in
>> favorable conditions but, the only time I'd be able to notice that the
>> stern dug in a few inches would be in the harbour, sometimes.  We almost
>> never experience flat water and are typically dealing with a 3 to 4 knot
>> current.  Sometimes it is our favor and usually try to time our trips so it
>> is.  But day sailing, I don't really care as much.  I sometimes could only
>> get 3 knots under full power trying to round a mark to get into a harbour.
>> That can be a little unnerving.
>>
>> Danny
>>
>>
>> From my Android phone
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: Chuck S <[email protected]>
>> Date: 01/11/2015 11:45 PM (GMT-05:00)
>> To: Danny Haughey <[email protected]>,"CNC boat owners, cnc-list" <
>> [email protected]>
>> Subject: Re: Stus-List C&C 37+ engine size
>>
>>
>> ". . . bigger is better. . . "?  Is a bigger booty better?  Will a bigger
>> anchor make my sailboat go faster?
>> What helps sailing is "no engine".   Light means flight.
>> Research the brochures and look to buy a boat with the "designed right
>> size engine", not bigger.  An upgrade would be a smaller diesel w a turbo.
>> Just sayin.
>>
>> Chuck
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From: *"Danny Haughey via CnC-List" <[email protected]>
>> *To: *[email protected]
>> *Sent: *Sunday, January 11, 2015 7:54:45 AM
>> *Subject: *Re: Stus-List C&C 37+ engine size
>>
>> Ok well, I guess it is adequate then.  I just tend to see 40 hp engines
>> in most 40 footers.
>>
>> Maybe not be the ideal and will be a bargaining point if it comes to that.
>>
>> Bigger is better in this instance I think...
>>
>> Thanks for the insights guys!
>>
>> Danny
>>
>>
>> From my Android phone
>>
>>
>> -------- Original message --------
>> From: allen via CnC-List <[email protected]>
>> Date: 01/10/2015 3:53 PM (GMT-05:00)
>> To: Robert Abbott <[email protected]>,[email protected]
>> Subject: Re: Stus-List C&C 37+ engine size
>>
>>
>> Our 30-2 has 20 hp Universal and easily reaches hull speed in light to
>> calm conditions.  Originally it was powered by an 18 hp Universal that
>> netted 16.
>>
>> Allen Miles
>> s/v Septima
>>
>>  *From:* Robert Abbott via CnC-List <[email protected]>
>> *Sent:* Saturday, January 10, 2015 3:41 PM
>> *To:* Danny Haughey <[email protected]> ; [email protected]
>> *Subject:* Re: Stus-List C&C 37+ engine size
>>
>> Danny:
>> Some say if you have one hp per foot of boat, you are adequately powered
>> for a sailboat.  A 35 hp diesel in a 37+ seems adequate to me.
>>
>> Rob Abbott
>> AZURA
>> C&C 32 - 84
>> Halifax, N.S.
>>
>>
>> On 2015/01/10 12:30 PM, Danny Haughey via CnC-List wrote:
>>
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> I'm eyeing a 1989 37+  but it has a 35 HP universal diesel.  That, seems
>> kind of small for a nearly 40' boat.  doesn't it?
>>
>> Danny
>>
>>
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>>
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