I have a 1980 tall rig with a 5411. My boat didn't come with a tach, is the 5411 mechanically governed? I use to work on large diesel's where you could run them WOT and not be worried about throwing a rod. Thanku in advance, Shannon
5411 universal
- Thread starter burnswelds
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It has a governor that won't let it overspeed. On a C30 that little engine won't reach top rpm in gear anyway. Don't run it WOT in neutral though. I'm running a 5411 in my Columbia 36 with no tach, I run it balls out most of the time. I figure it's actually running at about 75% of redline. No visible smoke, just a little black soot on the transom which was worse with the 20hp Albin that came in the boat, so I don't think it's hurting it at all.
It will reach top RPM in gear if you are correctly propped. And 75% of max RPM is just a (low) normal cruising RPM for a diesel. Now, whether it will push a 10,300# boat to hull speed is another matter.
Indeed. My previous boat was a Catalina 30 with an M25XP. It was enough engine to move the boat nicely but was just about right. I agree that the 5411 is way too small.
Maybe it would be better for sailors that have a 5411 in a Catalina 30 to comment on them for specific reference. While the 5411 is well documented to be a lil' underpowered for the C-30, it is adequate for most conditions it will face. It will in fact move the C-30 to hull speed, IF the hull & prop are very clean & there is no major headwind & waves are 2 feet or less in height.
As far as running the engine, I would not recommend running the 5411, or any engine full WOT all the time. It will build up major carbon & soot deposits & will just waste fuel & pollute the air excessively. Once the prop is spinning at the max speed that the engine can produce, pushing the engine will not really make it perform any better, just work a lot harder.
The 5411 is a much maligned engine, but is in fact extremely reliable, very fuel efficient, and has proven itself to be as reliable as the venerable Atomic 4. Guys that put it down need to remember that that the C-30 is a SAILboat after all, & the engine was designed as an auxillary to get the boat in & out of the marina, not to be a motor sailor.
As far as running the engine, I would not recommend running the 5411, or any engine full WOT all the time. It will build up major carbon & soot deposits & will just waste fuel & pollute the air excessively. Once the prop is spinning at the max speed that the engine can produce, pushing the engine will not really make it perform any better, just work a lot harder.
The 5411 is a much maligned engine, but is in fact extremely reliable, very fuel efficient, and has proven itself to be as reliable as the venerable Atomic 4. Guys that put it down need to remember that that the C-30 is a SAILboat after all, & the engine was designed as an auxillary to get the boat in & out of the marina, not to be a motor sailor.