Checked with Yanmar
I certainly recieved a lot of advice on my question, but would like to clarify a few points. I checked with a a Yanmar service rep and it does more harm to the engine to run it at 2000 rpm or less than it does to run it at 3000 rpm. According the representative I can expect to get thousands of hours of good service from my engine running it like I do. However, for those of you that idle around continuously, you may be in for a suprise. Talk to your Yanmar rep. Second, I fully understand that the engine on a sailboat is a secondary source of power. Frankly, I thought that was a petty and condesending comment for anyone offering advice to make. When I can sail I do. Most of the comments I got about not worrying about speed etc. came from folks on the East coast. Obviously, you have never sailed in the inland waters of Puget Sound. Tide shifts here can be up to 18 feet between high and low tide creating terrific tide rips and currents. And, more often than I like, there is little or no wind to sail with. In some areas the currents nearly match hull spead and the tide rips create huge waves. Do you have any idea what it is like to be caught in a situation like that and not have your engine performing at its best? When the wind is not blowing would you suggest leaving the boat in the slip? For those of you that made suggestions on how to achieve max performance - thank you. For the rest- perhaps you should consider being less judgemental and more helpful. John
I certainly recieved a lot of advice on my question, but would like to clarify a few points. I checked with a a Yanmar service rep and it does more harm to the engine to run it at 2000 rpm or less than it does to run it at 3000 rpm. According the representative I can expect to get thousands of hours of good service from my engine running it like I do. However, for those of you that idle around continuously, you may be in for a suprise. Talk to your Yanmar rep. Second, I fully understand that the engine on a sailboat is a secondary source of power. Frankly, I thought that was a petty and condesending comment for anyone offering advice to make. When I can sail I do. Most of the comments I got about not worrying about speed etc. came from folks on the East coast. Obviously, you have never sailed in the inland waters of Puget Sound. Tide shifts here can be up to 18 feet between high and low tide creating terrific tide rips and currents. And, more often than I like, there is little or no wind to sail with. In some areas the currents nearly match hull spead and the tide rips create huge waves. Do you have any idea what it is like to be caught in a situation like that and not have your engine performing at its best? When the wind is not blowing would you suggest leaving the boat in the slip? For those of you that made suggestions on how to achieve max performance - thank you. For the rest- perhaps you should consider being less judgemental and more helpful. John
