When Karl sets his mind on a project, it seems that anything is possible. So when he decided to build his own fishing boat, all 59 tonnes of her, constructing the shed first to house the project was not much more than a formality.
Some 18 months after construction began, Karl’s current fishing boat Karmin was launched. Designed by Alan Muir, the steel hulled Karmin also had a liberal amount of stainless steel work added to all the high wear areas where knocks and scrapes would chip paintwork and allow rust to fester.
In the engine room of the 16m vessel Karl initially installed a second hand Gardner diesel engine, a 6 cylinder 250 hp turbo charged engine that leaked oil every day during its 4 year life aboard Karmin. Eventually Karl decided that he had had enough and went looking for a replacement.
“Around the docks, fishermen talk,” Karl said. “Lots of word of mouth recommendations were coming through about Yanmar and I had seen a few at Glasgow Engineering, my local Yanmar agent.’
“Eventually I settled on the Yanmar 6HA2-HTE model which is a purpose built marine engine. I don’t like truck motors converted and fitted to my boats. My preference is for a mechanical controlled engine and one with a high torque characteristic at low engine RPM’s for when I am scalloping.”
The Yanmar 6HA2- HTE model is an in-line six cylinder marine diesel engine that displaces 13.14 litres and weighs 1340 kgs without the gearbox. Power output is rated at 350 mhp (259kW) at 1950 rpm. Cylinder block inspection hatches are standard equipment to facilitate maintenance together with a centre mounted fuel injection pump and mechanical governor system.
Since the engine swap was completed, Karl Krause has logged up 1500 hours over an 8 month period at sea.
“The difference between the old engine and my new Yanmar is amazing. I’m pulling 12’ scallop dredges at 1000 rpm and doing it so easily.”
“The Yanmar is driving through a 4.86:1 reduction gearbox and at a lazy 1200 rpm, I am getting 8.2 knots spinning a 52” x 45 prop.”
With the generator set and engine both drawing fuel from the same tank, fuel consumption figures are difficult to accurately record. Karl Krause reckons that the Yanmar is running on about 15.9 litres of fuel per hour over a 4 day trip. This is a saving of about 4 litres per hour over the previous engine.
Karl Krause fishes for crays, scallops and trevalla. Depending upon the season, Karmin will be at sea for two to three weeks at a time pulling up to 150 cray pots a day in summer and 100 a day in winter. During the scallop season, Karmin will be operating at sea for 24 to 30 hours at a time.
“Our fishing is varied but Karmin has all modern conveniences on board for the 6 member crew. We’ve even got Miele ovens and granite bench tops!”
“I am really pleased with my Yanmar engine. Compared to my old engine, the Yanmar is quieter, smoother and definitely not as hot in the engine room. I get lots of work out of the engine with very little maintenance.”
“Every 500 hours we change the oil and whip the old filters off and replace them. With the Yanmar supplied rotary pump we even do our servicing at sea, it is so easy.”
Power Equipment is the exclusive and authorised Australian and PNG Distributor of Yanmar Marine and Industrial Diesel Engines importing product from Yanmar plants in Japan, Asia, USA and Europe. Power Equipment also distribute the Yanmar powered MASE onboard diesel generators and Gori high quality folding sailboat propellers.
For further information on this story contact:
Michael Blair
National Marine Sales Manager
Power Equipment Pty Ltd
Tel (03) 9764 0711
Fax (03) 9764 0678
Email power.equipment@yanmar.com.au
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