CONTINUOUSWAVE

I'm putting this in the GAM as a general discussion as it's not a repair, modification or performance question but a question on the diesel engines, specifically the Cummins diesels in a 1990 Boston Whaler 31. From what I've found out (and Chuck Bennett at Boston Whaler didn't have an answer), there are only 45-50(?) of these 31s out there, some have diesels, some have gas engines. So my audience might be 25 diesel Whaler owners. Or, some of you Whaler owners have bigger boats with diesels.

I'm still working on buying a 1990 Boston Whaler 31 (in previous discussions here) with twin 300 HP Cummins diesels. In the picture below, just forward of the black knobbed clutches on the port side of the helm are two "T-handles" that I've always referred to as "emergency shut-offs" for the diesels. They were on my Dad's 42' Post with diesels (Dad's T-handles were labeled "Diesel Emergency Shut-off") and I've seen the T-handles on other diesel boats. Aboard the 31 I'm looking at the owner's rep stated they are trolling valves for the engines/transmissions. Pull them out and the boat can be slowed to 2 knots on one engine (salmon trolling speed).

Any of you guys know what these T-handles are?

Thanks.

JimP

The diesel boats I've had experience with would make me guess fuel shut offs. Turning the key off on the diesels I've run didn't shut the fuel off or shut the engine down. Had to pull on a T handle hooked to a cable that went to the fuel injection pump.

There is a 31' diesel Whaler in the marina where we buy our gas.

Con

Diesel emergency shut-off controls often consist of a pull handle, control cable and air or butterfly valve to shut off the combustion air supply to the engine. The advantage of the mechanical shut-off system is low cost, low maintenance, and high reliability.

The handles pictured could be either shut-off valve control handles or trolling control handles. If the controls are for air shut off it is usually easy to see the linkage connected to the cable on the air intake system. They are often located very early downstream of the air cleaner or silencer. If the controls are not for engine shut-off the probable purpose is to control trolling valves.

A Cummins dealer of technician should be able to supply an answer if you can't look at the boat.

Thanks guys.

Guess I'll have to trace the cables the next time I visit the boat.

The next questions become:
If they're trolling valves, where are the emergency shut-offs?
If they're emergency shut-offs, where are the trolling valves?

JimP

jimp wrote:I'm still working on buying a 1990 Boston Whaler 31 (in previous discussions here) with twin 300 HP Cummins diesels. In the picture below, just forward of the black knobbed clutches on the port side of the helm are two "T-handles" that I've always referred to as "emergency shut-offs" for the diesels. They were on my Dad's 42' Post with diesels (Dad's T-handles were labeled "Diesel Emergency Shut-off") and I've seen the T-handles on other diesel boats. Aboard the 31 I'm looking at the owner's rep stated they are trolling valves for the engines/transmissions. Pull them out and the boat can be slowed to 2 knots on one engine (salmon trolling speed).

Any of you guys know what these T-handles are?

Thanks.

JimP

Can you follow the cables? If they go to the trans they are most likely trolling valves. Trolling valves will be on the trans, most likely near the top. They allow the clutches to slip lowering your travel speed at idle.

Fuel shutoffs usually are 1/4 turn valves.

The T handles on your Dad's Post, up on the helm, were no doubt EMERGENCY shut downs for Detroit 2 strokes, Depending on the year, he most likely had one of the several variations of the 6-71 series. They were "doors" that slammed shut on the blower in an emergency shut down procedure. They were not designed to normally shut down the engine. But they were a matter of necessity on a completely mechanically controlled diesel.

Older boats with mechanical fuel systems could also have cables running to the injection pumps, shutting down the fuel.

Two Stroke Detroits were known to suffer "run away" so many had shut-off controls as porthole describes. Shut-off controls are less likely to be associated with four stroke diesel such as Cummins. Many shut off controls have red handles.

Good tidbit on the 2-stroke diesel vs 4-stroke.

So with the Cummins, they may have trolling valves, but no emergency shut-offs.

Bad news. Looks like I lost the bidding war. Though I'm not really sure how it worked.

I put my offer in with contingencies (such as the engines had to run - only one engine had started during my early December visit) with the boat agent in the 2nd week in December and the broker came back on the 16th and sent me a contract to fill in. I did not send earnest money as I wanted an answer to the contingencies and wanted to know what he thought of my offer. He said they'd get a Cummins rep in to get "things" running. I asked him to clarify what he meant and with Christmas and traveling he didn't get back to me until late January with:

"We never got to scheduling the mechanic or sea trial.
The owner got a better price and was able to sell the boat without all of the contingencies that you had requested.
We have 7 brokers now and anyone can make an offer in writing with earnest money at anytime.
I am sorry you did not get a chance to make a formal offer with earnest money."

Well, how do you like that? I could have been more proactive, but the agents lack of communication was very frustrating.

Well, I still have the best 1990 Revenge 22 - W.T. in the world. Life is still OK.

JimP

Another opportunity will cross your bow.

I think your location in Alaska probably affected the marketplace for this diesel-engine 31-foot inboard Boston Whaler boat. These boats are not that common, and in Alaska must be very rare. Maybe you can find a similar boat on the West Coast and move it up to Alaska on the inside passage. That would be a fun campaign--I think--and give you a wider market to search for a boat.

2 diesel 31s on the west coast
1989 Vancouver BC. $125K
1989 California, small 250 hp Cummins $57K

1 1991 31L in NJ. My favorite, $66K. Only $16,500 shipping to Skagway, AK or $9,500 to Seattle!

JimP

Those would have been trolling valves going to the ZF transmissions on the 6BTA5.9. (I had a pair of those engines for several years.) I would not expect those engines to have shut offs. --- And for the record shut-off valves aren't a bad thing. I have actually had a small Yanmar not shut off and ended up "dieseling" for an hour or so, just slowly burning fuel left in the lines (fuel was shut off).

jimp wrote:2 diesel 31s on the west coast
1989 Vancouver BC. $125K
1989 California, small 250 hp Cummins $57K

1 1991 31L in NJ. My favorite, $66K. Only $16,500 shipping to Skagway, AK or $9,500 to Seattle!

JimP

Jim, Nothing wrong with those Cummins 250HP 5.9 6BTA's , I have a pair of em in our 41ft, 30,000 lb trawler and I'm way overpowered --I laugh aloud--, but I'm happy with a 8 knot cruise.