Newbie Question

[JohnThe Hat]

Very sorry if the answer to this is buried in the forum (I did try to search for it) but would be most grateful for any advice or direction to the relevant thread:

I have hired motor boats on the Thames for the past few years (Le Boat) and have just completed my RYA Day Skipper course on the Hamble on a Princess 368, I am now looking to buy a used boat (something like a Birchwood TS37) and would ideally like to keep her on the Thames for a year before moving her to the South Coast. Although I will make the odd foray into the tidal Thames and beyond in the first year, I'm worried about damaging the diesels by running them at near idle most of the time whilst keeping to the speed limits.

Is this a serious concern and if so is there any way to mitigate this problem?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[gordmac]

Welcome. Thought I would bump this.
Not sure how much of a problem it is, possibly engine age dependant? You could load it more by running on one engine.

 

[jrudge]

Some doom mongerer will be along shortly !

Does it improve the engines ? No. They are designed to be run at a decent speed. Will you harm them? I doubt it but do give them a decent run from time to time to get rid of carbon build up and so on.

Running on one engine is hassle as the boat does not track straight and the power steering pump will be on one engine c