small diesel engine that will hand start reliably (may be heavy!)

Re: That is the engine for me!

The only experience that I have had with a Lister in a boat was in a small fishing boat here on the south coast of Oz. It was a 2 cylinder air-cooled engine which vented its cooling air into the small cabin. That single feature made the trip a pleasure! I was warm as toast when all about me was dead miserable. As I understand it, the greatest contributor to unreliability in small diesels is lack of use. They hate it with a passion! So a workboat which is used daily will generally start easily because it is used frequently.
Peter.
 
Re: That is the engine for me!

Thanks. A friend had that 5hp model in a 23 foot centreboard cabin boat - worked very well as I recall.
 
I found that using Mobil1 engine oil (0w40) made hand starting much easier. This oil is expensive but it as thin as water when cold so much less drag for starting.
Some old farts (sorry experts) will tell you that this oil is "too good" for a bog standard engine but I used it in my MD1 for 15 years and many thousands of miles with no problem.
Martin
 
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