stuartw
Member
What type of drive on \'Brave Challenger\"?
As I was relaxing on my aft deck, in the relative peace of Haslar marina, yesterday morning, when I thought the world was about to come to an end. "Brave Challenger" started her engines. I am only 50yds from her and believe me I've heard less noise from an anti-aircraft gun. How many horses were trying to get out, goodness only knows- maybe 2000.
Having recoverd from the initial shock, I was somewhat bemused to hear that the engines were left on a very fast idle, I would guess around 1500 RPM. By the way, for those who thought that the engines were turbines- no the're not- just big, I mean really F***ing big diesels. And of course no silencers-straight out the transom.
This very fast rev warm-up lasted for some 10 mins, then off. They then spent the next hour preparing to go to sea. When eventually they did go, the engines were brought back to life, and once again the same very fast idle. She then pulled slowly away from the hammerhead, with no noticeable change in engine revs, ie still running very fast. She headed towards the sea, with the engines screaming, and only doing the regulation 6 knots.
We heard the row for at least ten minutes, which got louder at some point as she was opened up, heading out to sea. What the people on board must hear, I dread to think.
The puzzle is, what type of propulsion has she got? I have thought of variable pitch props, hydraulic drive, electric drive or even some form of automatic gearbox with torque converter. Clearly the high revs were on the optimum point on the power/rev range.
So, does anybody know, or can guess?
As I was relaxing on my aft deck, in the relative peace of Haslar marina, yesterday morning, when I thought the world was about to come to an end. "Brave Challenger" started her engines. I am only 50yds from her and believe me I've heard less noise from an anti-aircraft gun. How many horses were trying to get out, goodness only knows- maybe 2000.
Having recoverd from the initial shock, I was somewhat bemused to hear that the engines were left on a very fast idle, I would guess around 1500 RPM. By the way, for those who thought that the engines were turbines- no the're not- just big, I mean really F***ing big diesels. And of course no silencers-straight out the transom.
This very fast rev warm-up lasted for some 10 mins, then off. They then spent the next hour preparing to go to sea. When eventually they did go, the engines were brought back to life, and once again the same very fast idle. She then pulled slowly away from the hammerhead, with no noticeable change in engine revs, ie still running very fast. She headed towards the sea, with the engines screaming, and only doing the regulation 6 knots.
We heard the row for at least ten minutes, which got louder at some point as she was opened up, heading out to sea. What the people on board must hear, I dread to think.
The puzzle is, what type of propulsion has she got? I have thought of variable pitch props, hydraulic drive, electric drive or even some form of automatic gearbox with torque converter. Clearly the high revs were on the optimum point on the power/rev range.
So, does anybody know, or can guess?
