Nordhavn 68

Message	Author	Post Date
Ken- Thanks so much for that in depth and current answer, and I agree fully with your decisions. Though I am not an experienced long range cruiser yet, it makes sense that technological advances would improve wet exhaust options, and hybrid propulsion, when perfected on smaller boats, seems like an incredibly exciting future advancement that should greatly extend range and decrease trips to the fuel docks. Oh how I wish we had the time for a Nordhavn and crossing oceans, but we are currently forced to go with the fuel demolishing express cruising local several hundred mile max type of boating. But any cruising is good cruising :) We will continue to follow the development of SSII closely, and my wife and I love the fact that you added the hot tub. In fact, that is one of my wife's requirements for our future long range plans, and I was thrilled to show her that it had been done on the beautiful new 68. Before I had only seen it included on the 86. As you said, if everything we did was practical, we certainly would not be boaters :) Thank you again. We wish you and Roberta continued safe travels, happiness and health. Edward	doctor@pearsonwellnesscenter.com	2007-02-28 11:06:47
Greetings. I see that you found my earlier answers on these topics. I haven't read my earlier answers, so I'll write something quickly, and then read to see what I thought when this was first asked. Hopefully the answers match... On wet vs dry exhaust: I spoke with the engine manufacturer, who said that "in the old days" dry exhaust was much better for an engine, but that with modern engines it really didn't matter. My personal belief is that dry exhaust is much better, for a variety of reasons: - Dry exhaust is much simpler. Fewer parts to break - There is less risk of back pressure on the engine with dry exhaust - You don't have the risk of the engine sucking sea water in through the exhaust (unlikely, but possible) - The exhaust empties above the boat, for less odor inside the boat There are really only two major downsides to dry exhaust: - Sometimes soot is dumped onto the boat (and, on neighboring boats) during start-up - You have a hot pipe running through the main salon, pilot house and fly bridge -- taking up space and radiating heat On our 68, the issue of Roberta wanting more space in the main salon, and our wanting a hot tub on the fly bridge, settled the issue. We went with wet exhaust. As to diesel electric: We were actually signed up, at one time, for diesel electric. It's a really simple concept, and should work. However, it hasn't been done in trawlers, until just recently, and I know that the first diesel electric boat has been a struggle for Nordhavn. Our 68 already represented many new challenges for Nordhavn. Adding diesel electric to the process would have been too much. Nordhavn made the decision not to go diesel electric on my boat, and I'm glad they did. I do believe it is the right direction, and if 10 years from now I build another boat, I would definitely consider diesel electric. It was just too new a technology to do on my boat. -Ken W	Williams, Ken	2007-02-28 00:15:27
Mr. Williams- I have very much enjoyed everything you have created about your cruising experiences, from your book to this site about the new 68. Your books and web information has also given me a great way to educate my wife about our dreams and what is possible for our family in the future. Two quick questions about your reasoning behind two decisions you made with the new Sans Souci which surprised me: 1. wet exhaust and 2. conventional diesel engines instead of the next generation hybrid diesel / electric. Attempting to answer my own questions.......does the strength and quality of the Nordhavn ships make you comfortable with the through hull risks of wet exhaust? And is the diesel / electric propulsion choice too untested in 'smaller' yachts, as well as too cost prohibitive? All the best on your future journeys. In good health, Edward Pearson	doctor@pearsonwellnesscenter.com	2007-02-27 15:22:18