Inversion Proofing

[Seb]

Does anybody know how one would go about inversion proofing a diesel engine and engine box for self righting?

Are one way air vents available or arent these a necessity?

Any suggestions appreciated....

Cheers in advance

SEB

[gavin]

You have a good chance of inversion proofing a diesel, waterproff the electrical connectors,use denso tape and wrap liberally around, you may need to open at any stage in the future, ensure you use a sealed battery, so no acid spill, try to fabricate a snorkel for the air intake, with a ball cock at the top, like on a snorkel for diving, but much bigger, your fuel system is already sealed, you would need to look at fuel tank , you will loose fuel in a capsize it has a breather of course.Look at how landrovers operate in water, snorkled air intakes, breather piped high up the fuel intake spout etc, I would much more fancy your chances of a restart than with a carburated motor

[jwalker]

Preventing the water which is in the leg from filling the exhaust manifold and thence the cylinders would be a tricky one. Also, the engine is likely to run inverted for a short while and the oil would no longer be at the bottom of the sump..no oil pressure. I can foresee all sorts of difficulties. Best not to capsize.

[Keith Hart]

Not much help to you Seb, but...

Norton used to build generators for the army that could run upside down/sideways etc. This was so that they would keep running if they were knocked over by an explosion. They were driven by a single cylinder Wankel engine.

Keith Hart

[Seb]

Thanks for the response...

As opposed to inversion proofing then, what about making the engine box/bay watertight?

I am always hearing reporters etc slagging diesel RIBs off because the engine isnt protected from swamping and is therefore vunerable. Are vents on the actual box a necessity and if so, how can one make them 'water ingress proof' (or can watertight vents be simply bought)?

Cheers

SEB

[jwalker]

Aha, now your talking. Done just that, because I agree with them.

[Seb]

Fancy enlightening me then?

[jwalker]

Double tubes, one inside the other. Bottom end vaned to limit inrush of water from outboard direction but allows water which enters, to fall out. The air intake causes the the incoming rain water to centrifuge out. The intake to the inner tube is at the top (sideways) opposite the intake on the outer. It'll be better understood from a drawing. No time just now, sorry, I'm off out. The final thing can be seen on Boatmad.