Here is the technical information on the
Akyla:
36' Hatteras Sport Fish Convertible,
Twin Caterpillar Turbo Diesels @ 420hp each. The boat cruises at over 20 knots depending upon load and sea conditions, With
full load she does
29.92kts at full
throttle, 2850+ Rpm.
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With the big power she really
scoots along even fully loaded. |
Her she is in the yard at
completion of the repower project - pre bow pulpit and spray rails. |
Changing engines requires changes
in most other systems including the wiring and engines controls.
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Though it looks like a big mess in
process, the finished panel looks pretty good and has proved very
functional.
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The Boatyard forklift broke trying
to lift my engines and I
needed to get them onboard, so a rented crane did the job. The operator
was able to move the BIG crane with unbelievable precision.
It was relatively cheap too, as I split the time and response costs with
the marina as they did other tasks for them. |
The BIG crane easily lifted the
engines over the stern the lowered them down. The boom then extended
hydraulically into the cabin. |
The clearance between the boom and
the overhead was just a inch or so, but once the engine was over the bay,
the boom lowered and some maneuvering to get
them into the hole |
Both cats fit the engine bay with
room to spare. Maintenance is fairly easy because of the space. I
replaced the aft salon deck due to some minor rot. |
The starters and alts came off for clearance,
but overall it went surprisingly well and we placed the engines right on the beds. |
After getting the engines in I
remade a new aft bulkhead using two plys of marine plywood with two layers
of glass on the outside. |
The bulkhead got sanded then
painted with Awl Grip to match the rest of the boat. The window area was
then cut out. |
I made a heavy bracket for the
dive ladder that did not bear weight onto the platform and it has worked
out very well. |
The cut out removed and the glass
and teak frame that had been saved from the old bulkhead
reinstalled. Now it is better than original. |
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The removal of the
engines after the rear bulkhead is replaced is much more difficult and
requires that they fit through the door. A track is made from 2x12
and shoring to transfer weight to the keel. Engine is rolled in and out on
the track using pipe rollers as engine sits on another 2x12. |
Here is one of the original Criss-Craft
engines. Ford 427's with 330 hp. They weighed in at 1570 with all
the manifolds and coolers (lots of cast iron).
Cat package is 200 pounds more
weight, but 100 more HP and lots more torque!
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The V-8 was actually a tight fit
in the engine bay and harder to work on due to the width . In good
shape even though 30 years old. A very good marine conversion
overall, just old with parts hard to get. |
Cutting away the rear bulkhead
gave easy access and made it simple to replace the old decking as well,
but not for the faint of heart as it creates a great deal of work. |
I had to get the gas out and of
course she was almost full. Four 55 gallon drums, an electric fuel pump
and 30' of fuel hose did the job. I burned it all in the cars and gave
some away. Diesel went back in same way. |
New power and gear ratios demand
new props. I went with the biggest thing that would fit and spin to rated
turns, 22x22 with a large disc area and a bit of rake. |
When I ran her back and forth to
Hatteras, I often stop in Great Bridge overnight, it always seems to
be where I end up after running all day. Tie ups here are free. |
In addition to all the stuff you
see here, I had to engineer many new systems or make changes to the
originals. The things I changed included engine beds, engine mounts, fuel
return system, new fuel filters and mounts, new 2" water intakes and
strainers, exhaust systems, new battery cables and switches as well as
remove all gas engine wiring and put in the diesel harnesses.
The big question is would I do
this all over again? Absolutely. It was a tremendous amount of
work, but I now know this boat and all the equipment very well. She
runs great and performs to my expectations while using less fuel.
She also has a great deal of reserve power for running the inlet or
passing the ferries quickly in the tight channels of the sound. The
diesels have real authority and move the boat smartly without straining.
Since posting this several years ago, we have sold
Akyla to another Hatteras area waterman who uses it for sport fishing
charters. He has since repowered it once again, this time with Cummins
Diesel engines and he has made many other modifications to fit the new
mission. It is a pleasure to see the old Akyla come steaming past,
looking great and going to sea almost everyday of the season.
Following Seas to you,
Dave Sommers |