Building the Glen-L Yukon, Part 2
by Wayne Milner
Page 7
It is my understanding that my Ford Model 2715E is rated at 115 brake horsepower. I used a 2.1:1 reduction gear that came with the engine. I installed a Drivesaver and a 1-1/2-inch shaft. The propeller is 22 inches in diameter, with an 18-inch pitch, and is a four-bladed model. I generally run the engine at about 1,800 rpm (maximum rpm is 2,500), and according to my GPS unit, cruise at 7.3 knots. I get 8 knots at about 2,100 rpm. Fuel consumption is almost negligible-about 2 gallons per hour. It is my impression that the propeller could stand a bit more pitch.
The steering system is hydraulic. I used a Teleflex/Seastar/Capilano BA150-7 cylinder and two 1250V helm pumps, with refrigeration-grade copper tubing between the components. Getting all the air out of the system is time consuming.
I used a 1-1/2-inch rudder stock and a 7-inch-long tiller arm. The rudder itself is 26 inches by 21 inches, balanced (4 inches on one side of the stock and 17 inches on the other). The rudder is a piece of mild-steel plate enclosed in plywood, fiberglass cloth, and epoxy.
The boat handles extremely well. It steers easily, stays on course well, and it is heavy enough that it stays where you put it when you stop. It doesn't move around much in waves. This is a real treat after having bounced around for years in smaller, lighter boats.
After the launching and a few short trips to check things out, we headed for the Tall Ships gathering at Halifax, Nova Scotia, scheduled for July 24 to 29, 2000. This was a trip of about 50 miles each way. Everything worked perfectly, and we had a great time.
The launching took place five years and a few days after I started the project. I probably averaged about two working days per week over that period, which makes roughly 4,160 hours of work that went into the project, and I still have some inside finish work to do.
The project cost about $40,000 Canadian (about $27,000 U.S. at current exchange rates). The finishing-up period is a real money hemorrhage, since there are many bits and pieces of hardware involved that tend to be expensive.
Having now pretty well completed the project, my life is without purpose, although I have been looking at pictures of one of those steam launches with the frilly canopy that would look pretty nice steaming around here in the summertime....
Reprinted from the March/April 2001 issue of Boatbuilder magazine (www.boatbuildermagazine.com).
Glen-L would like to thank Wayne Milner and Boatbuilder magazine for permission to post this article on our site.