BillD
Admiral
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2011
- Posts
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- Boat Make
- 27 H&H with Cummins QSB 5.9 480 power
Earlier today I helped a boat owner @ my marina get his 2010 Steve Law built 28 BHM hauled for the season. This 28 BHM has a 315 Nanni diesel for power and I assume is typical of Steve's BHM builds. A very nice well built 28 foot DE. We ran the boat at idle and cruise speeds to the Salisbury State reservation boat ramp. We did NOT take the boat on an ocean run.
Looking out the mouth of the river to the ocean, looked nasty with this storm winding up.
The ride today is my 1st on a DE, other than a couple of trips last season on a much smaller 22 Webbers Cove DE gas powered inboard.
The ride today wasn't long but I did have a chance to make some personal observations.
1. The Nanni diesel idling is VERY quiet. i'd assume the Yanmar 315 is similar in DB level.
2.. Cruise @ 17 knots was very quiet in the helm cabin compared to my twin Cummins Blackfin @ similar speed.
3. Cruise @ 20 knots was a bit louder but still quieter than what I an used to. Conversation was easy.
4. The visibilty @ cruise speeds, much to my surprise, with the "bow up" attitude was very good standing or sitting in the helm seat.
5. At cruise speeds I walked from side to side out back in the cockpit and the boat did not "lean" to either side with my weight (200 lbs.) moving around. The owner states that 2 or 3 guys moving side to side does not cause the boat to "lean" either way. The boat does not have trim tabs, doesn't seem to need them.
6.. The helm cabin has a bus heater plumbed into the engine anti-freeze circuit...after the engine warmed up the cabin was very comfortable. The cabin is 3 sided, no winter back.
7. The boat does NOT have a bow thruster. Personally, coming from a twin screw inboard that I can walk sideways in any wind or current, I would NOT OWN a DE of 28 feet or more without one. The Merrimack River has a fast tide, marina space is tight, lots of perpendicular docking to the current, a thruster makes using the boat much more pleasurable. If the boat is on a mooring, maybe not necessary. The wind today with minimal current @ the boat ramp area was blowing the bow all around. For me? Why put up with it a bow blowing around you can't control. Install a bow thruster and enjoy !
All and all a very favorable impression of the 28 BHM and my 1st ride on a DE boat. My final thought on the size of the 28 BHM and my boating needs? I certainly could live with and enjoy a 28 footer, but all considered a bit bigger DE for me is required.
Please note: the 1st 4 pics were taken earlier this summer from my boat. The "bow up" attitude of the 28 BHM was a concern.
But after today's ride, the visibilty on the 28 BHM is very good @ cruise and of no issue to me. Hopefully the bigger DEs will be same or similar, good visibility with the bows up. The 33 Flowers, just by looking @ the cruise speed pics, must run almost dead flat visibility wise.
btw, you'll notice in one of the pics the beefy swing bracket mount for the helm seat. The owner installed this mid summer. I saw this bracket on this forum and emailed him the pic. Nice addition to the boat and solved an access problem with the original pdestal install he had.
FWIW, Bill D
Looking out the mouth of the river to the ocean, looked nasty with this storm winding up.
The ride today is my 1st on a DE, other than a couple of trips last season on a much smaller 22 Webbers Cove DE gas powered inboard.
The ride today wasn't long but I did have a chance to make some personal observations.
1. The Nanni diesel idling is VERY quiet. i'd assume the Yanmar 315 is similar in DB level.
2.. Cruise @ 17 knots was very quiet in the helm cabin compared to my twin Cummins Blackfin @ similar speed.
3. Cruise @ 20 knots was a bit louder but still quieter than what I an used to. Conversation was easy.
4. The visibilty @ cruise speeds, much to my surprise, with the "bow up" attitude was very good standing or sitting in the helm seat.
5. At cruise speeds I walked from side to side out back in the cockpit and the boat did not "lean" to either side with my weight (200 lbs.) moving around. The owner states that 2 or 3 guys moving side to side does not cause the boat to "lean" either way. The boat does not have trim tabs, doesn't seem to need them.
6.. The helm cabin has a bus heater plumbed into the engine anti-freeze circuit...after the engine warmed up the cabin was very comfortable. The cabin is 3 sided, no winter back.
7. The boat does NOT have a bow thruster. Personally, coming from a twin screw inboard that I can walk sideways in any wind or current, I would NOT OWN a DE of 28 feet or more without one. The Merrimack River has a fast tide, marina space is tight, lots of perpendicular docking to the current, a thruster makes using the boat much more pleasurable. If the boat is on a mooring, maybe not necessary. The wind today with minimal current @ the boat ramp area was blowing the bow all around. For me? Why put up with it a bow blowing around you can't control. Install a bow thruster and enjoy !
All and all a very favorable impression of the 28 BHM and my 1st ride on a DE boat. My final thought on the size of the 28 BHM and my boating needs? I certainly could live with and enjoy a 28 footer, but all considered a bit bigger DE for me is required.
Please note: the 1st 4 pics were taken earlier this summer from my boat. The "bow up" attitude of the 28 BHM was a concern.
But after today's ride, the visibilty on the 28 BHM is very good @ cruise and of no issue to me. Hopefully the bigger DEs will be same or similar, good visibility with the bows up. The 33 Flowers, just by looking @ the cruise speed pics, must run almost dead flat visibility wise.
btw, you'll notice in one of the pics the beefy swing bracket mount for the helm seat. The owner installed this mid summer. I saw this bracket on this forum and emailed him the pic. Nice addition to the boat and solved an access problem with the original pdestal install he had.
FWIW, Bill D
