MS Mount Washington going "green"!

[Skip]

The MS Mount Washington will be a little "greener" next year after receiving a million dollar engine upgrade during this off-season.

Neat story can be read HERE in today's on-line edition of the Citizen!

[Happy Gourmand]

Does anybody know the specs for the replacement engines?

New info.....Channel 9 will be running a story on this upgrade tonight at 6.

[fatlazyless]

It will be interesting to see where the Mount can find a buyer for its' old diesel engines somewhere in the whole wide world of the internet classified boat advertising. Where will the old diesels chug off to......Alaska......China....Brazil....Djabouty... .Louisiana...Illinois...or Canada?

Having been listening to the distant muffled chug of its engine for over ten years, the old ones are extremely quiet and seem to be very reliable.

Old diesel marine engines never die, they just find a new victim....ahem....a new boat to haunt.

Watching it glide past with so few onboard it seems that what the Mount really needs to go power up its biz is some new attractive venue to attract more paying customers?

....pssst....casino gambling.....

[Whimsey]

I'll miss the chug of the current engines. Can't miss the distinctive sound as it approaches. I still stop what I'm doing and take a look.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by Whimsey

I'll miss the chug of the current engines. Can't miss the distinctive sound as it approaches. I still stop what I'm doing and take a look.

Agreed. On calm evenings we can hear that chug with a bit of a ping (chaaaping?) far down the lake and be able to tell company that the Mount is coming.

I am wondering if the new set-up will be so very modern as to have an actual transmission so they don't have to stop an engine and restart in reverse rotation to get reverse thrust.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I am wondering if the new set-up will be so very modern as to have an actual transmission so they don't have to stop an engine and restart in reverse rotation to get reverse thrust.

I hope not. Some anachronisms are worth keeping just for their oddity.

[dmjr]

How are they going to get the old engines out? Are they going to pull it out this fall and cut it open? When was the last time the ship was renovated?

[Rattlesnake Guy]

I think I heard that she will be cut in two in dry dock this winter. Would be very cool if we could get a time lapse camera setup for the activity.

[gtxrider]

Will the new engines run on BIO Diesel? I would smell like McDonalds coming down the lake.

Now that the Mount makes fewer trips how long will it take to recoup the investment?

[NoBozo]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Guy

I think I heard that she will be cut in two in dry dock this winter. Would be very cool if we could get a time lapse camera setup for the activity.

I think it would be a lot easier to just open up the cabin roof and lift the engines out with a crane. I suspect they have already done that a few times when doing engine overhauls over the years.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Watching it glide past with so few onboard it seems that what the Mount really needs to go power up its biz is some new attractive venue to attract more paying customers?

....pssst....casino gambling.....

In reading the Article it seems as though the engine replacement is one part of the plan, and knowing the the repower would not be a million dollar endevour it is fair to say she is in for a substantial face lift.......

Unfortunately FLL I still don't think Casino gambling is in the plan some how

[Rattlesnake Guy]

I just double checked with my secret source on the other side of the room and she confirms that she spoke with the management for the Mount and was told.

It is a grant from the EPA with the purpose of upgrading the old engines with the requirement that the old engines be dismantled and not used again.

They will keep some museum type pieces around for us to see.

They will cut the ship in half to do what is needed.

The Mount is one of three vessels in New England that got one of these green grants.

Speaking for myself, I'm going to miss the classic sound. Years ago, when we were looking at our camp with thoughts of purchase, the owners announced that the "Mount was coming". We didn't pay to much attention to their psychic powers and sure enough a couple of minutes later she powered by right in front, as if staged by the real estate agent. We later became quite adept at making the mystical prediction that "the Mount was coming" to our guest by the wonderfully unique sound.

Maybe we should do an official recording before it's too late.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

I am wondering if the new set-up will be so very modern as to have an actual transmission so they don't have to stop an engine and restart in reverse rotation to get reverse thrust.

I don't believe that is necessary now, as the article in the Laconia paper said they were currently diesel-electric, like a locomotive or submarine. Diesel engines turn generators which drive electric propulsion motors.

As an aside, we had a wedding celebration on the Mount last weekend and it was just fantastic! Great venue, great food, nice environment (upper rear salon), and great service. EVERYONE had a super day and the price was VERY reasonable....highly recommended.

[trfour]

My hope is that by the M/S Mount Washington's shakedown cruise next year, that our economy responds in kind to make her waters more pleasant, everlasting and calm.
Thank you Skip!

She's a treasure to us all.
T

[WeirsBeachBoater]

I must jump in for a moment. They are Direct Drive Diesels. Not Diesel Electric, There are no Transmissions, they are either running ahead or astern. The new engines are yet to be determined, however they most likely will have a gearbox behind them. This event brings me mixed emotions, It sure will secure a long future for the Mount to have new engines. However it feels like we are losing two old friends.