The Motor Ship Mount Washington

[hancoveguy]

Originally Posted by robmac

I think they do,also because of the loss in ballast weight of the new power plants ballast will be added to maintain stability. Can't wait for ice out and a cruise.

They just added 72,000 lbs of concrete to the floor beams for ballast. They used several cement trucks and a pump truck to pump it in. It was relayed to me that the old engines were around 45,000 lbs each and the new engines are around 4500 lbs each. Thus the reason for the ballast.

HCG

[Pineedles]

I hope someone actually calculated the need to pump 72,000 lbs of cement into the the Mount for ballast as opposed to "well the old engines weighed 90K lbs and the new engines are 9K lbs, so I guess we need to make up the difference...." Placement of the weight is also a concern I would think?

[hancoveguy]

They had a an engineer watching a level as they pumped it in. From what I understand it was done very slowly and very carefully.

And most of all....PRECISELY

[rick35]

A lot of nights we could hear the rumble of those big engines across the lake when the Mount was heading back to the Weirs. That won't be the case any more with the new lighter engines.

[trfour]

The M/S Mount Washington is in good hands and they all know very well just what they are doing.

Some are concerned about what the new engines will sound like...
Picture this... I've been working on engines, including Cat and All brands of Diesel engines for very close to sixty years. Caterpillar always had their very own unique sound.
Now, the interesting thing to me is that the twin 1500 horsepower Cats with the four turbos wining through the exhaust system will sound more like a 747! They may need to add mufflers after the catalytic exhaust to deal with this.
Yet here again I am sure that they have this all figured out, and that any of us that wants to take an afternoon nap will not be be disturbed when she passes by, although I would want the Captain to sound her hornes to awake me so that I could listen to them sweet sound'in Kitty Cats!



Terry
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[robmac]

Terry, I don't think they're using the hot cats but the milder 750 versions.

[BroadHopper]

Bit surprise to hear that they use concrete. Concrete is porous and loses weight when it is dry and can absorb moisture and gain weight. Are you sure they use concrete? In the maritime industry, one would pump or drain seawater from ballasts to maintain a certain level on a ship. The Mt would surely be a lot higher in the water caring no passengers versus a full load of passenger and crew if they can't change the weight of the ballast.

Also concrete being porous will rust out the steel hull. Unless the concrete is in a seperate container, but that will cause shifting in rough water.

If the Mt is flat bottom like a barge, then then changing ballast will be less significent problem than a boat with a round or V hull.

[robmac]

Does anyone know when the work is to be completed? Wish there were more pics of the progess too,like relocation of the web cam.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Bit surprise to hear that they use concrete.

I was a bit surprised too. But, concrete has been used as marine ballast in steel hulls successfully. If the hull was prepped properly (sanded, epoxied, etc.) and the concrete is a higher PSI rating (5000+) and sealed after its cured, it should be okay for the next 100 years.

I'd be curious to know if it was straight 'crete, or if punchings were added to the mix.

[robmac]

That is a great video thanks for putting it up for all to see. I can only imagine a repower of this size and how much work and effort it takes. Nice to see that they are methodically tagging and cataloging all the parts and pieces.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by robmac

That is a great video thanks for putting it up for all to see. I can only imagine a repower of this size and how much work and effort it takes. Nice to see that they are methodically tagging and cataloging all the parts and pieces.

I am sure that the parts and pieces from our M/S Mount Washington's Enterprise Engines will be sought after so as to keep some other vessel, vessels going on, that were not ready, as yet to give up the Enterprise Engines... Grants Help, as you and we all know.

Having lived in the Lakes Region for so many years and being a fan of our M/S Mount Washington, I am Soooo happy that they chose Caterpillar engines to replace the old Enterprise's, as they are the very best and most efficient engines that money can buy these days... When it comes to Diesel Power, they've had and continue to have a lock on it...



Terry
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[Rattlesnake Gal]

Just a reminder of what AltnBay posted in entry #38.

M/S Mount Washington is on Facebook and they seem to be doing a great job with the updates and pictures.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Just a reminder of what AltnBay posted in entry #38.

M/S Mount Washington is on Facebook and they seem to be doing a great job with the updates and pictures.

I agree, they do a good job. However I prefer winnipesaukee.com, as it adds some more sauce to the mix...


Terry
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[Lakesrider]

Concrete? Whatever happened to NH granite cobblestones?

[moose tracks]

Originally Posted by trfour

I am Soooo happy that they chose Caterpillar engines to replace the old Enterprise's, as they are the very best and most efficient engines that money can buy these days... When it comes to Diesel Power, they've had and continue to have a lock on it...

Terry
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Cats are good engines but they will require more preventive & corrective maintenance and overhauls then the old Enterprise engines. The old engines were very forgiving. The new Cats will require more tender loving care. In addition, the longevity of these new engines will be far less than that of the old engines. Parts & technical assistance will be available for the new Cats so that is a big plus. Personally, I will miss seeing the long block Enterprise engines.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by moose tracks

Cats are good engines but they will require more preventive & corrective maintenance and overhauls then the old Enterprise engines. The old engines were very forgiving. The new Cats will require more tender loving care. In addition, the longevity of these new engines will be far less than that of the old engines. Parts & technical assistance will be available for the new Cats so that is a big plus. Personally, I will miss seeing the long block Enterprise engines.

Hi moose tracks, the Enterprise was one of the best engines ever built. I will miss them too. However, pound for pound and with the light of today so ever being on Green, the Cats will shine.
Chief Engineer Jim knows all about maintenance. Keep the intake air clean, (change filters), keep the fuel clean, (change filters), keep the oil clean, (change oil and filters and take an oil sample and have it analyzed to catch any ware or coolant leaks before they become a problem, kind of like a blood test for humans).

A little off topic, although in the Trucking and Heavy Equipment industry, Cat recommended a main & connecting rod bearing inspection @ 300,000 miles, or so many hours. I have seen Cat engines go well over a million miles without even a tune up, with proper maintenance.


Terry
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[hancoveguy]

I heard they were scheduled for sea trials in Mid April...and that they were on time.

[robmac]

Can't wait.I want to be out on the water to hear the old girl all freshened up with the new power plants.

[StephenB]

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

I heard they were scheduled for sea trials in Mid April...and that they were on time.

Not to turn this into an ice-out thread, but it seems pretty clear from the recent weather that the lake will easily be open and ready by then.

[AltnBay]

For us with foolish imaginations!!!Here's a link of the Cat. C32's underway at full throttle. I almost fell outta' my chair laughing with images of a planed out 'Mount in the broards headed for Alton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtW1qWw1RHI

[BroadHopper]

Once Winnfabs get a hold of this video, The Mt will be outlawed forever!

[robmac]

GREAT VIDEO , yup that'll leave one heck of a wake.

[trfour]

Originally Posted by robmac

Terry, I don't think they're using the hot cats but the milder 750 versions.

Sorry robmac, my goof.

What I meant was, twin 750s = 1500 HP. Cats.

[robmac]

It would've been fun if they had chosen the hot motors I can hear the turbos spooling up as she got underway.

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by robmac

It would've been fun if they had chosen the hot motors I can hear the turbos spooling up as she got underway.

Like at the air shows at Pease? Makes my spine tingles!

[trfour]

Just shedding some more light on what a huge undertaking this engine swap project is all about.
Listen to Fred, Chief Engineer on the M/S Mount Washinton in this video blog part 2. http://www.cruisenh.com/videoblog2.html

They are much farther ahead with this, as the new Cat engines are already in place. I thought it fitting to catalog the progress here in this thread.

My hope is that they make a video when Fred gives the heads up, "Engine Room, Go'na Light The Candle." Give all us fans an idea of what the new Kitty Cats are going to sound like!


Terry
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