Page 6. MAINE COASTAL NEWS January 2016 70S MEMORIES: BMW'S MARINE DIESEL By Lee S. Wilbur
“I want you to listen to this engine. You have to hear how quiet it is.” And we would raise the engine
hatch...this was during a boat
show...start the engine try to talk over it in a loud voice, then close the hatch and explain “quiet.” Even built a demonstrator, 34’ model, to show off BMW’s new Marine Diesel. We were quite taken by it, to say the least.
Here was a new concept in Marine
fi eld. Lightweight somewhere in vicinity of 900 lbs. Not a lot of decibels louder than a gas fi red motor. Compact. Inline six-cyl- inder, for more space available in the en- gine room. And, fi gured this was a huge plus, built by one of the more prestigious car manufacturers in the world. Had to be a winning combination. Couldn’t lose...or so I thought. We had a new model, year or so old,
34’ and a real sweetheart. Talked with the distributor for the new engines. Had them put up an engine for specifi ed time. We’d build a new 34’ “on spec,” take it to the boat shows down the East Coast. First be- ing Newport, Rhode Island. Wind up with the Annapolis show then leave it with our partner in the “34”, Bob Stine, owner of Black Dog Boat Works there in Annapolis
to show through the winter and fi nd a buy- er.
Annapolis Boat Show is an early “win-
ter” show. Late October. We’d build a rela- tively simple boat. Downeast “Picnic Mod- el.” Lobster style pilot house, large cockpit to accommodate picnicers and partiers. This before H. R. Hinckley had done their new model and tried to trademark “Picnic.” Trick which caused a great deal of hurt among several of the Downeast builders and bad feelings to boot.
Hustled to get her done. Sandwiched between other orders for spring and sum- mer launch dates, Northend Marine, our fi berglass parts builders managed to com- plete everything without a measurable de- lay and we launched the new boat early September. Quick shakedown, brief pho- to shoot accomplished, with a couple of friends, Vic Mercer, and Russ Lunt, head out late, behind the gun, on a gorgeous sun- ny, Maine Fall, afternoon, for Rhode island. Planned to run all night. I’d installed one of the new, compact Loran C navigation sets. Hellishly handy. Being A.D.D. as I am, Vic and Russ took over reading the manual, getting it set up and tracking. Never forget it. All we had to do was keep the boat head- ing between dashes down this imaginary
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highway toward next destination. Still had some major misgivings, however, so plot- ted chart courses with compass for backup. Stopping only at Brown’s wharf in Gloucester to fuel up, we pulled in to… around 2PM the next day where we met up with Bing Murray, ex of Goose Cove Ma- rine at that time working in Rhode Island. We talk with Bing for a few minutes, he points down the dock and here comes this guy, grey suit, polished black leather shoes, alone, six pack of beer under his arm. He walks up, sticks out his hand, says “permis- sion to come aboard”, starts taking off his shoes. Bing unbeknownst to me, had set up an appointment with Phil Noel, then gov- ernor of Rhode island (who really should have graduated to President of this coun- try). One of the nicer guys I’ve ever met. We chat for about an hour, show Gov- ernor Phil the boat. By now he’s barefoot, taken off the tie and jacket. Dusk is com- ing on. Our crew hadn’t eaten but a few sandwiches and junk food for the trip when Bing and Governor Phil start talking about heading out to Block Island where Phil was partner in a motel off of what is called the “cow pasture”. Not a long run out.... “Why not? Can’t dance. Let’s do it” Head down Narragansett Bay. Fall darkness dropping like a blanket. Charts out. Trying to read it by red overhead light and set the Loran. Bing and Governor are doing “native navigating” and steering. I’m just a bit uneasy with somewhere shy of a hundred grand wrapped up in a new boat and someone else’s engine. Bing and Gov- ernor Phil get into a debate over whether this lighted buoy is “such” and is that the lighthouse on the tip of “whatchamagou- lit”. Five sets of eyes straining to see where we are and where we’re supposed to be go- ing. Talk about “blind leading the blind.” Hour(s) or so we’re tied up to some-
one’s dock in the “cow pasture” after threading our way through what seemed hundreds of boats anchored “
A...to elbow.” Big sigh of relief on this child’s part. Phil and Bing take us off to what must have been a nearby restaurant with bar, of
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course, for steaks. From that point until next morning early, I can’t remember but little. Could have fallen asleep at the table for all I know. With pressure to fi nish boat, trip down, trip out to Block. I was exhaust- ed. Remember waking up next morning, room in Phil’s motel, looking over at Vic in next bed and him making some crazy re- mark now lost in memory. We assembled. Two somebodies had slept on the boat...I think one was Governor
Phil...toddled off for breakfast somewhere and conversation led to “Bluefi sh were run- ning.” Damned if the governor didn’t get together some rods, gear, and live bait and on the way back we hit the “Blues” in a big way. Hazard to say we must have landed over a half dozen big fi sh.
First chapter completed we rented a
car, fi leted the “blues” bought cooler and ice and struck off for home. Second crew took over to do the Newport show, and hand her over to Bob in Annapolis for that show. Had a lot of interest, but with idea in mind to sell it before winter, I took cash and a used sailboat in trade. Break even deal with the sailboat sitting on the back lot for a few years.
That winter, began to hear of a few problems with the engine. 1100 hours the cooling system would corrode and engine would overheat. By that time we had done a smaller boat, 28 footer for a gentleman on the island and placed the engine partially in the forward cabin, lobsterboat style. He loved the boat. Used it out of Bar Harbor, then Northeast virtually every day with decent weather. Went out with him to Mt. Desert Rock on a beautiful summer day as part of the bargain to build the boat. Noisy, couldn’t hear yourself think. Stayed in the cockpit most of the trip. As I recall he’d simply turn his hearing aid down. Said to him, “Why don’t you let us build an engine box and do some soundproofi ng?” Answer was: “Like it just the way it is. Wife doesn’t want to go out with me.”
Few years later this same guy has Continued on Page 20.
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