I move henceforth that we refer to the engine panel key switch as the "Engine Master Switch / EMS".

In addition I move that we refer the the control on the right side of the pedistal as the "Power lever / PL" or Engine Condition Lever / ECL.

I also resolve that it should stop raining in Florida so Duane can get outside and get his mnd off these things.

In reference to the key switch. There exists an ignition inside the cylinders. That ignition will never get started unless you turn the key. I don't think of it as an ignition switch, but I don't have a problem with people who do. In contrast to a gas engine, there's not much difference. With an old style spark ignition, the opening of the contact inside the distributor the induction of the coil creates a spark. The real ignition switching is what occurs inside the distributor, not at the dashboard. It's no more of an ignition switch than the key switch on the diesel.

Likewise a throttle [URL="http://www.thefreedictionary.com/throttle"]definition on the web[/URL] indicates that "to throttle" is to regulate the flow of fuel. If we were all 100% literal in our conversation, discussions would get extremely difficult. There will always be a vast amount of implications and assumptions in any discussion, with the possible exception of legal documents. We know they're no fun to read.

GTJ

Here's the one that really drives me crazy.....

RPM = Correct way

RPM's = Is just wrong

YES - The engine turns 1000 revolutions per [B]minute[/B]

NOT - The engine turns 1000 revolutions per minute[B]s[/B]

Here I sit also...bored and drinking... waiting for Andrea to move on and this lightning storm with her so that (ironically) I can finish my lightning protection system. So I muse on my landlubber sister's question of last week:

Why doesn't a sheet look like a sheet?

I slit a sheet;
A sheet I slit
And on my slitted sheet
I sit.

Another sip....and once again...

I slit a sheet;
A sleet I slip
And on my sitted sleet
I sip.

Another sip...

You always hear about animals getting goofy during weather changes. It obviously affects land locked sailors as well. Must be a big storm.

Here's another one, 6 Nautical Miles Per Hour, or, 6 Knots per Hour. Wrong.
6 Knots. Right.

Also, we don't, with the Mk IIs and a full tank of fuel, actually need any electrics for the engine to run since they will gravity feed quite nicely, speaking from experience of spending a full summer on a dead fuel pump and not knowing it. If one knew how to crank start a Model T, I'm pretty sure one could so start our little diesels with no help from the "Engine Master Switch" at all.

I dunno Bud; my first boat (old Watkins 27) had an 8hp Yanmar diesel with a hand crank. You'd hold the compression release, turn the crank until it was spinning as fast is you could go, and let go of the compression release. I was NEVER able to get that thing to start. As soon as I let go of the compression release, 'doink!!!' it would stop turning instantly. Maybe a silver back gorilla could start it but I sure couldn't (and I was much younger then). Probably much more compression in that one cylinder diesel than a Model T had.

My uncle had a name for any device, part or assembly that he couldn't identify. He just called it a 'frotus'. Like "What's that frotus for?" or "Hand me that little round frotus". I always know what he's referring to, even if I don't know what it is. It gets a funny look from guests when they point to something and say "what's that?" and I reply, "ah, it's just a frotus".:p

OK, I sat out Andrea too, aboard. Duane wins!! with "Snatch Block", that one made me roll.