On 2020-03-22, Richard Smith wrote:
Hello all

You are a group with a lot of technical interests and knowledge.

Boats - for a vessel with a single screw and about 500HP, or a
twin-screw vessel with about 1000HP (500HP each engine and gearbox
drive)...

Some have a/two straight-6cylinder engine(s) like the Cummins K19(M?)

Some have a/two Caterpillar 3412 V12 engine(s)

Why?

The straight-6 would be - cheaper? simpler?
The V12 would be - ... ?

O.K. Just a guess -- the V12 has smoother torque through the
two full rotations of the crankshaft. This might result in less
vibration -- which might be desirable for a passenger ship instead of a
freight vessel. This might also improve the lifetime of couplings and
propeller drive shafts. Also, motor mounts, if the motor has flexible
mounts as automobiles have.

Someone else has already given the desirability to have two
engines per screw -- so you've got something to power it when one fails.

There are a number of other followups which I have yet to read.
now on to them.

Thanks in advance is you can help take this curiousity to its
end-point.

Regards,
Rich S

Good Luck,
DoN.

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