Frequent starting and stopping of engines?

[Relentlessfishing]

Just wanted to get an idea as to what others do when drifting in realtively shallow water where engine noise can be a factor?? We all hear how diesel engines hate to idle so is it better to shut them down and restart often or let them idle anyways>> any feedback would be greatly appreciated

[seapower]

this is kind of a catch 22 here. Idling a diesel isn't a good practice, that being said the key is excessive idling. It's not advisable to run it all day long at a no load or partiale load. This causes wet stacking (unburned fuel build up). This is ecspecially true if you have a "higher output" engine, the older engines handled this better.If you idle your engine for a fairly long time, it would be a good idea to put it under a good load to get the heat up in the cylinder's to burn the excess fuel. When you power up you'll see the extra smoke, after a short time your exhaust should clear up. No need to bet "wrapped up around the axle" here. Some will say not to idle and some will say to run them nearly in the corner. I think common sense prevail's here. Take care of it and use it. Frank, SeaPower

[reelfishin]

We troll a lot and once we start our engines we leave them on. Even when drift fishing we let the engines idle. I find that we have to make adjustments on the boats drift position while drifting due to wind or wave action on the boat.
Even when we are anchored we have our generator running. So there is always noise around our boat. We feel that it is not a problem for the type of fishing we do.

[Relentlessfishing]

this is kind of a catch 22 here. Idling a diesel isn't a good practice, that being said the key is excessive idling. It's not advisable to run it all day long at a no load or partiale load. This causes wet stacking (unburned fuel build up). This is ecspecially true if you have a "higher output" engine, the older engines handled this better.If you idle your engine for a fairly long time, it would be a good idea to put it under a good load to get the heat up in the cylinder's to burn the excess fuel. When you power up you'll see the extra smoke, after a short time your exhaust should clear up. No need to bet "wrapped up around the axle" here. Some will say not to idle and some will say to run them nearly in the corner. I think common sense prevail's here. Take care of it and use it. Frank, SeaPower

Frank,
thanks for the input was just wondering what may or may not be acceptable on another note what is your opinion of the Cummins 6BTA5.9 engines I recently got a new vessel with these engines they are 2001 with only 258 hrs on them whe nthe boat was purchased now around 415 was just wondering what I can expect for engine life from these so many different opinions from what I have read here and there I do not usually run more than 2400 rpms thanks again this all very helpful

[seapower]

If you take care of them, they will certainly take care of you. What horsepower are your B serie's, what size boat? Good economical engines, they are very owner friendly aswell,(not overlly complicated). I owned them in my commercial boat's myself, with not a day missed because of the engine's. I am a Cummin's dealer these day's(doesn't mean much), and will be glad to help as I can. Frank,SeaPower

[captjohn22]

Just wanted to get an idea as to what others do when drifting in realtively shallow water where engine noise can be a factor?? We all hear how diesel engines hate to idle so is it better to shut them down and restart often or let them idle anyways>> any feedback would be greatly appreciated

If there is any risk of grounding or collision or any rapid change in conditions, I would never shut the engines off.