Race Point Dry Dock Update

Race Point recently had it’s first engine replacement since it went into service in 1985.

With support from a $800,000 grant from the Volkswagen Mitigation Trust, the Ferry District was able to replace all five engines, including propellers and propeller shafts. The new engines are all Cummins diesel Tier 3 compliant and are designed to reduce soot, smog and other types of dangerous pollution that comes from engine exhaust. Two Cummins 575HP X15’s replace Caterpillar 530HP engines. Additionally, there are two Cummins ONAN 40kw generators and one Cummins QSL9 bow thruster engine.

The end result will be a cleaner burning more fuel efficient Race Point – expected to be back in service at the end of April.

A lot of discussion and analysis went into making the Race Point faster however, simply put, significantly increasing the engine horsepower resulted in a minimal increase in speed at a much greater cost.

: Race Point in drydock.

: Deck openings into engine room sized to all removal and replacement of all five engines.

: Engine room with all five 1985 engines removed including two main propulsion Caterpillars; two Detroit Diesel Generators and one Detroit diesel Bow thruster

: Engine room with just old bow thruster engine to remove.

: Not all that easy to see but we are looking at one of two Cummins Onan 14kw generators on left as well as a Cummins QSL9 bow thruster engine on right.