Engines Afloat, from Early Days to D-Day (Vol. 2)     

From the first motor launches, Gold Cup racers, and fishing boats to World War II landing Craft -- here is the true story of internal combustion on the water! This
fascinating two-volume book presents the only comprehensive history of the U.S. marine engine industry. Engines Afloat offers a unique blend of biography, history, and technical explanations with the kind of storytelling for which its author is so
well-known. The time frame is 1884 -1944.

Chapter 2 , Diesels: Here is the story of the trend from gasoline to diesel. Included is the decline of the big West Coast gasoline engine and its replacement by the diesel developed by Atlas-Imperial . On the East Coast, Nelseco was also working to develop a diesel for both commercial use and in submarines. Its story, together with those of Seattle's Washington-Estep and the Sumner-Willamette of Portland, Oregon are included.

Chapter 3, Rivers: Here is the most detailed story yet of the "gasoline steamboat" and the rise of the diesel towboat. This is a little-known but important chapter in the history of internal combustion engine, for the engines made it possible for many more people to engage in commercial business on the country's inland rivers. From the Little Kanawha to the Mississippi and beyond, the story of these engines and the boats they powered is told. Engine companies featured include Fairbanks-Morse of Wisconsin and Cooper-Bessemer of Mount Vernon Ohio and Oil City, Pennsylvania.

Chapter 4, General Motors: Take a trip inside the GM research labs headed by Charles Kettering as GM engineers struggle to develop the high-speed diesel for World War II submarines, subchasers, and D-Day landing craft. This is the fascinating story of a great American visionary, for it was Kettering whose ideas and leadership paced the way through years of trials to ultimate success. Also told is the story of the self-made, Scottish-born millionaire Alexander Winton whose company GM eventually purchased.

Chapter 5, Navy: At about the midpoint of research for this book, the author began to wonder about what was going on within the Navy while so much activity was occurring in virtually every phase of marine engine development and application. The result is a very rare glimpse into the Navy's adoption of internal combustion engines for small boats and submarines. The Packard PT boat V-12 is covered. So is GM's "pancake diesel" used in subchasers.

There's More!

Both volumes of Engines Afloat include an Appendix and a useful Index. In Volume I, the Appendix includes a most unusual glossary of terms so that readers will be able to identify how the first generation of engine designers defined the machines they were building. Volume II includes fascinating operating instructions relating to Kahlenberg and Hicks engines.

Both books measure a big 8 1/2" x 11" trim size! Volume One contains 224 pages and 101 illustrations. Volume Two contains 192 pages and 89 illustrations.