Question 171Motor Plants - Assistant Engineer

The correct answer is D) the system can be manually recharged. Hydraulic starters are installed on many lifeboat diesel engines instead of comparable air start systems because the hydraulic system can be manually recharged. This is an important safety feature for lifeboat engines, as it ensures the engine can be started even if the primary power source is not available. Air start systems, on the other hand, require a high-pressure air supply that may not be readily available in an emergency situation. The manual recharging capability of the hydraulic system makes it a more reliable and practical choice for lifeboat engines. The other answer choices are incorrect because they do not fully explain the key advantage of the hydraulic starter system for lifeboat applications. While cost and speed may be factors, the ability to manually recharge the system is the primary reason hydraulic starters are preferred over air starters for lifeboat diesel engines.