The first impressions of the Fleming 55 engine room are its clean, well thought out appearance and the ease of accessibility to every piece of equipment.
A well known feature of the Fleming 55 is its quietness and freedom from vibration. Much of the credit for this lies with the Aquadrive shaft drive system which isolates the engine and transmission from the propeller thrust permitting the use of much softer engine mounts. Aquadrives are fitted as standard on every Fleming and their rotating couplings are concealed beneath fiberglass covers for safety.
Another reason for the quietness of the Fleming is the careful attention paid to sound insulation. Lead/foam insulation is used extensively throughout and all hatches are dogged down on rubber gaskets. There are even double hatches separated by an air space over each engine.
Fuel tanks are made of fiberglass with integrally molded sumps to allow maximum useage of fuel. Vinylester resin is used in their construction on the interior and fire-retardant resin in the outer layers. The fuel system has been designed to make it impossible to transfer fuel inadvertently through the fuel return system.
Access to the engine room is via two hatches in the salon sole or from the lazarette through an uniquely shaped door designed for easy access.
Engine room intake air enters from the lazarette to ensure it is free of salt before reaching the engines and generators.
For safety and convenience each Cummins 500 engine has start and stop buttons on the engine and a power take-off is standard on each transmission for neat and efficient installation of optional stabilizers.
Lazarette
Inside the large lazarette are 300 gallons of water in four polyethylene water tanks as well as the four airconditioning compressors providing heating and cooling for the whole boat. Against the transom is the steering system with connection point for the autopilot. The tops for the rudder stocks terminate above the waterline. Also in this location are the secondary mufflers for the main engines. Despite all this equipment there remains 95 cu. ft. of storage for fenders and other equipment.
An oval door gives access through the forward bulkhead to the engine room.
