Haun begins by pointing out how more and more professionals are switching away from inboard motors to outboards on small military craft, workboats, patrol boats another others kinds of vessels that were historically inboard engine powered. This gives the boats several advantages including easier access to maintenance, quicker replacement and the extra space available inside the boat.
At this point the discussion turns to diesel outboards, which have advantages of their own, one of the foremost being fuel safety. The author writes, Compared to gasoline, diesel is a less flammable fuel and therefore much safer to work with in all working environments. In addition, with diesel engines the combustion of fuel takes place due to the heat generated by the compression of fuel and air inside the cylinder. Compression ignition is safer than petroleum being ignited by a spark plug, or any other spark.
One of Haun's sources was OXE Marine, a Sweden-based diesel outboard manufacturer. According to Myron Mahendra, CEO of OXE Marine, “Many vessels are hindered by regulations to carry petrol onboard if fire safe containment is not provided. The use of petrol is, therefore, a challenge for any vessel with tenders.”
He also spoke with U.K.-based Cox Powertrain, which makes diesel outboards as well. Cox noted that NATO has been pushing a single fuel idea, with the aim of maximizing equipment interoperability by using a single fuel option. This is one of the drivers behind the CXO300 diesel outboard Cox Powertrain has developed.
The end result here is that rescue vessels, naval and military vessels can refuel at the mother ship without being burdened with the hazard of highly volatile gasoline.
"Another benefit associated with diesel is efficiency," writes Haun. "Both Cox and OXE point to significant fuel savings compared to gas. Cox claims its 300-horsepower CXO300 offers roughly 30% fuel savings compared to its gasoline equivalent, while Mahendra says the 300-horsepower OXE 300, due to enter production shortly, uses up to 42% less fuel than a comparable gasoline outboard."
https://www.marinelink.com/
No company has more diesel outboards than OXE Marine from Sweden, with five horsepower ratings, including 125, 150, 175, 200 and 300 hp.
ReplyDeleteEach features a horizontally mounted engine, versus the vertically oriented power-heads specially designed for most outboards (Seven Marine being a notable exception).
“A horizontally mounted engine offers inherently better lubrication and, as a result, a longer operating life,” says Pim Pelosi, chief marketing officer for OXE. Though the outboards are available to recreational boaters through a network of US dealers, the company is focusing on commercial fishing, law enforcement, rescue, military and towing, which demand long-term durability and are less price-sensitive.
The 125 to 200 hp models utilize inline four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbo-charged diesel engines, while the 300 model sports an inline six-cylinder 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel power-plant from BMW. All come with closed-cooling systems, which help reduce corrosion issues, and electronic power steering. Each model complies with the federal EPA Tier III standards for diesel emissions.
It is well known in the boating industry that the popularity of outboard motors continues to trend upward. I/Os are dead in the water. Inboards now seem relegated to midsize and larger motoryachts. Twin outboards are so passé. Triples and quads are de rigueur. Besides adding another motor to the highly reinforced transom of, say, a 40‘ center-console fishing machine, are there any other options? Well, yes, sort of.
ReplyDeleteThere is an emerging market for diesel outboard engines (outboard motors was always a poor choice of words). All are targeting commercial customers in transportation, oil and gas, fishing, and other marine sectors, because it’s perceived that those sectors will pay the higher cost (versus gas outboards) for the convenience of having one fuel aboard the mother ship, and longer engine service life with longer intervals between maintenance.