Diesel powered outboard

[Hamin' X]

I've been trying to keep quite about the diesel vs gas vehicle controversy, but have got to chime in. Chip and Tom sound like the Mac owner and the Catalina owner. Both look at the other's boat derisively. It's the same with vehicles, it depends on how your going to use them. I have a 2001 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD extended cab with long box and 6.6 Duramax w/Allison automatic. It only has 31,000 miles on it, because it only goes when and where there is work to be done. It pulls 15,000 pounds of horse trailer with living quarters over our mountain passes, like it "wasn't there". It gets about 15 mpg when working and nearly 25 mph empty, on the highway. The diesel was a 4,000 dollar option and the Allison trany was another 2 grand. Here are the current prices of the same rig with different engines:

6.0 L gas, $20,080
8.1 L gas, $20,545
6.6 L diesel, $26,880

By the way, I only paid $37,000 for it new.

Good buy, you bet. Maintains value, you bet. Works hard you bet. Rig for everyone, not even. All things are relative.

Rich

[Tom Root]

But in the interest of deriving potential all-around performance, one CAN make minor, identical changes to each (as factory-issued by Chevy) and easily prove the diesel is superior in virtually every aspect, towing, acceleration, quarter-mile ...
the modern diesel is vastly superior, hands down.

Yeah you're right, as long as you're talking about racing diesels.

Oh, wait. There are no racing diesels. That must be because the racers are all confused, because you guys who think diesels are better can't be all wrong.

LOL....had a chuckle at that one Chip!

Yes, you are in fact correct, but I'd have to say that is simply because someone hasn't done it yet. Will it be done....who knows?

See something you guys don't know BTW! Both Chip and I were both Marines, and as I respect just about everyones opinion on this board, I respect his even more because of that. He, and a few other brother Marines on here will always be my extended family. We ate the same dirt....and I'll leave it at that.

He knows I am NOT meaning to disrespect his POV, and he's welcome into my hooch out here in California, anytime!

We both are strong willed, if ya haven't figured that out, but just thought I'd point that out publicly, we are family.....relatively speaking, besides I think he owns the best brand boat on the market for the bux!

Again, I'd prefer a Diesel outboard, but that's me, and unless I choose to go to Central America, and smuggle one up.....(That's what the manufacturer said I'd have to do!) I guess I won't have one anytime soon....Huh?

[waternwaves]

robert.........

the caveat is the 'core ' here...

have you weighed a 50 hp electric motor recently?

and the 50 hp diesel to drive it?

and the 50 hp gen/alt to power the motor........

too many windings and too many cores......

It is fun to watch people sing praises of each engine technology. However neither internal combustion engine type(gas or diesel) has the efficiency of fuel cells or external combustion cycle engines.


lets compare apples to apple pie here......

lets see....

GM 350 cu in. dry weight and hp and torque compared to a similar weighing diesel.........

let's select the new MB 3-liter V6 diesel engine with an aluminium block from Hydro’s casting operation in Dillingen, Germany which boasts 224 horsepower, and the total engine weight is 208 kilograms.

now lets see an aluminum northstar or ls1/ls6 block.202 kg., 405 hp, .........about twice the hp and more torque....... hmmmm


don't get me wrong... diesels have their place hi weight/power..... but the technology for weight reduction is significantly behind that of gas engines. and because of the underlying physics of the problem..... it is not going to change in the near future..

and I just don't see my mac as a high weight/power applicaton.

So I will wait a little longer....

Its going to be a while before someone comes out with a marine 90 hp diesel engine and outdrive that only weighs 325 lbs.

[kevperro]

The Fuel Cells look like the holy grail. Now if they can just learn to crank up a fusion electric plant we can tell the Arabs to kiss our gas.