New Diesel Engine

[Barry Rietz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPg_pFZLago

[ssobol]

I think that the 300hp version is about 2x the weight of a similar hp gasser. The 300 hp is $55K.

[DayBreak]

Love the idea of having a diesel outboard but the weight of the 150 hp model is at about 675 pounds and costs around $45,000. For a C-Dory, the weight on the transom is probably the most important factor to consider.

[thataway]

These outboard diesels have been around for over 2 years, yet not mainstream. I thought they said that the 150 was 772#. and about $50,000. It is a 4 cal horizontally mounted engine, with belt drive to lower unit, using slipping clutches for low speed. Carry an extra belt!!!--and maybe clutches? I believe that the narration mentioned two gearings : one for torque and one for speed.

Market is tender for super yachts...The 125 to 200 HP are the same 4 cal block. The 300 hp is a 6 cal block and weighs more. They do pass tier 3 emissions.

[ssobol]

There is one diesel that has a horizontal block. The COX diesel 300HP has a vertical block arrangement the same as a typical gas outboard, so no belts. Still $55K.

https://coxmarine.com/

[srbaum]

There is a market for diesel outboards, for both the military and yachts.
Years ago, it was common for gas to be on military ships, for portable firefighting pumps and outboard engines on smaller boats. All that went away and ships now use JP5 fuel for main engines, auxiliary pumps and small boats. Small boats use either diesel engines or Mercury outboards, that runs on JP5.
The mega-yachts mostly got away from gas for small boats, due to insurance reasons. Most of the yachts now have diesels in their small boats.

[DayBreak]

You may be right Bob. The information I gave was in an article from Boating Magazine https://www.boatingmag.com/story/boats/oxe-diesel-outboard/ which states that the motor weighs about 675 lbs.

Found another article from Outboard Diesel https://www.outboarddiesel.com/products/oxe-150/ which states that the 150 hp motor weights in at 350 kg which when rounded up is 772 lbs. Not sure what to believe. Thanks for mentioning the weight difference.

[T.R. Bauer]

They are interesting and fun to discuss. However, at this time they are not a realistic option mostly due to the crazy expensive cost. The weight....well....you're wallet is going to be lots lighter even if your transom isn't!

[hardee]

I would not be surprised to see some of these on the water taxi boats up on the BC coast. If history holds true, these should outlast the gas engines by 3 to 4 times. That and given the higher fuel efficiency (greater MPG), they will pay off for the guys that are replacing gas OB's every 2-4 years at 3,000 hours. They are typically 26 foot up to 30-ish, so the weight will be less of an issue. Be interesting to see how they hold up in the continual use marine environment.

Harvey
SleepyC

[NORO LIM]

I saw an OXE in a marine supply store in Petersburg, Alaska recently (listed weight of around 350 Kg, I think, and no price tag showing). Haven't seen one on a boat yet. Somebody's got to take the always risky first step - especially in a small remote market. Either a buyer willing to chance a purchase without much access to parts and service, or a seller willing to invest in a parts and service chain without many buyers.

It would be difficult enough to try selling, say, Honda outboards in small market already dominated by Yamaha. It would be even harder to introduce a largely unknown and untested design of outboard. On the other hand, remote commercial use seems like a natural market for a long-lived, economical-to-run engine, and there are many experienced marine diesel mechanics around places like that who are used to fixin' stuff. There are also a surprising number of people in some of these smaller remote places with enough wealth that spending 50 or 60 thousand dollars on an experiment or a toy isn't that big a deal.

It looks like a beast of an engine. I'm guessing I'll see one on a boat before too long.

[ssobol]

[NORO LIM]