diesel outboard

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FergusM

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Yesterday, I came across an item in a US sailing forum, which said that China Diesel Industries (or a similar name) had a 4hp diesel outboard, and would import it to the USA if there was enough interest. I have tried to search the Internet for this motor, but without success. Has anyone heard anything about it?

I remember reading in PBO 30 odd years ago about Ruggerini and Carniti diesel outboards, and later about a Yanmar 27 hp. A really small one, like a 4 hp, might be of interest to a lot of people, despite the weight and noise.
 
I have seen pictures of this engine, and it looks very agricultural, somewhat like a seagull. I bet its a very noisy, heavy unbalanced lump. The yanmar 27hp is abt the weight of a 40 hp petrol so expect this to be abt the weight of a 10hp petrol. There are some small diesel engines being developed so perhaps the future will provide a nice diesel outboard, but dont hold your breath.

Yanmar produced two very good outboards (the 27 and the 35hp), but have never been able to get a production line going on them so they are all hand built - the cost makes what is a great engine, unrealistic as a power plant (I should know, I have had one since 1993).
 
Probably to heavy for a tender but ideal for an auxillary for a small yacht.On a boat like my Anderson with an outboard well built in to the cockpit you would get the best of both worlds.

I dont think I could be tempted by an unknown import though, Spares could be a problem and its a bit of a gamble as to reliability .
 
I know the tender on the Northern Lights ship 'Pole Star' has a diesel outboard. Can't for the life of me remember what make or hp it is, but it was ideal for the work boat. I think it was one of the major manufacturers rather than some obscure make. Was a good engine so they told me.
 
A few years ago the water taxi in Braye Alderney had a Diesel Outboard. I'm pretty sure it was a Honda of about 75hp . Vrey smooth as I recall but probably a bit big for an Anderson (or for my Parker 21!).

Geoff
 
No wonder they don't show a picture of it 93KG for 4 hp!!!!!!!!! what must it look like?. Strange how they recommend a boat to go with the engine and not the other way around.
Just noticed, there are pictures UNBELIEVABLE! what a death trap
 
To the best of my knowledge, the only diesel outboards that have been built that were worth anything are the old coventry climax, ruggerini, and yanma. Of these 3, the Yanma is by far the best (I have a 27hp version) I know that the taxi at Bembridge is powered by a 35hp version.

There are also rumours of an Australian diesel outboard for production in abt a year
 
It's an odd looking thing and I don't fancy those unguarded belt drives.

I seem to remember that HP is not the same as BHP and that a 4HP engine will be something like a 6 or 7 BHP. Any engineers around?
 
I once installed a 15hp Rugerinni on a woods Banshee. Took 4men to lift it and put the engine nacelle in the water.
Unbelivebly noisy and the vibration tried to shake the boat to bits.
I dont think that I could recomend them.
 
Moderate number of 15HP Rugerinis on the canals, usually fitted to the smaller narrowboats where the boat weighs enough to deal with the vast engine. Don't think I'd want one where removing the engine/trailing the boat were going to be regular activities, too heavy. Owner's to whom I spoke seemed on the whole very pleased with them.

You might get additional useful comments from Springer narrowboat owners.
 
Only have two bad things to say about my engine -

It only produces 10 amps from the alternator.

The power band is almost an exponential curve as it reaches full revs, so that at 2000 revs it is only producing 5 hp, whereas at at 4000 revs it is 18hp and full 27 hp does not develop until 4500 revs (full speed). Thus propellor size is very important, and mine could do with being the next size down

But you wouldnt want to lift it (I have a couple of times when I was younger and dont recommend it!)
 
As understand it, HP is what the engine produces, and BHP is what is produced after transmission losses. So if the HP figure is correct att he engine, expect less power at the prop.
 
Wouldn't it be higher even after taking account of the transmission losses because of the gearing. 2:1 giving double the power less the mechanical inefficiency would still be a net gain, surely.
 
No way is THAT going anywhere near my boat! At the moment I have a 4hp 4 stroke Suzuki and a 5 hp 2 stroke Yamaha as a back up in a cockpit locker.

The combined weight of the two is less than one of these beasts.

As for the unguarded belts ,an accident waiting to happen. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
If you ignore transmission losses the gearing won't affect the power. A 10hp unit is still going to be 10hp, whether the gearing is 1:1, 3:1 or 1:3. The RPM at the output side will alter, but the torque(?) will vary inversely.

An electrical analogy would be that the power of a 100watt circuit will not alter if you have 100volts at 1 amp, or 10volts at 10amps. The power is still 100watts.

I'm still not sure what the difference between HP and BHP is though. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
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