Gas Turbine Powered Sunseeker

dragoon

dragoon

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When in East Cowes yesterday, we heard the sound of gas turbine engines approaching, and were surprised to see what I think was a Portofino 31 go past with 2 massive stainless exhausts poking out of its transom.

Chatting to the lady in the marina office, she suggested it was powered by helicopter engines.

Does anyone know anything about it? I'd be curious to hear some stats, performance and efficiency wise? Also, any ideas how it's coupled to the propulsion units, and are they regular props or something else?

Cheers Paul
 
Helicopter gas turbines produce a propshaft output like a conventional engine. They have little or no thrust in the conventional jet sense.

They are popular with drag racers for the same obvious reasons.
 
According to one of the videos it has 10 knots min speed at idle... (may be fixed by now)

Should make it interesting to berth!

Looks like fun none the less
 
MarieK said:
According to one of the videos it has 10 knots min speed at idle... (may be fixed by now)

Should make it interesting to berth!

Looks like fun none the less
Click to expand...

I also saw it mentioned a top speed of 45 knots, so a bit slower than a conventional twin V8 engined Monterey.

So, wonderful, but ultimately completely pointless. :D
 
Alpha22 said:
Helicopter gas turbines produce a propshaft output like a conventional engine. They have little or no thrust in the conventional jet sense.

They are popular with drag racers for the same obvious reasons.
Click to expand...

Ah, I didn't realise that - so they can drive props, outdrives or whatever.....curious, but boy the noise would drive me bonkers!

Do the exhausts get hot? I can't help but think that the whole thing is at risk of going up in smoke looking at the metal work poking through the GRP!
 
MarieK said:
According to one of the videos it has 10 knots min speed at idle... (may be fixed by now)

Should make it interesting to berth!

Looks like fun none the less
Click to expand...

Seems perfectly normal.....isn't that how all Sunseeker owners berth....... [kidding] :)
 
ari said:
I also saw it mentioned a top speed of 45 knots, so a bit slower than a conventional twin V8 engined Monterey.

So, wonderful, but ultimately completely pointless. :D
Click to expand...

Brilliant yes, but suspect his gearbox / propulsion unit is not tuned to the power that the turbine can give out .... back in 1959 it developed around 250 Hp, but I believe later military applications took out up to 750 hp out of the very light lump (weight to hp ratio that is...). Now if he could take out about 500 hp and fit a well matched propulsion unit, that SS would shift!!

http://www.gasturbine.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/allison.htm
 
MarieK said:
According to one of the videos it has 10 knots min speed at idle... (may be fixed by now)

Should make it interesting to berth!

Looks like fun none the less
Click to expand...

There's another gas turbine boat in the area - Brave Challenger moored on the Itchen:

Brave-Challenger-yacht-r.jpg


Official top speed of 60 knots, but unfortunately she doesn't seem to go anywhere these days. I heard somewhere that the owner was trying to buy an old hovercraft that used the same engines, to cannibalise for spares - don't know if he's just thinking ahead, or if that means the current engines are knackered.

Anyway, the point is that as well as the three gas turbines, she also has a pair of smaller diesels for slow-speed manoeuvring. It would make sense for this Sunseeker to have a small "impulse engine" as well, though it sounds like she currently does not.

Pete
 
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I have to say I saw this and thought the OP had been on the sauce and listened to too many tourist tales from the dock.

However the clip clearly shows the evidence !

I am a little lost for words. I am not really sure I see the point ?
 
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