What engine configuration would you choose???

hobiecat

hobiecat

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I am involved with this boat for the record but interested in the forums views on what type of engine they would fit if they owned one and why. the central pod on a cat hull offers lots of possibilities. Single diesel inboard 130 hp, Single petrol inboard, single outboard, twin outbaords, genset in centre and twin electric, twin diesel shafts, hydraulics, jets, etcc?????Hybrids - Any interesting ideas????? 130 hp diesel around 26 knots, 10hp will give around 7 knots.
 
Single diesel outdrive, cheapest to run, fuel easily available, outdrive tiltable to clear prop and take the ground, easy /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Ok, but you have to think about resale. 26knts is an acceptable speed for coastal use, and not everyone wants a boat that is only suitable for river use. While not ideal for river use, the single diesel will cope easily with it and mean it is more flexible.
 
i refer you to the answer I gave last time you asked the same question............

are you in a position to be more precise on the relative prices now?

unfortunately these will enable me (us) to accurately predict what various buying grounps will go for - as well as what they should go for but won't...............

personally I think it's a no brainer for coastal - single D3 160

inland waterways (speed restricted) is a lot more difficult however
 
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What engine configuration would you choose???


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I hope I never have to. Boy is that ugly. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Twin Yam 60 hi thrust with hydraulic steering is same price as diesel d3 130 hp. Both just over 60k mark inc VAT. Single inboard petrol looks about £5k cheaper and similiar price to a single outboard. I reckon smart money might be on single petrol inboard or outboard as it is much lighter and thats a lot of fuel to make up in capital cost. Also cheaper service costs. Smart choice will probably be the least popular.
 
that would make the D3 a clear winner unless people get silly re 'twin engines dafe/single engine ugh'

and they will 'cos they will be trading up from singles and part of thier argument will be..............
 
I'd actually be interested to know more about the boat - although before you get excited I can't afford one....

But one day who knows....

And I think with the fuel prices going up and up (even if we keep red) then economy will mean Cats take a far bigger market share.

Grant
 
IMHO, you've got 2 widely spaced hulls so use them. Twin engines in this boat would make it handle so easily at slow speeds especially as it looks like the boat carries a fair bit of windage for its length
So, for me, it would be 2 diesel sterndrives or better shaftdrives but I can understand that at this price level, shaftdrive would add too much cost
 
So you are saying Inboard diesels then. My thought was to have one central Genset and run two lecky inboards - this is for River use mind you.

Although, if it were to be used for coastal cruising, then two diesel lecky hybrids, like the Vetus one, if you said 30hp each side, this way you can get around 12-15 knots to go across the channel then turn the diesels off and use the lectric powered engines to cruise the French canals, in silence!! Then when your batteries run out, start the diesels and use them - I expect you'll get around 30 hours battery time because of the hull design - just a guess mind you!
 
What performance with about 50-70 diesel horses in each hull?, on a sterndrive? Two x small high revving diesel from Mr Ford might be financiall viable as an alternative to some costly Swedish metal.

Nobody has mentioned an IPS setup.

Not unattractive as a boat but I'm unlikely to be able to afford one.
 
Nobody is going to buy a cat for river use are they? The only rational argument for losing the internal space is the greater stability, which is irrelevant on rivers, so I'll assume its coastal use.

The only other argument for a cat is they can take the ground, so best to avoid shafts. That leaves strendrive or outboards, I'd probably go outboards over petrol sterndrive, cost similar but leaves more space on board and easier to have repaired 'cos you can take 'em off, but best option probably a single diesel sterndrive, which does take up space, but then if space was a high priority you wouldn't choose a small cat in the first place.

I actually think its an alright boat, I can certainly see it might work as a fisher / cruiser, where the stability of two hulls would be a big plus at anchor in more exposed fishing locations.
 
The fact that a displacement cat produces neglible wash means it has great advantages as a river boat. The small engines mean you can go to sea as well. In Boatmart this month there is a big article about a displacement cat happily going to sea on 2x10hp engines. It could work equally well as a fisher cruiser as a river boat as it can happily go over 20 kntos at comfortable displacement speeds. I am interested in what the market is likely to go for in terms of engines. How much more are people willing to pay for a diesel inboard over a petrol inboard? Would people want a hybrid - any bright ideas for this?
 
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