Engine Room

Largest Diesel in the World: 107,389-hp and 90 Feet Long

By Peter Janssen on January 20, 2020 Engine Room

If you think your engine room is crowded, take a look at this: The Wärtsilä RT-flex96C, the largest and most powerful diesel engine in the world. It is 44 feet tall and 90 feet long, has 14 cylinders and develops 107,389 hp. And it’s not available on the recreational boat market. Instead, it’s meant for large container ships. Read more from zmescience: This jaw-dropper is the Wärtsilä RT-flex96C, the world’s largest and most powerful diesel engine. Built in Finland, the RT-flex96C’s fourteen cylinders can generate 107,389HP with more than 7,000,000Nm of torque — that’s enough to power an entire suburban…

Volvo Wins Awards for Engines and Industry Leadership

By Peter Janssen on October 6, 2019 Engine Room

Volvo Penta is on a roll, winning awards and recognition for its redesigned Next-Generation D4 and D6 propulsion packages, for its Easy Boating initiative, and for its leadership in the marine industry. The highly regarded Swedish company just won an IBEX (International Boatbuilders Exhibition) Innovation Award for the D4 and D6 propulsion systems, its new sterndrive, updated IPS pod drive and its new Electronic Vessel Control platform. The judges said that the end result of all these improvements and innovations was a fully integrated, exceptional boating experience. The D4 and D6 have been Volvo’s flagship engines. Indeed, it has produced…

Cox Introduces New 300-hp Diesel Outboard with More Torque, Greater Range

By Peter Janssen on November 12, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

Cox Powertrain, the British engine company, just introduced its new 300-hp diesel outboard at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, calling it “the highest power-density diesel outboard engine ever developed.” Cox says the diesel outboard offers more torque, 25 percent more range, and three times the lifespan than gas outboards with comparable horsepower. The new diesel builds on the continually growing popularity of outboard power, even for large cruising boats. Indeed, the new MJM 53Z, scheduled for next summer, will be powered by four 350-hp Mercury Verado gas outboards, with a predicted top speed of 50 mph. The demand for…

Yamaha, Raymarine, Awlgrip and Ten Others Win IBEX Innovation Awards

By Peter Janssen on October 4, 2018 Cruising Life, Electronics, Engine Room, Gear, Maintenance

Yamaha, Raymarine and Awlgrip were among the winners of the 2018 Innovation Awards at the International BoatBuilders’ Exhibition and Conference in Tampa. The awards, made in 13 categories, were managed by the National Marine Manufacturers Association and judged by eight members of Boating Writers International. “This year’s entries were very focused on improving the boating experience,” said Alan Wendt, chairman of the judging panel. “From solving simple issues with canvas to more complex engineering challenges with hardware and composites, there is ample evidence of innovation underway in a thriving industry.” Yamaha won the outboard category for its new V-8, XTO…

Mercury Introduces New Line of Diesels To Boost Mid-Range Performance

By Peter Janssen on August 11, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

Mercury Marine just introduced a new line of diesel engines to boost mid-range performance. Developed and tested over the past three years, the new 3.0 liter Mercs come in 150-hp, 230-hp and 270-hp sizes. Mercury launched them at the big Sydney boat show in Australia. The company says the new diesels will lead their class in acceleration, reliability, ease of installation and maintenance, and mitigation of noise and vibration. The new line complies with Tier 3 emissions standards, which are meant to reduce diesel engines’ impact on the environment. “There is an active segment of the boating market that requires…

Boating Industry Upset About Trump’s New Plans for High-Octane Ethanol

By Peter Janssen on July 29, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

The fight over high-ethanol fuel is heading up, with the boating industry warning that President Trump’s plans to let E15 be sold year-round could damage the engines of millions of boat owners. “President Trump’s pledge to allow the year-round sale of E15 will needlessly put consumers in danger,” Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said last week. The immediate problem started the previous day when President Trump told Iowa farmers that his Administration is “getting very close” to approving a waiver to allow E15, a fuel blend including 15 percent ethanol, to be sold year round. Currently,…

On Watch

By Peter Janssen on June 21, 2018 Engine Room, On Watch with Peter Janssen

Volvo Unveils Revolutionary New Self-Docking System on 68-foot Azimut. See Video By Peter A. Janssen Volvo Penta just demonstrated its new self-docking system in a 68-foot Azimut in Sweden where the boat docked itself perfectly in a tight space without the aid of a human hand. And it has a video to prove it. The new system. called “Easy Docking,” is an example of Volvo’s research in autonomous vehicles, and it was displayed during a stopover of the Volvo Ocean Race in Gothenburg. After the captain pushed a button at the helm, the boat maneuvered itself with a combination of Volvo’s…

EPA Approves Bio-Isobutanol Fuel Additive; Wins Praise from NMMA

By Peter Janssen on June 21, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

The Environmental Protection Agency just approved boater-friendly bio-isobutanol as a safe fuel additive, winning praise from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Thom Dammrich, president of the NMMA, said bio-isobutanol “will provide consumers a safe, efficient and environmentally-friendly E15 alternative that is highly compatible with marine products. This decision will promote an innovative fuel supply with direct benefits to American boaters and consumers.” Unlike E15, or ethanol-laced gasoline which can damage engines in boats and cars, biobutanol delivers renewable energy without any side effects. It works with existing boat and car engines and the fuel supply infrastructure. The EPA acted on…

Volvo Penta Sets 2021 Deadline for Building Hybrid and All-Electric Drivelines

By Peter Janssen on June 13, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

Volvo Penta is making a major investment in developing electric power for marine uses and has set 2021 as the deadline for creating hybrid and all-electric drivelines. The company just issued a clear statement of its intent to provide electrified power solutions for its marine business. “Volvo Penta is embracing the electric transformation and will be at the forefront in delivering compelling business cases to customers using this new technology,” said Björn Ingemanson, president of Volvo Penta. At the same time, he said, “This is the start of a long-term transition. Diesel- and gasoline-powered primary drive systems will remain the…

Yamaha Introduces Giant New 425-hp V-8 Outboard, Its Most Powerful Ever

By Peter Janssen on May 24, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

More boat owners want big outboards for their cruising boats, and Yamaha has delivered, just unveiling a new 425-hp V-8, its most powerful ever. Yamaha says this new engine features the first application of direct injection technology in a four-stroke outboard; this sprays fuel at high pressure directly into each combustion chamber, rather than the intake track, providing more efficiency, power and torque with faster acceleration and a higher top speed. The new outboard also is the first time Yamaha has used sleeveless cylinders, formed through plasma fusion technology, and iridium spark plugs for reliability and durability. The company says…

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