WHAT IF G23 with a duramax diesel?

[Beach-TJ]

Lots of good points on the issues, for me the biggest issue would be the fumes. I'm not sure even a surf pipe would fix it. They would have to show me I could surf without smelling anything or getting sick.

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[DHPRO]

I'm obviously missing something regarding the engineering of diesel motor in these boats specifically. They would be one heck of a lot safer, with less need to run blowers for 5 mins every time u start. I can't believe its a power band problem considering some of the hotrodded trucks I've seen.

[pe4me]

My 03 is not too bad, but by 2014 standards its terrible.
Burn recycled cooking oil then it would smell like a French fry, everyone wins

[Markonline]

At the Boot Düsseldorf Mercury had their 4.2 350hp Diesel (VAG engine) on display. I believe this engine was used in a couple of mastercraft boats. Msrp was somewhere around €50.000 for the engine alone (apparently things like custom water-jackated turbochargers are really expensive). Not sure on the pricing of pcm engines, but i can't imagine it's anywhere close to that.

Cummins has their 6.7 rated at 550hp for marine use. Something like this positioned alongside pcm's xs550 might work a little better but i imagine the price difference would still be significant.

[nyryan2001]

Lots of good points on the issues, for me the biggest issue would be the fumes. I'm not sure even a surf pipe would fix it. They would have to show me I could surf without smelling anything or getting sick.

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Well I have surf pipe and can 100% guarantee you that at idle speeds(5mph) and above there would be zero fumes in the boat.... U less you had a 10mph tail wind etc.

at 10-12mph 3000+ RPMs wakesurfing, the exhaust is shoved down into the prop blast and it stays down there and exits up approx 20ft behind the surfer. The only time fumes would come up around the platform is when in neutral, prop not spinning.

it would need an entirely new transmission and drivetrain... One what could swing an 18" x 18" or a 20" x20" prop and could handle the 800ftlbtq at 2000rpms.

couple this ^^^ with a urea smog tech and smart catalytics to reduce emissions to max and I'd be super interested.

pice? We are already at 11-15k on the 550s and guzzle 15+ gph because we gotta hit 3500rpms to get our torque. There'd be big time savings using diesel at 2000rpms.

[vision]

Start simpler. Keep the gas motor, but add a CVT. Now the 409 is capable of pulling a heavily weighted boat yet gets good fuel efficiency when the power is not needed. Or add an electric assist motor that runs for the first 15 to 20 seconds as instant torque out of the water then shuts down. But likely not cost effective.

Or buy a Centurion with ramjet ; ).

[hotrod508]

Ive thought CVT transmissions and diesels would be a match made in heaven as well!

Speaking from experience with the FAE on my 236, i agree on the benefits! They are Amazing!

With my 2012 duramax and the urea injection you can never smell unburnt fuel... Or ever see smoke! (i never have ever!) I am very impressed with the motor, as it is a constant reminder of what my boat could be. Thats whatt brought this up.

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[hotrod508]

@nyryan
I can see You get exactly what im saying about the torque. I mean after all, if you strip all the bling off these boats they are really just tugboats.

I believe the same things with regards to the emmissions. There's been several articles of diesels that don't even have DPF or DEF systems that still meet emissions ratings... The technology is changing very quickly. The biggest problem is and always has been cooling all the additional heat generated by the diesel. When you take into account the continuing flow of water you have to cool that down those problems can be solved easier on a boat. Not saying it would be cheap!!!




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[Zach@n3]

Diesel is where it's at for a marine application. Think about it. What are most of you guys doing now? Big weight, speeds that put extreme stress on the drive line. Low end torque is way more usable in applications like this. I know you are all running (or going to be) fresh air exhausts. This makes it quieter but that 6.0 V8 still makes a lot of noise in the engine compartment spinning 3800 rpms at full load. I am a Cummins guy for life but my flat out answer of it in a boat is NO. You guys don't even like the sound of muffled exhaust so much that you want to run FAE because its quieter. I can't imagine anyone digging the rattle of even the quietest of Cummins inline 6s. In reality a Duramax or something quiet like that would work the best. With the Catalytic converter and DPF systems there is virtually no exhaust noise from the trucks anymore. The only fumes you would get would smell just like the V8 with the Catanium system when it was being run hard. Especially with DEF the thing would be so clean you really wouldn't have the need for FAE. If they could do it affordably that would be great. I do question the engine longevity of the super sacked out wake boats spinning 3800 constantly under a full load. I wouldn't worry about things like that from an industrial application diesel engine. Diesel is the wave of the future weather we like it or not(this coming from a guy who drives a gas truck haha). I used to have diesel trucks quite a bit but with where I work it doesn't make sense. I have a 5 mile commute so a HD application truck wouldn't even think about getting up to any type of temperature on that commute. So in this instance the cost difference makes no sense to me and I would cause more harm to the engine operating it cold every day than good. Now I am interested in the Ram 1500 Diesel. If I can afford one in a few years that would be great. Sorry for the long paragraph but for some reason my wonderful new windows 8 (NOT!) computer won't let me enter down to the next line on this website only.

[swc5150]

When MC offered the VW/Audi diesel in the Prostar a few years back, it was an awesome power plant. Power to spare, with great fuel economy. The draw back...$24k retail price, around $18k out the door as an upgrade. The ROI just didn't add up, which resulted in no demand for it. If the price can come down, I believe diesel could have a future for ski/wake boats.

[Zach@n3]

I agree all the way. I think that is the limiting factor. There needs to be some type of price premium but not something outlandish. I am sure if folks drove a hot diesel boat VS a gas boat they would be all aboard if the price point was there.

[core-rider]

I think diesel could be a good option if it was affordable, but it won't be anytime soon. When you're paying $10,000+ for the top gas option a diesel option is definitely going to be $20,000+. The one thing I haven't seen mentioned is many of you complain about difficulty finding 93 octane at the marina pumps. Unless you're on a river system or lake with larger boats that run diesel most likely the marina won't have a diesel pump. You can run 89 or even 87 octane gas in a pinch, but gas in a diesel engine is never a good outcome.

[Zach@n3]

True, I don't consider that because I truck my boat fuel in. Way cheaper and less than a 10 minute drive to the pumps in town. The people that own our marina aren't that fun to deal with anyways. But when you don't have that luxury that we do then that's a big determining factor.

[nyryan2001]

Who uses 93? I don't think many gas stations around here carry 93.

my 550 specs 91....says sticks on both gas caps when I got it.

[NautiqueJeff]

Who uses 93? I don't think many gas stations around here carry 93.

my 550 specs 91....says sticks on both gas caps when I got it.

Mine didn't have any stickers on the caps. The manual says 93 octane is required for the 550.

See page 27 of the manual here:
http://www.planetnautique.com/Correc...13/2013pcm.pdf