Nautique Going Green?

[Osmosis]

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about a hybrid boat?

[ag4ever]

RE: Nautique Going Green?

I doubt there would be enough benifit for that to ever be considered.

Most people use their boat around 200 hours a year if they are lucky. The rest of the time it sits with no activity, and that would be rather harsh on the batteries in a hybrid. And on top of that, the real benifit of a hybrid is storing wasted energy from starting and stopping a lot. You don't have the same forces acting on a boat, so you can't reclaim that lost energy.

A better question would be if they are going to start using more efficient engines such as 4 cyl turbo diesels.

BTW, I have a Hybrid Camry, so all this come from actual experience with the car and not sideline participation, or as Grant calls it "armchair engineering".

[east tx skier]

Pretty much out of my element when it comes to this technology, but while I can see there being some benefit at idle, given that our boats tend to see a lot of use in the higher rpm range, how much use is the electric side of the system getting in this application?

[surroundsound64]

I'm with ag4ever.

I can see a lot more potential with the diesel stuff than with electricity. The aviation industry is starting to build small turbo diesel engines that produce the same performance for less than 1/2 the fuel.

Plus, to get electricity in a boat you're going to have to burn something, it's just a matter of who (you or the electric company) is burning it.

[azwakeboarder]

I saw a solar powered pontoon boat at Powell last summer. It had a full length roof were the cells were installed. It is owned by the CEO of Sunpower Corp (SPWR). It had two custom trolling motors on it.

Here is another by another company.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005...oon_solar-.php

You can't wakeboard behind it but what the hey?

[MNSuperAir]

2nd in line for a turbo diesel CC

[MARK-S]

Let Gore be the first to use one.

[Osmosis]

I have been curious about this for a while and haven't even heard a mention about any alternative power plants for the recreational boat. I am almost suprised there havent been more regulation on it.

I think the turbo diesel would be a fantastic idea. I know GE uses a diesel electric idea that produces some crazy power. Granted that is for a locomotive, but you would think someone would try to incorporate similar ideas into the main-stream consumer product.

[surroundsound64]

GE's locomotive stuff consists of diesel engines that power generators that charge batteries that propel the train.

Who needs ballast when you have 5 tons of motor.

[east tx skier]

Larry, you ever hear of these guys. I think they're in OK if I recall correctly (didn't read the page again today, but had bookmarked it previously).

http://www.marinedieselusa.com/marin...e-company.html

[BASC]

I seem to recall the MC dealer here in the UK telling me they (MC) are doing something with Diesels last year and it had proved to be pretty good out of the hole and very ecconomical.
Can any Aussies shed any light on this, the dealer also said that 'down under' was were the orignal requirement for this type of engine had originated from.

[east tx skier]

Here's a link to the article on the Diesel powered MC.

http://www.planetwaterski.com/report/dmc.htm

[Nates78Ski]

Let Gore be the first to use one.

Haha no he'd be the first one to tell all of us what we should buy, but he'd be the one going out & getting a big fountain boat, and he'd probably take a big jumbo jet to the lake home if it was more then a 20 min drive...H Y P O C R I T E

Nate

[surroundsound64]

Larry, you ever hear of these guys. I think they're in OK if I recall correctly (didn't read the page again today, but had bookmarked it previously).

http://www.marinedieselusa.com/marin...e-company.html

No I hadn't! Maybe when it comes time to rebuild... I'll replace! hehe.

[speck]

i see mali-bus and mastercraft had the catilitic converters on their indmar engines. is pcm to follow suit? is it required by law yet? i know it must not be now, but when?