

‘It is not an easy task finding a reliable common rail engine but also at a reasonable price for the marine market,’ he adds.īut while common rail injection makes your engine reliant on an electronic control unit for precise high-pressure fuel injection and makes it more susceptible to poor quality fuel, this widely used technology can also offer significant benefits in terms of power and fuel consumption.ĭiesel bug can clog filters, wreck engines, corrode fuel tanks, and leave you powerless at sea.
Diy boat inboard engine cover plus#
Hedley Beavis of Solé distributor Engines Plus says research to find a common rail injection system has been delayed by COVID-19. The same is true of France’s Nanni and Spain’s Solé, who both supply good, reliable diesel marine engines to the sailing market. One doesn’t need a laptop to reset the electronics a mechanical system is safe and will not power down at the wrong time.’īeta Marine is a British marine diesel engine supplier that uses a Kubota block, and has no intention of introducing the technology any time soon on sub-100hp engines. Increasing the swept volume of the cylinder theoretically creates more power, because there is room to burn more fuel each cycle, but if you keep fuel consumption the same, the diesel generates less heat in combustion.Īnother area of development has been around the fuel injection system.Ī lot has been written about the desirability and reliability of so-called common rail versus mechanical injection for marine diesels.Īs Andrew Growcoot, CEO of Beta Marine puts it: ‘The benefits of a mechanical system simplicity and ease of maintenance. You don’t need a laptop to reset the electronics The focus on reducing emissions has resulted in a better understanding of the combustion process inside the cylinder.Ī key pollutant, nitrous oxide, is formed at higher combustion temperatures, so one advance has been to reduce those temperatures.Ī mechanical system, like this Beta Marine engine, offers ease of maintenance. Though most manufacturers anticipate further tightening in the future, there is nothing yet on the cards for marine diesel engines in the leisure sailing sector. In the marine sector, that means complying with the 2013 Recreational Craft Directive, known as RCD 2, and often with the EPA Tier 3 requirements in the USA. Tighter regulation in Europe has been forcing engine manufacturers to reduce the harmful emissions generated by their equipment. If you’re considering re-powering your boat, here are some of the key features to look out for.

Not only is it central to your boat’s ability to manoeuvre safely into tight marina berths, it also allows you to keep up average speeds and make the tidal gate before it closes, charges the batteries that run the ever-expanding suite of entertainment and navigational tools aboard, and keeps the beers cold and showers warm.ĭespite visual similarities to the noisy models of yesteryear, modern marine diesel engines are cleaner and more efficient, lighter and more reliable.

Once referred to as the ‘auxiliary’ engine, your boat’s inboard diesel is now so much more than just a helping hand. Best marine diesel engines: the new tech making inboard engines cleaner, more efficient, lighter and more reliable
