OXE Diesel Outboard Experiences?

[IronPrice]

[1] Outboards aren't going to work either, still props! (and heavy, and expensive!)

...

[2]But you can't stop rope getting sucked in and clogging your impeller(s).
And you can't fortify the intake screen, you won't get 25 knots!

...

[3] Does the weather allow for that, 25 knots all the time?

[1] Outboards tilt, so easy to address entanglement
[2] You just fit a riser onto the top of the jet casing, that comes to above waterline height, and have removable cap on it. Then you can access the impeller without significant water ingress. Lots of the lobster guys here have that set up.
[3] Mostly yes, we farm in a big Fjord system.

 

[IronPrice]

I get the desire to avoid inboards. Tier 3 and 4 drove cost up and lifespan down. Nobody is getting the hrs out of the modern mains that they used to, that combined with the added price bump makes bolt on/off options look better and better.

For me it's the survey hassles. Every survey the prop shafts and rudder have to come out. With outboards you just have to recondition the skin fittings and visually inspect the hull. Up and down within 48 hours. My boats don't make money on land.

Also I can have a spare outboard and swap them out regularly for reconditioning. We do this now for inboards. It's a PITA because we have to open up the deck and sometimes we have to strip deck gear off to do this. We can change props in water too.

These are inspection craft. Pull up to a mussel line, lift it, inspect the mussels, bag samples, repeat two more times and move on. About 60 lines per day, per vessel.

 

[comfisherman]

Modern solutions for modern problems. I get the down time issue. Remember a fee years back a buddy lost injectors from some bum fuel. It cost him around 10k and two days to fly in parts and a mechanic... it was peak season. I caught a little north of 40k pounds of 2 $ a pound fish in those two days.... that down time is awful.

Fast swap would be nice.


*big sigh... wish I'd of bought a careers worth of engines in 2005. Pinnacle of marine diesel 05 to 08.

 

[IronPrice]

Modern solutions for modern problems. I get the down time issue. Remember a fee years back a buddy lost injectors from some bum fuel. It cost him around 10k and two days to fly in parts and a mechanic... it was peak season. I caught a little north of 40k pounds of 2 $ a pound fish in those two days.... that down time is awful.

Fast swap would be nice.

*big sigh... wish I'd of bought a careers worth of engines in 2005. Pinnacle of marine diesel 05 to 08.

I'm slowly making everything as identical as possible across boats. Engines, hydraulics, pumps, electronics, deck-gear ...

 

[DogCavalry]

There's a lot to like in the engineering of the OXE. The successful use of belt drive allows a horizontal crankshaft which makes lubrication a lot more straightforward, and is an intrinsically more efficient power train. I also like the closed circuit cooling system. Being able to heat your boat from your outboard would be great.
It also has two available final drive ratios. Unfortunately changing the ratio requires some tools, but at least it's possible. If I could be confident in the long term service side, I'd probably finance a pair.

 

[BlueBell]

Does the OXE come with a hot water take-off for cabin heat?
Modifying a new one would certainly void the warranty.

I can't understand why you would want two, 200's when a single 300HP with a five blade, supercavitating prop would do?
But, you're the one paying the bills.

 

[comfisherman]

Weight. In the outboard world more blades moves less weight than more props. Admittedly a deeper ratio and lower unit to accommodate bigger wheels would probably be preferred. Currently it's just compensated by more props in the water.

 

[IronPrice]

I also like the closed circuit cooling system. Being able to heat your boat from your outboard would be great.

If you installed diesel OBs you could just run a little diesel jet heater. Those do a really good job heating boats, motorhomes etc.

 

[BlueBell]

Weight. In the outboard world more blades moves less weight than more props. Admittedly a deeper ratio and lower unit to accommodate bigger wheels would probably be preferred. Currently it's just compensated by more props in the water.

Sorry comfisherman, I was responding to DogCavalry.
He has a Sea Sled which is a special needs hull when it comes to
centreline props vs twin, widely spaced props.

 

[BlueBell]

If you installed diesel OBs you could just run a little diesel jet heater. Those do a really good job heating boats, motorhomes etc.

Sorry about all the thread hijacking.

Great option for DogCavalry but he is a little obsessed with using "lost" or "free" o/b heat.

 

[BlueBell]

Wow, the OXE 300HP, 200/400/600 hour service parts kits are US$500 each.
The 800 hour service parts kit is US$1700.
Plus taxes!
Only 871 pounds ( 400 kg ).

 

[DogCavalry]

I finally have the budget for a SS prop with very high cup.

 

[BlueBell]

I finally have the budget for a SS prop with very high cup.

5-blade?

 

[DogCavalry]

5-blade?

I think a lower activity level but better section will do.

 

[powerabout]

When was this?

almost 12 months ago