TECHNICAL DIESEL ENGINES
Once referred to as the ‘auxiliary’ engine, your boat’s inboard diesel is now so much more than just a helping hand. 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.
Despite visual similarities to the noisy models of yesteryear, modern engines are cleaner and more efficient, lighter and more reliable. And they are increasingly interactive. If you’re considering re-powering your boat, here are some of the key features to look out for.
EMISSIONS
Tighter regulation in Europe has been forcing engine manufacturers to reduce the harmful emissions generated by their equipment. 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. Though most manufacturers anticipate further tightening in the future, there is nothing yet on the cards for engines in the leisure sailing sector.
The focus on reducing emissions has resulted in a better understanding of the combustion process inside the cylinder. A key pollutant, nitrous oxide, is formed at higher combustion temperatures, so one advance has been to reduce those temperatures. 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
