A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

[flyingd]

Just curious if anyone has seen or actually put in a little diesel engine in a starcraft.

Just thought it would be an interesting conversion.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

I've not seen it done, or even discussed much...but in a 22-26' Islander it would make for an ultra-efficient cruiser

I say go for it (what did you have in mind?)

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

How about a Diesel motor tied to a Berkley Jet pump. Be fairly low Maintenance on both and less fuel. If you can live with the Diesel fuel prices. The jet pump would be a lot less complicated to connect to the Motor. And only a forward gear and a nutural to bother with .

 

[barato2]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

one problem is finding a diesel that is not either 900 lbs or 27hp. i had a line on a Nissan RD28 diesel, basically diesel version of the old 280Z block, abt 94hp/120ft-lb/450ish #, and was looking at installing it into my starchief. figured with a closed cooling system, it could work. and should be ideal for offshore trolling.

my issues were twofold: 1. space inside cockpit is already tight on Starchief and i didn't want to add any longer motor than the four cyl Merccroozer i had; and 2. couldn't figure out if a water cooled exhaust would be needed or if i could just use an underwater exit, with exhaust scupper and U-bend to prevent water aspiration.
with an Islander or chieftain that already had a six, the space and weight issue would not be an issue. i think one of those Nissan or Toy 6 cyl diesels would be great option. or a VW TDI for a Starchief/Holiday.

realize that if you do this, you are probably eliminating any ski etc capability you might have had

Puget, i don't agree that connection to outdrive would be tough. seems all you'd need to do is ensure that new motor's flywheel was in exact same location as old one was (elevation, windage, plane of rotation, angle of engine) and then have flywheel redrilled to Mercruiser bolt pattern

 

[JD in Milwaukee]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

I like the VW TDI option. More power to be had with them as well.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

Sorry I did not mean diff.to convert. Hey You in Sagle Idaho has a jet dtive and it is fairly simple to do . I went for a long ride with Hey You in his jet powered Holliday. Nice set up. and he said once its line up very little problems.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

We owned a VW Jetta TDI for a while, loved that engine! Awesome mileage, good power. (course the rest of the car was garbage unfortunately)

Not a lot of horsepower in em but we have light boats

 

[barato2]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

VW actually makes a line of marine-specific TDIs but i'm sure they're not in the bottom feeder budget. it IS a brilliant engine. wish Toy offered something similar for the Taco; woulda bought mine that way in heartbeat. you gotta love peak torque from just off idle. but i do wonder how well it would do near salt water.

as far as other readily available diesels, the Jeep 3.7 diesel would be another good conversion prospect. i think it;'s an inline six too. many old Nissan Maximas with the earlier version of their six cyl diesel. also many many Benz diesels would be options altho i couldn't figure out where to put the 3 pointed star on my 'chief, or if they'd still let me into the BFYC (Bottom Feeders Yacht Club). Volvo makes great industrial diesels but i've gotten impression that their efforts at car diesels were not so great.

i'm still not sure abt jet drive with a diesel. i'm sure it could be done, but why take a lower-hp motor than what your boat had and hook it to a drive that doesn't get that power to the water as efficiently as prop drive?

 

[86 century]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

There is a fellow out of the middle east somwhere the put a styer diesel in a mastercraft.
Thinking it was around 200hp from the readind I have done and the videos he has on youtube it looks like it worked out well.
Here is a link to his build thread on a mastcraft forum http://www.mastercraft.com/teamtalk/showthread.php?t=33716

 

[bunker108]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

Subaru has a "Boxer" Diesel. Wider than an inline but flatter...which should leave room for the intercooler. There are some amazing little engines coming out now. Check out the new Skyactive Mazdas. 17 to 1 compression on pump gas and a low compression diesel is on the way.

 

[flyingd]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

I was thinking that if my 18" starchief ever decides to play dead that a diesel would be cool to make work.


You would have to have the gears in the outdrive changed to work with lower rpm.

Even though the hp is lower, the torque is higher and that means you can pitch the prop "pitchier"?!

And though fuel prices for diesel is higher, the efficiency of the diesel would outweigh the extra cost. At least I should hope so.

Just an interesting thought anyway.

By the way, there is always bio fuel. Just think. Every time you pull the anchor or pull up weeds with your fishing pole you could just dump it into your converter on top of the engine (like in back to the future) and away you would go!!!:facepalm:

 

[barato2]

is your 18" Starchief radio controlled?

problem with the subie diesel is that it's very new and thus not in many donor-ish cars yet, and it's not a US-mkt engine therefore you'd have to import one. not the economical choice for the bottom feeder. and i honestly think an inlne would fit better, even allowing for mounting an intercooler. remember that for boat installations with closed cooling system, it would be uber easy to use a water-to-air intercooler, much more efficient and compact than air-to-air

 

[Golden Arrow II]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

A 26 foot islander mid engine conversion with a dura max would be awesome. You could tune the heck out of it and have 1000 ft lbs. 80 mph would be awesome for those shot gun start fishing turnaments.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: A Diesel in a StarCraft????????????

look up mercruiser/cummins they offer outdrive combo that would work.
If it was not for cost I would have a diesel just to get all the gas out of the boat.
Much safer to have a diesel leak than a gas leak.

I would convert my i/o and hang twin 65-75hp honda's on the back before converting to a single diesel.