POWER TALK

Simon Everett is the man in the know when it comes to what is being launched and the latest technologies emerging in marine engines. Get the inside scoop right here… SUPPLY QUESTIONS

I do not know what is happening to the engine supply cycle in this country, but it does not seem likely to ease up any time soon, judging by the jungle drums beating at the Southampton Boat Show.

Some manufacturers are getting resupplies of engines on a reasonably regular basis, others are quoting March before they can actually furnish one. I am unsure if the UK certifi cation requirements are being met and those arrangements are creating a delay, or whether it is the culmination of various circumstances exacerbating things. Whatever the underlying reasons, it is having the effect of bolstering the used market with prices remaining strong thanks to the seemingly insatiable demand, even as we enter the off season.

Meanwhile some bare boat dealers are struggling to complete sales as they, too, have to join the queue for engines. Some buyers who were expecting their new boat to be ready for use in August are still waiting for the engines to be rigged, with no defi nite date for actual handover in sight.

RANGEAND RELIABILITY

Image: Gary L Hider / Shutterstock.com

E10 CONFUSION

The other thing that transpired from last month’s boat show was just how much confusion there is over the E10 petrol situation. Some of the large engine manufacturers, even though their engines are cleared for use with it, are saying the best course of action is not to use it.

That is a bit diffi cult if the only fuel berth within 20 miles offers only E10. Now I should clarify this a bit; it is not using E10 that is the problem, it is while the boat is stood that the problems start to manifest themselves.

A boat that is used on a regular basis, say once a fortnight, should not have too much of a problem, but those that sit for a month between outings are going to fi nd themselves in bother. Even the manufacturers do not know what the answer is.

I shall be doing an in-depth trial of various possibilities as part of a future article. This will involve fuel treatments, removing the ethanol content from the fuel and the use of the Gulf E0 fuel for laying up or winterising operations.

MAKING SENSE

Raymarine has spent four years developing their new docking system, Docksense, which combines various technological marvels to create a virtual geofence around the boat, and controls even shaft driven propulsion systems to prevent collision whilst docking.

The system is linked to the GPS, main engines and any bow thrusters to control the movement of the craft. It is the industry’s fi rst intelligent obstruction recognition and avoidance system with linked motion detection.

It uses strategically located Teledyne, FLIR stereo cameras to monitor the area around the hull. This is represented on the Axiom display, and the sensitivity is such that it can pick up and recognise pilings, the edge of the pontoon, other vessels and obstructions as they come into the perimeter zone set by the system and adjusts the boat accordingly.

The system will hold the boat steady on The system will hold the boat steady on position, making single-handed mooring a piece position, making single-handed mooring a piece of cake, as Docksense holds the boat whilst the of cake, as Docksense holds the boat whilst the skipper tends the lines, hands off the joystick skipper tends the lines, hands off the joystick control lever. It really is very clever. control lever. It really is very clever.

2.5-300HP 5YEAR WARRANTY

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

To end on a positive note, September saw Yanmar reach a notable milestone of 50 years of serving the recreational marine sector, but the company is also celebrating over a century of producing diesel engines. We doff our caps in recognition of this, more than a lifetime of development of marine diesel engines. Happy anniversary Yanmar!