Has anyone ever horsed a gas turbine into their rib or taken the piston engine off an outboard and replaced it with a turbine? Any good builds out there?
I would have though that it would work on larger ribs only where the prop never leaves the water. I suspect that the variation of loading on such a turbine would cause it to self distruct.
Has anyone ever horsed a gas turbine into their rib or taken the piston engine off an outboard and replaced it with a turbine? Any good builds out there?
Yes, I am just starting a project , to install a 400 Hp Allison into a little 5.4 Solent Rib!.............mad!.........watch this space, it runs on a Mercuiser Bravo One!
Seem to remember a couple of ex-Royal Marines trying this a few years ago.
They were based near Wells-next-the-Sea.
Wave-piercing design I believe.
Wonder how they got on?
__________________
Brian
"Ribbing-the most expensive way of travelling third class"
I saw one in a guys workshop in Newcastle a few years ago he was using an Arneson drive to cope with the revs dunno if it ever saw the water though
Can't see a bravo drive liking that kind of power they ain't keen on 315 yanmars
Apparently there was a largish cruiser knocking around the solent with two in on volvo drives I think so it's obviously doable
The cruiser knocking around on the Solent could have been me in the sun seeker Monterey, but with only one engine !.?.?, this ended up being a test platform for the various drive couplings and other systems, it's a hot machine and not easy to fit in cruiser engine box!, now it's out sitting on my bench!, ( nice quite cosy 5.7 v8 back in sunseeker!) the rib is awaiting fitment of the bravo leg then work will begin, I have the gauges already mounted on a plate and can be dropped in the console, steering will be an issue, may have to go hydraulic?., the 400max hp is not really an issue as it can be torque limited at any particular hp, it ticks over at nearly 3000 rpm, so there is a turbine brake for gear changes, ......if you google allison250, you will find my engine running on a small trailer! Also video of sea trials out of Cowes harbour there somewhere as well, hope this is of interest?, will put some pics up soon?
Cant see any reason why it wouldnt work, I called in to ASI to see if they had any or an APU buy they wanted ridiculous money for one, mind you, if a Searider 540 went faster than maximus's boat then it was a small price to pay.
__________________ Member of S.A.B.S. West Country Division
The one I saw video of I'm sure had twins it had a differential type of affair with a shaft brake on one end and the output to the drive the other end so the drive take up wasn't too sudden
I thought it was around 40ft or more
Clewless
spy-sea-one
RIB Saffron
