Does anyone have confirmed stats on what it costs to start and run a turbine T53 powered boat?
Someone told me stats once and they were pretty crazy, something like hundreds of gallons per hour or something like that, of course I guess that would depend on throttle position but I guess even at idle the engines use a lot of fuel. eh
I don't think fuel economy is considered in any motor making 1500 to 1800hp in a boat.
Here's another thought however, how much fuel can a helicopter actually hold? I would think that those motors would have to be designed to be some what fuel efficient.
My T53 powered 31' Warlock burned 140 gallons/hr at WOT which = 126 mph.
That is not the problem as a 1500 hp gas engine will burn the same. The problem is the turbine burns 45 gallons/hr at idle. They are only designed to be efficient at 95% or higher. This makes idling around the dock or slow crusing very expensive.
The problem is the turbine burns 45 gallons/hr at idle. They are only designed to be efficient at 95% or higher. This makes idling around the dock or slow crusing very expensive.
Can't help you with your question about fuel consumption but after riding around a couple
of weeks ago with Craig in his 46 Skater with twin 53's, it's the most iuncedible high performance experience of my life--it's worth whatever the cost is!
It is hard to understand the power of the turbine until you experience it.
The trick is - they produce 100% torque from idle. That gives low speed acceleration that standard engines cannot match.
My first ride in '97 with Howard Arneson in his 40 Skater with twin GE T58s was a serious eye opener. He laughed when I said the acceleration must be slow proped to reach 185 without a multi speed trans. He stood in it and it pinned me into the seat from 20 to 170 - I was hooked.
His new 46' with a single T55 pulls just as hard. Now you are talking a serious fuel burn rate, especially for a single, 300+ gph.
LT
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