“Improved fuel economy”—three words that will likely be on the lips of boat
owners and operators for the foreseeable future. Regardless of whether your boat
is a 22-foot outboard-powered center console or a 46-foot diesel trawler, it burns
fuel. With fluctuating fuel prices and a flagging economy, keeping diesel and
gasoline usage to a minimum has become a top priority for many boat owners.
While there are a number of new and interesting alternative propulsion
systems out there, most have not been perfected, and often the manufacturers
aren’t completely sure where their market lies. While I browsed the floor of the
International BoatBuilder’s Exhibition & Conference (also known as IBEX) in
Miami this past fall, I came across diesel-electric hybrid systems from several
manufacturers, including the now well-known OSSA from Glacier Bay, as well
as a newcomer, Steyr of Austria. Island Pilot’s DSe Hybrid, which uses a
combination of diesel and solar power, also offers the potential of fewer visits to
the fuel dock. Certainly, these designs and other new approaches hold promise
for improved fuel economy and other performance attributes, but the jury is still
out on the matter of how much of an overall savings they’ll provide. And, if you
don’t own one now...
I applaud the folks who are working to improve the economy of vessel
operation and to reduce harmful emissions. Traditionally, with energy cost
increases come innovations and improvements in the areas of reducing
consumption and improving efficiency, and I’m confident the recent spike will
be no different. In the long run, it will prove to be a cloud with a silver lining.
