[Fr. Frank]

Both Mercury and Bombardier now make 200-225 hp two-stroke diesel outboards for military and law enforcement use. Both companies say their motor will run multi-fuel, but only the Evinrude will also burn gasoline. Mercury plans to bring their multi-fuel engine to the commercial market in 2012, in 90 hp, 150 hp, and 225 hp versions. They will run on Jet A, JP5, JP8, #1 or #2 diesel, or aviation-grade kerosene. The recommended fuel will be JP5 or JP8. Running diesel or kerosene will require anti-abrasive fuel additives for permanent or long-term use. Here's an interesting point, both Mercury and Evinrude say you can safely change fuels without draining existing fuel from the tank. With a computer, you simply program the engine to run whatever fuel you're using, in whatever approximate mixture. It can even be reprogrammed with a PDA, using a USB cable.

According to my cousin, who is an engineer for Mercury Marine's sterndrive systems, Mercury is also testing a 400 hp two-stroke V8 diesel outboard powerhead, but that is very early stages. Early complete prototypes are said to be right at 950 to 1000 lbs.