400 hp Mercury diesel outboard is real!

[red20]

Did you see the show last week on Discovery Channel about the turbine offshore power boat racing team from Pompano Beach. In the show they showed how the salt kills the turbines and cost big $$ to repair. They have short life spans in the salt.

That being said, boy would it by cool to have one.

[RODMAN]

That engine is the Allison T63-A-5A.It was used in the Bell OH-6A helocopter,The same size engine can be rated from 252 shp to 650 shp.I rather go with 650shp,you know-horsepower to weight ratio- (old job of mine,you would not believe the whine,heat and noise they make)

[Fr. Frank]

salt kills the turbines and cost big $$ to repair. They have short life spans in the salt.

The problem is to keep them from ingesting salt spray. This can be done with a double baffled air cleaner, but it does restrict air flow by up to 20%. So max hp might be only 520 with air cleaners. TBO would still be reduced... say only 2500 hours TBO instead of the normal 5000 at 500 shaft horsepower.
Global Security Inc. says this turbine is available from 285 to 785 SHP, depending on configuration and application, although original Rolls Royce specs called for a single power rating of 700 SHP. This turbine engine was also used to power the 44' British coastal/riverine gunboats in the early 80's through the end of the century, in a 650 hp twin engine setup burning JP4. That's where the idea for a double-baffled air cleaner comes from.

Oh yeah, there's a warning not to run the engine at greater than 110% power for more than 10 minutes because of instances of catastrophic heat-related shaft failure.

Ain't the internet wonderful.