Putting TDI in a boat ...

big_worm81 · Feb 18, 2010

Hey all, I am trying to put a TDI in a boat ... I have the engine pulled and am just putting the project together in my head. Is there anyway I can convert the fuel pump to a mechanical linkage instead of the wiring mess that I would have to keep the way it is designed right now? I just want a bare bones arrangement. Thanks. Any ideas?

G60ING · Feb 18, 2010

VW sells marine application TDIs. Everybody start salavating. http://www.vw-m.de/index.php?id=6&L=1

BTW they cost over $12K for most of the hp options that I would consider based on ho/tq ratings.

HO'OLAKO · Feb 18, 2010

i am running the 5cyl in a cal- 46 motorsailer. used all volvo (vw tdi) the marine manifolds can get pricey. Can you weld? make your own. I can get 8knots just off idle. She is actually to much motor for a 46. 90hp is plenty, i have 220hp. Originally bought motor to put in mk4jetta and put ALH in boat. Then built a 3.0 mercedes diesel(beastmode)425hp. wife said the 5cyl had to go , so it went in boat. she thinks i sold it hehe! shop in germany and uk for everthing you will need. regards

chasmandu · Feb 18, 2010

I've been dreaming about that for 4 years. Hate the sick amount of gas a ski boat uses in a day of pulling the kids around the lake. Plus, could use biodiesel for healthier air and water. I would think the right size prop arrangement would be possible to have a good power boat for pulling skiers and tubers. I hope you do it.

Pat Dolan · Feb 18, 2010

See Scott de Witt or other vendors here for mechanical TDI pumps. OR, you could have Giles Gallie build you one or even follow the directions at 'the other VW diesel site" and build your own.

One of my cousins has a 1.6NA in his fishing boat. Made a HUGE improvement in range and reliability. He did all of the installation (including manifolds) himself, so total cost was in the hundreds.

Scott_DeWitt · Feb 18, 2010

I'll be following suite with a 3.0 liter Mercedes 24V engine.. Converted to purely mechanical with some big huge turbos in a ski boat... Run it on veggie oil, it's gonna be fun!

shakescreek · Feb 18, 2010

I've been running a 1.9pd(bpx) in my aluminum river boat(jetdrive). 3rd season coming up on it and I just love it so far. I put about 200 hours a season on it and have had no problems with it yet. Very hard to find anything else out there that can provide the same power to weight ratio and get the kind of fuel economy the tdi does.

mogly · Feb 19, 2010

shakescreek said:
I've been running a 1.9pd(bpx) in my aluminum river boat(jetdrive). 3rd season coming up on it and I just love it so far. I put about 200 hours a season on it and have had no problems with it yet. Very hard to find anything else out there that can provide the same power to weight ratio and get the kind of fuel economy the tdi does.

Any pics? Sounds cool.

In the Niagara Gorge below Niagara Falls here in Ontario there's a fleet of 1500hp TD Aluminum river boats. They're a blast to ride in.

jjordan11 · Feb 19, 2010

I too would like to see some pictures. What size boat is it? Do you have any pictures of how you mounted the jet drive to the flywheel or conversion pictures?

Jon

slapshotjh · Feb 19, 2010

I'd like more info on how this is done too.

shakescreek · Feb 19, 2010

Don't think I have any pictures of it that I could post right now as most all my pictures are from a film camera. We did get a digital camera recently though so I could try and get some shots tomorrow and see if I can figure out how to post them on here. It is an 18'6" welded aluminum boat I built myself.

shakescreek · Feb 20, 2010

Snapped a few pics of the boat today but can't seem to post them here. If someone can tell me how to do it I will try again or alternatively I could email them to someone who knows how to post them here if anyone wants to do it.

mogly · Feb 21, 2010

Near the top of the page theres User CP then FAQ and finally Photos. Click that and then click upload photos or cut and paste the address below in your address bar.

http://pics.tdiclub.com/uploadphoto.php

Ski in NC · Feb 21, 2010

http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/500/medium/Barhopper.jpg

18' boat I set up with a 1.6na idi pathfinder engine. Cruise 20kts @ 3400, top out 23kts at 4200. Ran this thing from NC to key west in the middle of winter. Froze my *** off. Learned to never put sardines on an engine to warm them up.

big_worm81 · Feb 21, 2010

Thats awesome ... Well I found out I can get a mechanical pump for my ALH for $1500 ... I salvaged the wiring harness, computer, pedal cluster, ignition ... everything from my parts car... I think I'll try and set it up with the original gear before I spend $1500 on a new pump ... although it would be sweet!!

shakescreek · Feb 21, 2010

thanks for the help mogly, still not working for me. When I hit the upload/submit button it tells me the file is to big every time. Anyone know how I can make the pictures have a smaller file size?

slapshotjh · Feb 22, 2010

try one of the free online image resizing sites like resize2mail.com

LukeWilson · Feb 23, 2010

Thought this was pretty cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnjlnEBtqv4&feature=related

Don't know exactly what engine it is, im guessing a 1Z or AHU. Putting that engine in a older ski boat would be awesome. My big complaint with having a ski boat is how much fuel they use. Only question is what to do about cooling? Air/water intercooler would work well, but could you pump lake water through the engine without hurting anything? I don't know if you would need some kind of thermostat system or not?

Ski in NC · Feb 23, 2010

That thing is GITTIN IT!!! I wish tdi's were available when I did my skiff. Well, they were, but the cars were still under warranty!! That 1.6 NA I used was like 45hp tops.

diesel-dave · Feb 23, 2010

G60ING said:
VW sells marine application TDIs. Everybody start salavating. http://www.vw-m.de/index.php?id=6&L=1

BTW they cost over $12K for most of the hp options that I would consider based on ho/tq ratings.

sweet website thanks!!!

diesel-dave · Feb 23, 2010

LukeWilson said:
Thought this was pretty cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnjlnEBtqv4&feature=related

Don't know exactly what engine it is, im guessing a 1Z or AHU. Putting that engine in a older ski boat would be awesome. My big complaint with having a ski boat is how much fuel they use. Only question is what to do about cooling? Air/water intercooler would work well, but could you pump lake water through the engine without hurting anything? I don't know if you would need some kind of thermostat system or not?

wow that motor was cookin!!!

shakescreek · Feb 23, 2010

Thought this was pretty cool:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onjln...eature=related

Just looking at that I would say he hit probably about 40mph. Quite certain my boat would run circles around that one but it probably serves his purpose well. Wonder why he mounted the engine so far ahead, doesn't look like it would leave much room in the boat.

Ski in NC · Feb 23, 2010

It's mounted that far forward as the jet drive impeller housing takes a few feet between transom and engine coupling. Still, gotta say, that thing is scooting!

shakescreek · Feb 23, 2010

"It's mounted that far forward as the jet drive impeller housing takes a few feet between transom and engine coupling."

No way a jetboat engine needs to be that far ahead. I've owned and been around many many jetboats for 40+ years and they normally have about 8" to 12" between the flywheel and the pump shaft with the front of the pump shaft maybe 6'' to 15" from the transom depending on the jetdrive used. Flywheel to transom on mine is probably about 12".

Ski in NC · Feb 23, 2010

True, but some jets have more space for hardware between engine and transom. We just don't know what this guy is running. Other than we know it is a jet. For all we know, it could be a waverunner sort of drive, with the engine more forward.

LukeWilson · Feb 23, 2010

This one is even cooler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoLJ9RPXB2U&feature=related

That Steyr engine is a 2.1L 4 cylinder putting out 170 hp and about 240ft lbs. I would say it scoots it along fairly well!

shakescreek · Feb 25, 2010

With some help from club members here I finally figured out how to resize some pictures so I could upload them here. Still couldn't figure out how to get them in my post but if anyone wants to see them just go to members albums and look at shakescreek.

ninedee_golf_tdi · Feb 25, 2010

If these are the wrong pics, let me know and I'll change them.

mogly · Feb 25, 2010

ninedee_golf_tdi said:
If these are the wrong pics, let me know and I'll change them.

Ninedee I'm not seeing any photos.

slapshotjh · Feb 26, 2010

The pics seem to work fine. Are there any more pics? I would like to see how the coolant circuit works.

Putting TDI in a boat ...

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