Duramax diesel in Grand National race boat

[Father Nostalgia]

Bro. John and I finally got our duramax powered gn boat to a race, the Parker 300. We did not know if the boat would run until after the tech. inspection the day before. At that time we discovered the prop pitch (16.5") and the overdrive in the v-drive (77%) was not enough for the diesel. It could have used 1:2.25% in the v-drive and could have pulled a much bigger prop. We ran it anyway and turned 60mph. at 3000 rpm. The engine ran flawlessly with the exception that the last lap of the race we blew off an intercooler line and when we had it back on the race course, the race had been called. We plan on being at Parker at Thanksgiving. Side note, we used 25 gallons of fuel for the whole race.

[Dogboy]

Is that a Sutphen Boat?

[gn7]

no! it's a twenty foot rayson craft gn.

[Jack 38 M]

I had 2 duramx trucks does that boat have towing mode too ???LOL

[Skoontz]

The Duramax engine/Allison combo is the best by far for heavy usage in a pick up ever built. Compared to Ford, we had 26 Ford trucks. We went through 79 4-R100 and Torqueshift trannies in a 5 year period. Turbos go, they are basic scrap metal before they are ever sold.
The Duramax engines are versatile, as many I know have 600 HP chips, and in stock form we get 18 MPH in a 1 ton pick up. The 7.8 version is only rated at 200HP, but with a 6 speed manual tranny, I can pull an 8 ton load of gravel up the 6° Valley Center grade without having to downshift.

Next year, they are alledgedly going to have a V-6 version they are putting in Suburbans.

I can easily see why the Dmax would be a great endurance boat motor, as stated in 300 miles only 25 gallons of fuel. That means no scheduled fuel stops....Interesting combo that I think few if any would have connected....

Very cool boat!

[John Howe]

A coupla questions in regards to the diesel GN, from an ol' beach bum.

What are the weight differences between the diesel and say a big block Chevy. What about costs? Last I heard, and I heard it a long while ago, most GN races are around 15 minutes. If so, I imagine most GN`s now have small fuel cells in them. If so, I imagine fuel weight isn`t a big concern. Many moons ago when the GN`s did run long marathons, fuel load, and refueling with usually a driver change, were a major concern.

I can remember a annual 250 mile GN race here in Miami at the Marine Stadium. I remember they would Le Man`s start about 40 boats! One year Bob Nordskog had his "Viking Spirit" entered. There were so many entries that qualifying, by lap time, was required the day before the race. Bob qualified near the top. Early in the race Bob was going slow on the outside and sitting low in the water. He had a huge fuel load onboard. As the laps went by, the fuel burned off, and the boat started going faster. All the other boats had to stop to refuel, but not Bob. The last few laps the boat was the fastest one, and he ended up taking the win.

If longer GN marathons are now, or become, the norm I can really see where fuel costs could really be a major economic factor. Just a guess, but CAM2 or VP, costs about $5~$6 bucks a gallon vs. $2.50 for diesel at a truck stop. I know a full race big block spark plug motor just guzzles the dinosuar juice.

By the way the temp here in Miami is in the low 80`s, and the Dolphins just managed a win against Kansas!

[Father Nostalgia]

I have not tried heavy hauling yet. The duramax is a few hundred pounds heavier than a big block. I put the duramax in the boat for longevity and fuel economy and to run in the Parker 300 hundred and run in the nostalgia classes at the scsc races. I have approached GNRA in an attempt to see if I could compete with the regualar gn's at their races. It was purposed to run the diesel as an experimental engine in the class at the last GNRA meeting, but it did not evoke any votes. The discussion centered around the rules that specified no turbo chargers in the class and all who were present did not like the idea of any changes as the class seemed to be growing. I will continue to talk to them about the feaseability to see where it will go. I still like the idea and would love to compete with them as an alternate engine choice. Flexibility is the life blood of maintaining and growing in new ideas and keeping the classes going.

I will say that on the morning of the enduro, when the other racers were waiting for Parker oil to deliver their fuel drums, I found it exciting to drive down to the gas station and fill up on diesel no.2. I am looking to the future to convert to biodiesel and maybe get used cooking oil from say In n Out Hamburgers. A novel idea. Additionally, I have enough fuel left in my tanks from the enduro, to run the thanks giving race, the march race and maybe the april race.

[Roy Hodges]

I have not tried heavy hauling yet. The duramax is a few hundred pounds heavier than a big block. I put the duramax in the boat for longevity and fuel economy and to run in the Parker 300 hundred and run in the nostalgia classes at the scsc races. I have approached GNRA in an attempt to see if I could compete with the regualar gn's at their races. It was purposed to run the diesel as an experimental engine in the class at the last GNRA meeting, but it did not evoke any votes. The discussion centered around the rules that specified no turbo chargers in the class and all who were present did not like the idea of any changes as the class seemed to be growing. I will continue to talk to them about the feaseability to see where it will go. I still like the idea and would love to compete with them as an alternate engine choice. Flexibility is the life blood of maintaining and growing in new ideas and keeping the classes going.

I will say that on the morning of the enduro, when the other racers were waiting for Parker oil to deliver their fuel drums, I found it exciting to drive down to the gas station and fill up on diesel no.2. I am looking to the future to convert to biodiesel and maybe get used cooking oil from say In n Out Hamburgers. A novel idea. Additionally, I have enough fuel left in my tanks from the enduro, to run the thanks giving race, the march race and maybe the april race.............................................. .......
May I suggest that you add a fuel preservative , like "power Service" brand, to your diesel fuel? I use it in my fuel in my Perkins engine in my Lincoln welding machine, and it always seems fresh - my welder lites off ,instantly , even after NOT running for 3 or 4 months at a time , and even when it's a year old( the fuel) .