Rotary (Wankel) Outboards - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Performance
  Rotary (Wankel) Outboards

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Rotary (Wankel) Outboards

Hoosier posted 11-04-2004 09:49 PM ET (US)
Here's an interesting tid-bit from history:
"OMC 1970's Rotary Engines

OMC (Outboard Marine Corporation) bought a sub-license for the Wankel engine from Curtiss-Wright, announced on March 2, 1966.
OMC 4 rotor outboards raced about six times summer and fall of 1973, winning every race in U class (unlimited). For example, at the Galveston Speed Classic, they placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, lapping the entire field three times (a fourth rolled and smashed). Displacement was 122 cubic inches. Power was estimated at 330 hp.
OMC race tested some RCE engines with an eye to production. In testing they were installed on 18 foot tunnel boats constructed by Glastron. Rev limit was as high as 14,000 rpm. Power was over 200 hp. Rumour has it that they could easily run at over 120 mph, and once made a straight-away pass at 165 mph."
As far as I know there isn't a contemporary engine that comes close to this performance.
wwknapp posted 11-04-2004 11:40 PM ET (US)
The big problem with wankels in day to day running is the seals. Mazda's rotary engines used to loose seals regularily. Generally in auto use only good for about 30,000 miles between rebuilds.
Had friends that had those things.
Also, because a wankel had such a high surface area to volume ratio in it's combustion chamber they tended to be fuel hogs.
Walt
Marsh posted 11-05-2004 08:03 PM ET (US)
I drove a Mazda years ago that had the rotary engine. Power vs. displacement was impressive. It was turbo-charged, and as I recall, was rated at about 275 HP from a very small engine (180 cubic inches??? I forget).
Anyhow, I ran it hard for about 90,000 miles. No oil consumption; great performance. But it did have two drawbacks: High fuel comsumption (coulda been my driving I guess), and it was dirty - a high emissions engine.
If memory serves, they pretty much solved the seals problem, but still had not solved the wear problem for the rotor tips. But ultimately it was probably the MPG factor that did it in. The Feds require a certain CAFE standard, and every mpg helps.
It was a fun car, though, RX-7 turbo. Tons of fun.
Marsh
Tom2697 posted 11-07-2004 11:32 AM ET (US)
Sorry to bring up PWC's but doesn't Bombarbier use rotaries in their sport boats? These engines are dinky yet still throw out quite a bit of power. Of course, they don't put out as much as a full race engine but they are still impressive for their size...then again, a Chevy V8 for the street isn't even 1/2 the HP of a Chevy NASCAR motor...
Marsh posted 11-07-2004 08:38 PM ET (US)
Tom;
You make a good point. However don't think for a minute that Chevy has anything whatsoever to do with NASCAR engines. There are as many Chevy parts on my Whaler as there are on a "Chevy" NASCAR: zero. The NASCAR racers are about as "stock" as a top fuel dragster.
Marsh
John W posted 11-09-2004 09:37 PM ET (US)
There is at least one company that is marinizing Mazda rotary engines for inboard marine use. I can't recall the name but Google would find it. I saw a 30' Huckins express from the 1940's that had been repowered sometime in the last 10 years with marinized Mazda rotary engines & performance was supposed to be quite good. The rotary design's performance & durability at very high RPM's would seem to be well suited to marine applications.
I have heard that mileage, while crummy overall, didn't drop much at high speeds for RX7 owners, as these motors were more efficient at high RPM's.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Rotary (Wankel) Outboards
Hoosier	posted 11-04-2004 09:49 PM ET (US) Here's an interesting tid-bit from history: "OMC 1970's Rotary Engines OMC (Outboard Marine Corporation) bought a sub-license for the Wankel engine from Curtiss-Wright, announced on March 2, 1966. OMC 4 rotor outboards raced about six times summer and fall of 1973, winning every race in U class (unlimited). For example, at the Galveston Speed Classic, they placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, lapping the entire field three times (a fourth rolled and smashed). Displacement was 122 cubic inches. Power was estimated at 330 hp. OMC race tested some RCE engines with an eye to production. In testing they were installed on 18 foot tunnel boats constructed by Glastron. Rev limit was as high as 14,000 rpm. Power was over 200 hp. Rumour has it that they could easily run at over 120 mph, and once made a straight-away pass at 165 mph." As far as I know there isn't a contemporary engine that comes close to this performance.
wwknapp	posted 11-04-2004 11:40 PM ET (US) The big problem with wankels in day to day running is the seals. Mazda's rotary engines used to loose seals regularily. Generally in auto use only good for about 30,000 miles between rebuilds. Had friends that had those things. Also, because a wankel had such a high surface area to volume ratio in it's combustion chamber they tended to be fuel hogs. Walt
Marsh	posted 11-05-2004 08:03 PM ET (US) I drove a Mazda years ago that had the rotary engine. Power vs. displacement was impressive. It was turbo-charged, and as I recall, was rated at about 275 HP from a very small engine (180 cubic inches??? I forget). Anyhow, I ran it hard for about 90,000 miles. No oil consumption; great performance. But it did have two drawbacks: High fuel comsumption (coulda been my driving I guess), and it was dirty - a high emissions engine. If memory serves, they pretty much solved the seals problem, but still had not solved the wear problem for the rotor tips. But ultimately it was probably the MPG factor that did it in. The Feds require a certain CAFE standard, and every mpg helps. It was a fun car, though, RX-7 turbo. Tons of fun. Marsh
Tom2697	posted 11-07-2004 11:32 AM ET (US) Sorry to bring up PWC's but doesn't Bombarbier use rotaries in their sport boats? These engines are dinky yet still throw out quite a bit of power. Of course, they don't put out as much as a full race engine but they are still impressive for their size...then again, a Chevy V8 for the street isn't even 1/2 the HP of a Chevy NASCAR motor...
Marsh	posted 11-07-2004 08:38 PM ET (US) Tom; You make a good point. However don't think for a minute that Chevy has anything whatsoever to do with NASCAR engines. There are as many Chevy parts on my Whaler as there are on a "Chevy" NASCAR: zero. The NASCAR racers are about as "stock" as a top fuel dragster. Marsh
John W	posted 11-09-2004 09:37 PM ET (US) There is at least one company that is marinizing Mazda rotary engines for inboard marine use. I can't recall the name but Google would find it. I saw a 30' Huckins express from the 1940's that had been repowered sometime in the last 10 years with marinized Mazda rotary engines & performance was supposed to be quite good. The rotary design's performance & durability at very high RPM's would seem to be well suited to marine applications. I have heard that mileage, while crummy overall, didn't drop much at high speeds for RX7 owners, as these motors were more efficient at high RPM's.