POWER TALK

Amid turbulent worldwide news it is with gratitude that I can bring you some good news from a British perspective.

It is a while since Cox Marine were mentioned, but with worldwide demand increasing the Shoreham-by-Sea manufacturer has brought on more staff to enable the company to double its engine output. Having gone through the development and launch stages of bringing the all new diesel outboard to market, the reaction across the globe to this innovative, British designed and built diesel outboard system has been overwhelmingly positive.

To forge stronger commercial links personnel have been introduced from the Formula One and aerospace industries, in which Britain excels. British thinking has given the world numerous ground-breaking designs, and the Cox diesel outboard is yet another notch on the stick of great British design. So raise a glass and wish them well.

Cox Marine has taken on more employees to meet global demand

The fuel price must be making many boaters wince, I know I am. Pushing a boat takes more energy than pushing a car, water being denser than air. This might seem obvious, but it is surprisingly overlooked.

Suzuki’s engineers began work to address this many years ago, 2008 to be precise. The financial crisis was about to bite and making your fuel pennies go further was their aim. Suzuki motorcycles are renowned for being over-engineered and able to be tuned to massive horsepower outputs for their capacity and remain reliable and sound for years. This engineering outlook was mirrored in the outboard department and their clever minds were put to work creating Lean Burn Technology.

This system of introducing the fuel and air mixture to the combustion chamber in an ever changing situation throughout the piston stroke was enabled by the incredible precision of the ECU and sensors to deliver, through the microscopically accurate injection system, an ever decreasing amount of fuel as the piston travelled through the power stroke.

Instead of dumping the fuel in and letting it go ‘bang’ as was normal, the Suzuki system controlled the flame front throughout the power stroke, reducing fuel consumption by a significant margin.

So successful was this system that it has endured to this day and has been emulated by other engine builders as best they can. With today’s fuel prices the Lean Burn Technology that Suzuki outboards offer, right across their range from the lightweight DF9.9 through to the jaw-dropping DF350, is giving boaters significant improvement in fuel economy whatever type of boating you engage in.

With the cost of fuel becoming an increasingly important factor for customers deciding which outboard to buy, Suzuki’s Lean Burn Fuel Control is helping boaters around the world to get the most out of every single drop of fuel that they put into their boats. We had better raise another glass to the Suzuki engineers.

RK Marine off ers outstanding facilities and services for owners of both sailboats and motorboats.

We provide lifting, storage, berthing and servicing, and our dedicated workshops off er a wide range of engineering work. There is also a well stocked Parts Store for quick and helpful across-the-counter service.

• Motor Boat Lifting (Swanwick) up to 60ft / 40 tons • Yacht Lifting (Warsash) for up to 35ft / 15 tons • Hard Standing, Covered Storage and Pontoon Berthing • Engine Sales & Servicing • Experienced Service Engineers • Well stocked Parts Store

Vetus are well known for their engine additions such as filters and thrusters, and now their engineering department has developed a new material to use throughout their range of products, where suitable.

It is called Navidurin and is a polymer or resin type compound that can be used to create all manner of useful components. With a heat deflection temperature of 250°C, lightweight, corrosion-free, galvanically isolated and heat aging stabilised, this new wonder material can be safely incorporated into exhaust systems, waterlocks, water strainers and other precision engineered thermal application products.

It has been given Lloyd’s Register approval and can now be manufactured into various products for the benefit of commercial and leisure marine sectors. I think the Vetus lot also deserve a glass raised in their direction. At this rate we shall all be ‘tous nous’ and confined to our berths!

Win the 90L Voyager Duffel Bag worth £85, plus there are 5 chances to win the 60L Voyager Duffel Bag worth £70 too.

This bag is ideal for all your adventures, whatever the conditions, and you can be confi dent that your belongings will stay dry and safe. Constructed with stitch-free, high frequency welded seams and made from a puncture resistant PVC Tarpaulin fabric, the Voyager Duffel Bag is fully waterproof. Secure the Velcro, roll down three times and fasten the side release clips for a watertight seal.

The Voyager Duffel Bag is different to other cylindrical dry bags on the market, with reinforced haul-handles at both ends and a detachable shoulder strap which make carrying the bag easy and comfortable both on and off the water. Secure the bag down from six external D-ring attachment points. The bag also has a wide mouth opening for easy access and packing.

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For a chance to win this great prize enter below, online at www.allatsea.co.uk or by email to editor@allatsea.co.uk with the subject header Gill Bag Competition.