Gladiator go diesel?
 

Hi!

I seriously consider importing a Cigarette Gladiator. After checking out the CE rules, the engines equipped in most Gladiators will not be approved importing to Norway. Mercruiser 500 EFI and 525 EFI are not CE approved, neither Sterling nor Zul engines. Mercruiser 496 HO and Mercruiser 600 Sci are.

The fuel prices in Norway are increasing every day, and at this moment we have to pay USD 10 per gallon of fuel. Running two 600 Sci engines one season proves to be rather expensive. :(

One idea is to buy two 485 Yanmar diesel engines with appropriate drives (fx. Konrad / Arneson / etc). Those engines consumes approx. 37 litre diesel at cruise speed. Cruise speed with a diesel is more efficient than with regular gas engines, typically 500 rpms below wot. The Yanmar engines can easily be tweaked to 550 hp each. And they run 8.000 hrs before rebuild.

Due to tax regulations, diesel in Norway for boats is less expensive than diesel (and gasoline) for cars. One gallon diesel for boats costs approx. 5,5 USD.

Running 2 x 600 Sci engines one hrs at cruise = 50 gallon x 10 USD = 500 USD per hour
Running 2 x 485 hp Yanmars one hrs at cruise = 18,5 gallon x 5,5 USD = 102 USD per hour

Stunning figures. :cool-smiley-011:

If you run 100 hrs a season, you have to pay USD 50.000 in gasoline running 600 Sci’s and USD 10.200 running Yanmars.

What is the second hand price you can get for 2 x 500 EFI’s / 2 x 525 EFI incl. drives at the market in US?

The easiest way to do this is to separate the engines and drives from the Gladiator, and sell them in US. Then buy two Yanmar 485 hp engines and appropriate drives.

Do you have any experience with diesels and Gladiators / Cigarettes? I have seen Nortech boats running 2 x 415 hp Yanmars. Top speed is approx. 75 mph with a Nortech 3900. With two tweaked 550 hp Yanmars, the top speed for a Gladiator should be in excess of 80 mph. What do you think?

Thanks for your help!

Cheeers, Toffen G

no, i have never heard of this done .. not sure about the other guys.... good luck... pretty interesting project, good luck with it...

How does the weight of the Yanmar compare to a 525? My guess is that's where the rub is.

check out hustler they have a 38 foot with twinn yanmars and surface drive'si think for sale for just under 200 k .
the boat does sit low in the water in the stern.

see if this link work's
http://www.marineshowroom.com/hustle...ryID_list=1_14

Toffen, if you want me to check that Hustler out i'll be at the factory Thursday if im not at Outerlimits. Let me know if your interested.

Dan

wass up kid if your there check that 38 out and give us the low down on it .
mike :)

Im pretty sure its still Joe's boat. I def will though!!

Gladiator goes diesel
 

Hi!

A Yanmar 480 hp weights in at 640 kg / 1400 lbs per engine. A Merc 525 weights in at 545 kg / 1201 lbs per engine. Not that bad. But you need to have a drive package that fit.

I have to figure our the total economy too, since the Yanmar engines is expensive.

Cheeeeers! Toffen G

i think the 1201 lbs is with the drive and transomplate but im not sure hopefully someone else will chime in on this

This is correct, the Yanmar's in my 07 43 Nor-Tech with trannies, and ASD-8's was more like 1900 lbs. Jeff

Gladiator goes diesel
 

Hi!

Thanks for all the help.

So then we talik about engine 1400 lbs plus 1900 lbs... Thats 3300 lbs equivalent to 1500 kg per side..... No good.

Another option to solve the CE rules are; sell the Merc 500 EFI / 525 EFI engines, and change to Merc 496 HO. Import it to Norway, then add Raylar engine upgrade. If I am correct you will have a 550 hp engine with ease. Due this way you will have CE approval. Its legal to upgrade as long you have the papers in order in the first place.

A friend of mine imported a boat some months ago with a Merc 525, and he had to remove the engine to get the boat into the country. Thats suprised me. :(

I am not sure about the costs for Yanmars in US, but I think I have seen USD 40.000 per side plus drives... You can get two 496 HO engines for USD 12.500 per side, keep the drives and add two Raylar upgrades for USD 7.500 per side. I am not sure what you get for two second hand Merc 525 EFI engines. Around USD 15.000 per side?

Cheeeers! Toffen G :cool-smiley-027:

8 hours?????

Gladiator goes diesel
 

Hi!

Eight thousand hrs:D

Cheeers, Toffen G