It is possible we will not know the actual situation with the Economy till after the Election,which is not far off. This is how the Democrats get elected (whine and cry us right into a recession,and the press and CNN runs right along with it .After the election it could all go away. Sorry for long post.

Exception to your theory is that all of the boat builders listed don't produce 150 boats a year combined! Boat production is still based on quantity, as in produce none and make none ($).

400hp / 500lbs of torque.........50mpg. Nice read.

Since I have been old enough to whine about gas economy, I have heard about 100 mpg carbureters, etc. It takes a ratio of about 14.5 pounds of air, and 1 pound of 'fuel' to make a proper explosion in the combustion chamber. You might stretch this one way or the other, but you are not going to change it 500%!

Brownie: Bingo! Why do people think that they can change the laws of physics and get miraculous efficiencies? You'd think the human race would have learned from the Alchemy days in the Middle Ages that you can't make gold from something else.

W.C. Fields was right: "There's a sucker born every minute."

There are some reasonable improvements coming. I am working with Harry Schoell on the Cyclone external combustion engine in a small way. I think that the definition of 'external combustion' frees up the ratio business. There is no longer a need to "time" the combustion, or to keep the temperature down to protect valves, etc. When you can burn the fuel completely, and not require fuel that can explode, anything is possible. Any liquid that will burn can be used.

I worked with Ford gas turbine in the early 70's, and we were limited to 1940F turbine inlet temperature. #2 dDiesel can burn at 2550F. We 'junked' that amount of fuel for material considerations. At that time, Ford had the ARPA grant for the ceramic turbine study. It was to operate at 2500F inlet temperature. TWICE the horsepower! Never mind that it didn't work. When they find the right material and they will, you might see a turbine doing private transportation duties. Right now, I am casting my vote for external combustion. Look up Cyclone Power Technologies for more info. I'll keep you posted.

Get those over seas orders going....