Always a show-stopper, https://www.speedonthewater.com/mti-...turbine-torch/

What makes turbines so impractical? For sustained high power operation I feel like they can't be beat. Is it just because they're expensive and virtually every build is a one-off?

Exactly. Plus cost ownership is extremely high and turbine engines require a bit more attention to detail and technical expertise to handle than piston engines.

And saltwater is not their ideal operating environment.

Seems like I've read claims they go through quite a bit of fuel?
Maybe that's just from critics of them?

Be nice to see the BSFC for a turbine compared to a piston engine making the same power.

They do, especially when used in transient conditions.
However, they still tend to use less fuel than a piston engine making the same power when both are compared at wide open (depending on fuel used, they can run on anything).
But then again, I'd think helicopter turbines may be a little more reliable than a 1800 hp big block.

LakeHuronPower,

2008 Outerlimits 48 Cat BPOW48003 | Lake Cumberland Marine & Powersports

This thing has been at LCM for as long as I can remember. I think Randy told my dad he couldn't sell it because of the fuel consumption. I don't really remember when Randy left LCM, but my dad's been gone since '13.

Thanks. Brad.