Saving Old Seagulls

The only reason I ask is I was looking at a Perkins outboard, to be honest I don’t think they are all that good, so I was talking to my father in law about a Perkins outboard, and I wondered if they ever tried to make a diesel outboard, he told me he made some pattern parts for a diesel outboard for Perkins years ago, but never knew if anything came of it.
I have seen up close a vintage diesel motorbike, so it can happen.
I know I may not get a sensible answer so try your best.

During World War 2 the Germans had Diesel engined bombers.

So outboards running on Diesel should not be a problem.

You can get 2 stroke Diesel engines, would you need to add extra oil to the Diesel?

Imagine the smoke that you would get from an old Diesel running on 10:1

H-A

Keith, according to "The Old Outboard Book" by Peter Hunn at least 2 were produced in the U.S. The American Marc by the Co. of the same name based in Inglewood,Calif. A 9 1/4 hp @ 3500 rpm single cylinder, opposed-dual-piston model. The manufacturer identified it as the "first diesel outboard"
McCulloch of chainsaw fame, produced heavy-duty "OX" gas and diesel outboards, that apparently were used in the West Coast logging industry. I believe they had a substantial reduction gear for very heavy loads and a 12-15 hp diesel powerhead.
Oliver outboards, which descended from Chris-Craft outboards, after 1954 were manufactured in the U.K. by 1960. I believe Perkins was the manufacturer.
I also remember reading somewhere that a diesel outboard had been produced in Italy, if i remember correctly by Carnati [sp?]
Hope this helps.

I have actually SEEN a diesel outboard ( the guy I fairly recently bought the box of 170 bits off had one ) Can't remember the manufacturer, sorry, but it was B-I-G and probably weighed more than my boat looking at it. Pretty certain I'd have remembered if it was a Perkins so maybe it was a Carnati?

YANMAR make a diesel outboard, I think 30 or 35 HP, they are still making them

Oo-er - I'm just anxious to come up with a 'sensible' answer, but I'll try my best. you'll have seen the responses about diesel outboards - I'm currently mulling over buying a Yamaha which apparently could also run on paraffin in place of a 40:1 fuel/oil mix, and which was supposedly not unique amongst outboards - this engine from the 1960's.
Don't know why paraffin would be an attractive option - lower cost than petrol? better availability at waterside refuelling places? - did it self lubricate an engine?
Perkins outboards - never heard a good word said about them for whatever reason - or quite the contrary - I heard a story that a new build reservoir in the 1960's not a million miles from Perkins' Peterborough factory has a load of outboards in the bottom - probably a story like Nazi gold in Swiss lakes, only worth a lot less!
Anzani dabbled with these outboards at one point, but they were probably suffering as a company at that time.
H-A - did you know the German diesels were two pistons per cylinder?

Thanks for the sensible replies , see it is not that hard, I have got the Old Outboard Book, just didn’t think of looking, I may not be a youngster anymore, but some of the stories my father in law comes out with over a pint about when he was in the RAF I just have to sit and listen, about sitting in a Lancaster rear turret to see if the tail was going to fall off, while the Lancaster was put into a steep dive by a nutty Polish pilot, after a young pilot that was flying the plane said the tail seemed very loose, he had seen one Lancaster with the bomb drop mechanism still on it for the bouncing bomb and other strange setups.
Stories like that are undoubtedly true and I always have time to listen to them, with a small amount of envy, the way I see it the past will just be the past if no-one listens.
Off topic ramblings over with.

single cyl diesel outboard??
just think of the right arm you'd need to start that !!!
We had a nasty evil malicious dumper on the farm all too willing to try to cripple you on the start up proceedure

Add to that I have seen the Perkins diesel outboard in action and there was also a Lombardini!

The yam is the only one about today still!

Regards,
John
SOS

I have photographs of a diesel out board I found in Vanuatu in a world war 2 bunker.About the size of a 15 /20 horsepower mercury. 300mm Flywheel and crank handle start.Alloy housings propellor etc. I could not find a manufacturers stamp on it.
I shall attemp to upload the photos and would love to have it identified.
Peter

If it was made in the U.S. you will likely get a response at www.aomci.org , ask a member. You need to make one post before you can post photos.

Thank Phil I'll try