OXE 300hp diesel outboard progresses
The OXE diesel that pioneered the availability of high powered diesel outboards with its 200hp unit is now getting close to the introduction of a 300hp version.
The new engine will provide direct competition for the Cox 300hp diesel outboard and rather than being developed from the bottom upwards as a completely new engine and drive, the OXE unit is based on an automotive engine which is coupled to the company’s innovative drive unit lower leg.
A spokesperson for Proteum, which markets the OXE diesels in the UK commented, “Pre-production prototypes are already up and running and we hope to be able to offer the 300hp unit during 2019. Prices for this upgraded outboard have not be released but it is expected to be directly competitive with the 300hp Cox diesel outboard that is also scheduled to be introduced next year.
The 300hp OXE outboard will be based on a high performance automotive diesel engine like the 200hp engine which came from General Motors. That engine was marinised and developed for outboard use by Marine Diesel in Sweden and the outboards are now marketed by Cimco, also a Swedish company. It has not been disclosed whether the 300hp unit will be an upgraded version of the existing engine or a different model but as the 200hp unit only has a capacity of 2 litres and is a 4 cylinder in line unit it would appear that there is little scope for upgrading the power output significantly.
One of the benefits of the OXE system is that the engine is mounted horizontally as it is in automotive mode and the drive to the gearbox below is via a drive belt. A unique feature of the outboard is that a drive belt transmission is then used to take the drive to the propeller shaft in the lower unit and this same transmission set up will be used in the more powerful outboard.
With competition in the 300hp diesel outboard market price may become a deciding factor but as far as has been revealed there will be little difference in the price of the OXE and the Cox outboards.
