I spent an afternoon on a new 2007 Meridian 459 last week. (Meridian is
building a pretty decent boat these days). The highlight of the
experience was probably the latest version of the QSB Quantum Series
engines. This is a 5.9L displacement engine that can be set up for
230-425 HP application.

These are computer controlled common rail engines, and there are
sensors at the crankshaft to monitor engine speed, sensors at the
camshaft to monitor engine phase, a sensor that monitors the
temperature of the air, one that keeps track of the temperature of the
coolant, one that monitors turbo boost pressure, and one that measures
the amount the throttle has been advanced.
All of this data is directed to an electronic control unit that control
the pressure in the fuel injector rail, and the system can make instant
adjustments as the throttle setting or other variables change.

Observations: From stone cold, about 1/2 second from pressing the start
button to running.
No visible smoke. None at all. Faint whiff of diesel at startup, but
otherwise no smell and the
startup odor was a fraction of what one might otherwise expect. Cummins
claims the engine is 80% quieter at idle than previous Cummins
products, and while I didn't have a way to measure 80%, it does idle
smoothly and quietly. At speed, the engines were quieter than one might
typically expect, and still no smoke or diesel smell at any time.
(People who prefer gas engines because they don't like the soot, smoke,
and smell often associated with a diesel might do well to check these
out next time they buy a boat).

The QSB engines are fully compliant with EPA and other emissions
regulations.

There is also an 8.3L QSC engine (490-540 HP), and a QSL 9 litre
(285-405 HP). The big brother of the family is the QSM 11-Litre engine,
300-670 HP.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in
oups.com:

These are computer controlled common rail engines

(1-800-Diesels).....

"Hello, Cummins? We're in a marina in (pick an exotic island) and it won't
start! I don't think the computer is injecting any fuel. Who's your
computer technician with that special computer terminal and years of
training that can fix it here?"

Might be interesting to call 'em to see what their response to this call
would be before buying it. Joe's Diesel and Tiki Bar, who fixes the
diesels in the fishing boats tied up aft of you, can fix the old,
mechanical Perkins/DD/Lister/Deutz/Yanmar with his tool box in the truck.
I bet he'd shake his head and just say "NO WAY!" to a QSL. It won't run on
coathanger wire and bubble gum like a 6-71 will.

It is something to think about on a boat you're going to cruise to very
exotic and backwards, technologically speaking, places with, isn't it?



--
There's amazing intelligence in the Universe.
You can tell because none of them ever called Earth.

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"Chuck Gould" wrote in
oups.com:

These are computer controlled common rail engines

(1-800-Diesels).....

"Hello, Cummins? We're in a marina in (pick an exotic island) and it
won't
start! I don't think the computer is injecting any fuel. Who's your
computer technician with that special computer terminal and years of
training that can fix it here?"

Might be interesting to call 'em to see what their response to this call
would be before buying it. Joe's Diesel and Tiki Bar, who fixes the
diesels in the fishing boats tied up aft of you, can fix the old,
mechanical Perkins/DD/Lister/Deutz/Yanmar with his tool box in the truck.
I bet he'd shake his head and just say "NO WAY!" to a QSL. It won't run
on
coathanger wire and bubble gum like a 6-71 will.

It is something to think about on a boat you're going to cruise to very
exotic and backwards, technologically speaking, places with, isn't it?




Like it or not, these are representative of all future diesel engines for
boats, trucks (light duty and heavy duty) and all other diesel engine
applications. The engine in my pickup is electronically controlled and,
like the boat engine that Chuck reported on doesn't smoke or belch black
smoke. When I had the 2002 Egg Harbor two versions of the 3126 Cat was
available .... conventional and electronic. The electronic version was
quieter, smoke-free and had an additional 30 horsepower. I had the
conventional engines.

I think it's a good thing.

Eisboch