New Norsafe Boat with Diesel Outboards Debuts

Norsafe launched a new boat, the Marathon 900 RIB, the company's first RIB complementing an already wide range of boats for professional and military customers.

The Marathon 900 RIB was demonstrated with two newly developed Mercury outboard engines that can run on diesel fuel. Mercury OptiMax Diesel Outboard, which was developed for the U.S. Armed Forces, is a 3.0 liter V6 engine that produces 175 propshaft horsepower.

“The typical benefits of a RIB are a low center of gravity, large carrying capacity in terms of weight and size, good stability in the case of water filling the boat, and a “soft” inside which reduces the risk of damage to the crew“, said Bjarte Skaala, the designer of many of Norsafe’s boats. “Norsafe’s Marathon 900 RIB concept is modular and flexible, and can be equipped with inboard diesel engines/water jet, stern drives and lifting points for installation in davits.”

The outboard engine from Mercury, which runs on diesel fuel, is comprised of 95% of the components of a 225 hp gasoline engine, and is a low-compression engine that usesan advanced fuel injection concept.

To ensure the engine starts in cold environments and idles smoothly, the engine is equipped with both glow plugs and spark plugs. “This concept is especially important for the customers who do not have the opportunity to store gasoline on board a ship, such as naval vessels,” said Skaala.