Evinrude ICON, a simpler way to boat

Even boating is touting fuel efficiency these days. Bombardier's new Evinrude ICON system integrates an electronic shift and throttle control system with their new lines of boat motors, including what they're claiming to be the world's first RPM control system that can be matched to cruising speed. (Somehow that will allow for greater trolling efficiency, although I'm not entire sure how they could maintain a higher speed with lower RPMs.) "PowerSync" allows multiple engines to be controlled with a single throttle lever.

ICON will be factory-installed on a couple of the Evinrude E-TEC engines, while aftermarket control kits will be available for 2008 and later model year engines.

[#1 posted by Anonymous , March 4, 2009 9:47 AM]

(Somehow that will allow for greater trolling efficiency, although I'm not entire sure how they could maintain a higher speed with lower RPMs.)

If you don't know how it works, why post about it here? Or is this just an advertisement for Bombardier snuck in on the sly?

Bruno

[#2 posted by PaulR , March 4, 2009 10:38 AM]

I'm not entire sure how they could maintain a higher speed with lower RPMs.

By using a variable-pitch propeller?

[#3 posted by arikol , March 4, 2009 11:45 AM]

as number 2 says.
But even on a fixed pitch prop you should be able to reduce cavitation by matching forward speed to an efficient RPM that suits that forward speed.

I'm just guessing there, though. I have some background in aerodynamics (low viscosity, high compressibility hydrodynamics) and know about some differences when applied to a non-compressible medium such as water. Cavitation being one of the biggies.

[#4 posted by jonathanpeterson , March 4, 2009 1:24 PM]

You want your boat on plane with minimal RPM for best efficiency. With a normal throttle SETTING that RPM that takes bumping the throttles up and down a few times to get right.

see the little RPM +/- button in the middle of the base? It's just an rpm fine tuner to make it quicker/easier to get there.

[#5 posted by brante , March 4, 2009 1:49 PM]

I'm tellin' ya man... It's all a government conspiracy to keep the little guy buyin' gas...

*notices skeptical looks*

No, I'm serious dude! They know how to make boats that run on water man...

[#6 posted by PaulR , March 5, 2009 4:07 AM]

brante @ 5:

ALL boats run on water, man. By definition...

And you know what's even cooler? Airplane run on air! Yeah, air! How cool is that?