Lehr Propane Outboards

D

Danno

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Joined
Sep 5, 2002
RO Number
10045
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274
Looking for a motor for my inflatable that is larger than the 3.3 2 stroke Merc I have. I love the integral fuel tank and light weight and the 3.3 worked fine for my 240RU but I have also purchased 270 AirDeck that could handle a bit more power(max rating 9hp)to get it to plane. I have seen these Lehr Propane fueled engines (5hp) that can run on the small 1lbs BBQ tanks and was wondering if anyone has any experience with them. Price point is just below a Merc for similar hp rating but I have not been able to find much info on them other than the company website. Anyone have one? Looking for estimates on how long a 1lb tank would run and if it is up to the challenges of a salt water environment.

Thanks
Dan
 
There is an article in this month's Popular Mechanics that says it runs 60 - 90 minutes on one tank. I met a guy in Block Island last week that just got one. Since it was so new, he couldn't offer much info.
 
There is a good write up in Power & Motoryacht June addition on these propane powered outboards.
Bill
 
My Merc bit the dust and I was also looking at the Lehr. Seen film clip taken at Miami boat show: 5HP Fuel consumption: 10 hours at wide open throttle. I haven't pulled the trigger yet, one concern I have is it is made in China.
 
I doubt the small Mercs are made in the US, are they?
 
According to Popular Mechanics, the 10 hours is on a 20lb tank. No way could it run that long on a one pound cylinder.
 
Merc's are made by Tohatsu and are made in Japan....so is Yamama
 
On paper, I think the propane outboards look great, assuming reliability. I'm waiting for the 15-hp version.

-Chris
 
I'm waiting for the high horsepower conversion for my 8.1L HO's that will never come!
Bill
 
Don't see why not... they've been converting V8 pickups for years.
 
Bill,

The problem is not the conversion, which is not terribly difficult. But you would have a huge problem finding a place for the fuel tanks. And you would never find a place to refuel.

Mike
 
quote:
Originally posted by The Other Gary

A 20 pound tank is 4.1 gallons of liquid propane, pretty good.

Click to expand...


Propane might be a cleaner fuel, but I think gasoline is a better value as a fuel. Gas has more energy per gallon.

Propane contains 95,000 BTU / gallon.
Gasoline contains 125,000 BTU / gallon.
(Source: http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/energy.html)

In my area propane goes for about $20 for a BBQ tank. If there's 4.1 gallons in the tank, that's $4.88 / gallon of propane. With the conversion (BTU per gallon / cost per gallon), you get 18,720 BTU per dollar.

Regular gas is running about $3.79 here. That's 32,982 BTU per dollar.

On a value unit of energy, it looks to me like propane is about 43% more expensive than gasoline. YMMV.
 
quote:
Originally posted by b_arrington

quote:
Originally posted by The Other Gary

A 20 pound tank is 4.1 gallons of liquid propane, pretty good.

Click to expand...


Propane might be a cleaner fuel, but I think gasoline is a better value as a fuel. Gas has more energy per gallon.

Propane contains 95,000 BTU / gallon.
Gasoline contains 125,000 BTU / gallon.
(Source: http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/energy.html)

In my area propane goes for about $20 for a BBQ tank. If there's 4.1 gallons in the tank, that's $4.88 / gallon of propane. With the conversion (BTU per gallon / cost per gallon), you get 18,720 BTU per dollar.

Regular gas is running about $3.79 here. That's 32,982 BTU per dollar.

On a value unit of energy, it looks to me like propane is about 43% more expensive than gasoline. YMMV.

Click to expand...


No ethanol problems: priceless!

-Chris
 
quote:
Originally posted by ranger42c

quote:
Originally posted by b_arrington

quote:
Originally posted by The Other Gary

A 20 pound tank is 4.1 gallons of liquid propane, pretty good.

Click to expand...


Propane might be a cleaner fuel, but I think gasoline is a better value as a fuel. Gas has more energy per gallon.

Propane contains 95,000 BTU / gallon.
Gasoline contains 125,000 BTU / gallon.
(Source: http://www.generatorjoe.net/html/energy.html)

In my area propane goes for about $20 for a BBQ tank. If there's 4.1 gallons in the tank, that's $4.88 / gallon of propane. With the conversion (BTU per gallon / cost per gallon), you get 18,720 BTU per dollar.

Regular gas is running about $3.79 here. That's 32,982 BTU per dollar.

On a value unit of energy, it looks to me like propane is about 43% more expensive than gasoline. YMMV.

Click to expand...


No ethanol problems: priceless!

-Chris

Click to expand...


True!
 
But if we all switch to propane the corn lobby, or some other lobby, will get the gov't to mandate some sort of crap to put in the propane.
 
Actually I ould prefer CNG. As far as delivery there are Propane trucks. I just think it would be difficult or impossible to carry enough propane on my vessel and meet the ABYC/USCG safety requirements. I also know Propane conversions made vehicles in the mid to late 1970's lose any power they had. However marine fuel in my area is still well above $4.00 a gallon.
My motors are also computer controlled MPI's without even a distributer so I'm not sure the conversion would be as easy as say a carb'ed motor with standard ignition?
Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

I doubt the small Mercs are made in the US, are they?

Click to expand...

Probably not but aren't the LEHR's made in Australia?
Bill
 
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