Horse power question?

[Someday*]

This may be a stupid question but I am curious about the increased horse power ranger Tugs is using over the past few years.

I see a R29CB from 2017 and it has a 260hp Volvo diesel.
More recently they went to a 300hp Volvo diesel...and currently they offer a 320hp Volvo diesel in the R29's.

The stupid part of my question is "why"? Of course maybe you always want more hp if you can get it, or are the new boats heavier, different hull type, want more top end speed etc? Is it so with more hp the engine has more longevity potential as it won't have to work as hard?

Or is it simply the case that it's available so why not have it?

thx

 

[Diatom]

That question nags away at me: my 2011 C26 cruises happily at 18 knots and tops out at 22 knots WOT - with a mere 180HP Yanmar. I wouldn't dream of going faster in PNW waters. Yes, more HP/torque may be warranted for more weight & bigger alternator in later models... but diminishing returns and all that. The most instructive graphic is never published: marketability as a function of HP. I see all the Kerrisdale mamas going for morning latte in their 572 HP Range Rovers - but a 2CV accomplished the same objective handily with 9-33 HP; speed is governed by traffic & law, not HP. The extra 550-odd HP effects a single "benefit": a CAD 100K price increase. I don't think there's a standard engineering unit for "swagger".

/Diatom

 

[Bobby P.]

An added question...

Can you make a Volvo D4 300hp into a 320hp by minor modifications?

Interested in that!

Bobby

 

[S. Todd]

If you go to Volvo Penta's website they have a video explaining the improvements made to the manufacturing process and engineering of the D-4 marine engines that gives some insight into why the old 300 HP is now 320 HP. The recommended WOT is now 3600 rather than 3500. Fluid motion streamlines their manufacturing process by offering as few options to the build as possible, thus you pick the engine most people would select and build them that way. The is no difference in the engine weight or footprint when Volvo change the electronics and turbo boost so who would not want to have the extra horsepower even if you seldom needed to utilize it. The Volvo upgrade was made in the 2020 model year from my understanding.