RECENT POSTS
CATEGORIES
- Boat Engines (2)
- Boat Maintenance (1)
- Boating Skills (2)
- Conservation (1)
- Fish Species (1)
- calico bass fishing (3)
- dolphin fishing (3)
- halibut fishing (1)
- sailfish fishing (1)
- salmon fishing (1)
- shark fishing (3)
- yellowfin tuna fishing (1)
- Marine Electronics (1)
- Miami Boat Show (1)
- Fisheries Policy (1)
- California fishing (15)
- Mexico fishing (1)
- South Pacific fishing (1)
- boating safety (2)
- outboard motors (1)
- trolling motors (1)
- Boat Show Coverage (1)
- offshore fishing (1)
- ethanol and outboards (1)
- calico bass (3)
- opah (2)
- moonfish (2)
- California (4)
- Marine generators (1)
- ICAST 2012 (1)
- Shark Week 2012 (4)
- dorado (1)
- mahi mahi (1)
- dodo (1)
- deep-sea fishing (6)
- Southern California (2)
- AB 1148 (1)
- AB 2402 (1)
- MLPA (2)
- Keep America Fishing (1)
- helicopter (1)
- deep sea fishing (1)
- San Clemente Island (1)
- Volvo (1)
- Volvo Penta (1)
- Inboard (1)
- Sterndrive (1)
- V-8 (1)
- Marine engine (1)
- gill nets (1)
- autopilot (1)
- kelp bass (2)
- barred sand bass (1)
- spotted sand bass (1)
- size and bag limits (1)
- yellowfin tuna (1)
- dolphins (1)
- porpoise (1)
- tuna-dolphin relationship (1)
- Boats 2013 (2)
- boat improvement (1)
- boat maintenance (1)
- boat repairs (1)
- marine electronics (1)
- engine maintenance (1)
- fishing boats (2)
- radar (1)
- windlass (1)
- anchor (1)
- livewell (1)
- bait (1)
- boating (1)
- Great White Sharks (1)
- Japanese flying squid (1)
- Marine Protected Areas (1)
- Okuma (1)
- California fishing (1)
- Long Beach Breakwater (1)
- Coastside Fishing Club (1)
- boating safety (2)
- sinking (1)
- bilge checks (1)
- anchor watch at night (1)
- posting a lookout (1)
- Newport Beach (1)
- Seven Marine (1)
- 557 outboards (1)
- Midnight Express (1)
- World's Most Powerful Outboards (1)
- United Anglers of Southern California (1)
- Dan Wolford (1)
- Pacific Fisheries Management Council (1)
ARCHIVES
- May 2013 (4)
- April 2013 (3)
- March 2013 (1)
- February 2013 (2)
- January 2013 (3)
- December 2012 (1)
- November 2012 (1)
- September 2012 (2)
- August 2012 (3)
- July 2012 (5)
BLOGS
- Top Shots (142)
- Next Cast (75)
- From Gaff to Plate (68)
- Tightening the Drag (60)
- Pacific Currents (50)
- Deep Thoughts (10)
Posted on Feb 16, 2012 in Pacific Currents, Miami Boat Show
Propane Power
by Jim Hendricks
Lehr's new 2.5 and 5 hp outboards use the same fuel as your BBQ - no, not charcoal, but propane. You can even hook up a Lehr outboard to the same propane tank as your BBQ, or you can pop in a 16.4-ounce cylinder, the same kind used for a Coleman lantern.
I had the exclusive opportunity to run these four-stroke outboards, which debuted this week at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show. I found both engines easy to start - one pull and they were running without the need to prime or choke the engine. Driving solo, I got a top speed of 9 mph with the 5 hp model on 12-foot aluminum boat.
The 5 hp model has neutral, forward and reverse gears, and carries an MSRP of $1,919,99 for the 49.6-pound 15-inch version; $1,955.99 for the 52.8-pound 20-inch version. The 2.5 (available in a 37.9-pound 15-inch model only) has just neutral and forward (spin the outboard around to back up) and an MSRP of $1,199.99. All of the models carry three-year limited warranties.
While you may not get excited about these small, tiller-steer, pull-start outboards, the prospect of more powerful propane-powered outboards is intriguing. According to Lehr founder and CEO Bernardo Herzer, propane may well be the fuel of the future. The U.S. produces so much that it is a net exporter of this clean-burning, high-octane fuel.
To learn more about our test of the Lehr propane outboards, look for the April 2012 issue of Boating magazine. Or call 310-839-9009 or visit www.golehr.com.
Comments (5) Post A Comment
post a comment
All submitted comments are subject to the license terms set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
From Our Sister Sites
Copyright © 2013 Sport Fishing Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Around 2001, I attended a seminar in San Antonio TX and observed the tour boats on the River Walk using 15 or 20 hp outboards (can't remember the make) to motor their tourist around. I was amazed at the quietness and no oil slick emitted from the motors. I thought then that this technology would catch on very quickly, but as we know, the marine industry is slow in adapting new/good technology.
No more gummed up carburetors!
How long will it run on a bbq tank> 4.5 gals, right?
Westport Innovations (WPRT) has the technology to convert diesel and gasoline engines to natural gas/propane. Why not apply it to high horsepower outboards. Equivalent cost is something like $1.20/gallon
Any gasoline engine can be converted to burn propane. Lots of fleet trucks do this in our area. Should solve a lot of ethanol related problems.