Rotary powered boats

The most fun you can have with 79 CID!
As with anything else there are no simple answers that cover all applications for rotary engine boats. While it was mentioned that they are very good for fast (high speed) sport boats, you will not see one pulling a pyramid any time soon. They do lack low end torque. that is remedied by adding forced induction (supercharger / supercharger) but I wouldn't count on anyone being happy with one in a Correct Craft (Seperator and Torino stern drives excluded). A good old V8, or even some 4 and 6 cylinders are just the classic look, sound, and performance most people want in those classic boats. One reason these boats go so fast is that they are light. Do you want to drag a small light boat all over the lake when you do a slalom course or some tricks? Weight is somewhat important in ski boats. Stern drives do not track like inboards either as most of you know.

What do they sound like? Here are a couple videos.

Roatry ski boat (turbocharged)

Nice rotary throttle roll on at speed




The outboard Mark Twain I sold to my friend is believed to be the first Mark Twain boat ever produced. It was a prototype that was never put into production.

My 1972 Mark Twain was a "run of the mill" 15' Mercruiser equipped model. I t came with a Mercruiser 90. I swapped that out for a Mercruiser 140 with an Alpha drive, but that wasn't fast enough so I opted for the 300HP rotary and a constant speed prop.



Ski racing behind a rotary boat

I chose the supercharged Rotary Power Marine engine because it met the NMMA requirements. It had a water cooled exhaust manifold, approved flame arrestor, and marine charging and starting components.
A rotary will cost significantly more that a V8.
On Stone Lake, Manitowish Waters, WI (same view as my 64 )

Cruising on Lake Michigan near Waukegan, IL. (OMG do I have a mullet?)

Ready to head out to the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior after a night camping on shore.

Here is what you can do with 160 cubic inches of rotary power (but I don't understand why anyone does this)