Volkswagen Marine is making a splash in the U.S. market with the introduction of their engines. This pond jump for Volkswagen Marine is by way of Ring Power Corporation, a Caterpillar® dealer based out of St. Augustine, Fla. This makes sense, given that a majority of European Volkswagen Marine dealers are Caterpillar dealers, too.

Volkswagen marinized the engines at their Salzgitter, Germany plant with the boating enthusiast in mind. The new Turbocharged Direct Injection engines, particularly the TDI 225-6 model, are without direct competition in power and performance.

The biggest of the SDI/TDI engines available is the 225-6, featuring a dry weight (excluding transmission) of only 717 lbs. This gives a comparative weight advantage of 220 lbs over other diesel marine engines. The TDI 225-6 delivers 225 hp at 4200 rpm, and produces 333 lb-ft of torque at only 2000 rpm. It’s only 36 inches in length, 30 inches in width, and 27 inches in height. Despite all this compacted power, the engines are quiet running thanks to a dual-mass flywheel absorbing transmission and drive vibrations.

If your waters of interest aren’t yet churned, consider the following about the engines:

All were designed with fuel economy in mind, but the V6’s is further increased by the turbocharger with “variable turbine geometry.” That means whether you’re trolling along or pulling a ski-team, you’ll receive maximum propelling power from the engine when you want it and you won’t over boost when you reach top rpm. Another component of the V6 engines is the piezo-controlled injection.

In comparison with a solenoid valve-controlled injection, piezoelectric technology provides several advantages: very short switching times, multiple injections per working cycle, and precisely apportionable injection quantities. One other fun feature is the electric oil extractor pump. This “one touch oil change” keeps the procedure simple and neat.

The ever-efficient, diesel-burning engines provide more power, better nautical mileage, and comply with strict pollution standards. The clean-burn renders the engines virtually smokeless and odorless. The four and five cylinder engines are also biodiesel PME/RME fuel friendly; just remember to check that your hoses and fuel tank are rated for biodiesel too. “Low maintenance” isn’t a phrase boaters may know much about, but the Volkswagen Marine engines are just that. The engineering is excellent and comes with a 24-month/unlimited hour warranty, covering 100 percent of parts and labor during that time. Chuck Lampman, VP of Marine Sales at Ring Power, Tampa, Fla., stated, “As long as the engine is in the planing hull and being used for leisure purposes, you can run the engines twenty-four/seven at full load.”

You can buy the engine with or without the transmission. Prices range from $9,708 to $30,260 with transmissions. You can get specifications and very in-depth information about the engines from ringpower.com/vw, or you can contact Chuck Lampman of Ring Power Marine Sales at 813-671-3700.