Joe Cordina describes the King George – an 11.1 metre RHB rescue vessel – as “a true evolution of design and new technology” with its new Cox 300hp diesel outboards.
At the helm of Cordina Marine, Joe prides his family-owned boat building business as one that always delivers a custom vessel for every client. Situated in the Australian Marine Complex in Henderson Western Australia, Cordina Marine has carved a niche by delivering high-quality, custom-designed boats tailored to the unique demands of both commercial and recreational clients.
Joe is particularly proud of the “family owned” part of this boat building enterprise, with his wife Tracey and father Joe (senior) working in the business; “Tracey and I were actually starting our own family when we set up the business,” Joe says with pride. This family operation and their skilled team are renowned for bespoke aluminium vessels and the King George is certainly no exception.
Cordina Marine collaborated with Volunteer Marine Rescue Western Australia (VMRWA) to build the King George, designed to navigate the challenging waters of the East Kimberley region. Built from aluminium and weighing six tonnes, the King George is powered by twin Cox 300hp diesel outboards.
The vessel reaches a top speed of 38 knots, cruises comfortably at 28 knots and delivers its best fuel consumption at cruise speeds around 27 knots according to operations crews.
Based on Cordina Marine’s RHB series 11.9 metre “Neptune” hull, the King George required some important design changes to meet the rescue group’s needs.
“The biggest change revolved around the fact that it needed to be road trailerable and so we had to bring the beam down to under 3.5 metres,” explained Joe. “This meant we were doing a slightly shrunk-down version of the 11.9 metre hull”.
The rescue group wanted diesel outboards if possible – a request that Joe saw as an opportunity to employ an exciting new power option provided by Power Equipment.
Cox 300 – Driving the evolution of boating
“There are a few factors that make the Cox 300 a great outboard,” says Joe.
“The most obvious one is the torque; you just cannot compare the out-of-the-hole ability of the Cox.
“Interestingly, and probably unexpected to be honest, they are quieter at cruising revs and right through to full throttle compared to a petrol outboard too,” Joe said.
Also impressive to this 20-year experienced boat builder is a lack of fumes from the Cox 300 and “the ease of installation – that was a pleasant surprise for us”.
The Cox 300hp diesel outboard is a game-changing innovation in the marine industry, offering significant advantages over traditional petrol outboards in terms of performance, efficiency, durability, and safety. Developed by UK-based Cox Marine, it was designed to meet the rigorous demands of both commercial and recreational users, setting a new benchmark in outboard technology.
It’s true 300hp performance delivers an incredible 479Nm of torque, (nearly double that of a comparable petrol outboard), and consumes 30 per cent less fuel than petrol equivalents. The range and cost savings are also headlined with a durability that delivers an engine designed to last three times longer than petrol alternatives.
Unlike converted automotive engines, the Cox 300hp is a purpose-built marine engine with a 4.4L twin-turbo V8, delivering constant power even in extreme conditions.
“It feels like a different engine in many ways, but for a first-time fit I was really impressed with the way the Cox engines are put together and with the support we got from Power Equipment,” Joe says.
“I was personally involved with the full process of getting the Cox outboards into this build and the whole process with Power Equipment was impressive – their backup, commissioning assistance and involvement was amazing.”
You could be forgiven for thinking Joe might be biased in his praise for Power Equipment – he’s also a fan of Yanmar marine diesels and has Yanmars in his own pleasure boat.
“The Yanmars are a brilliant marine engine and I’ve always loved them,” Joe says.
Two sets of propellers were tested during commissioning of the Cox 300 diesel outboards, with a 16” X 19pitch propeller settled upon as the best option in the end.
Carrying more than one thousand litres of diesel fuel, (a much safer prospect under the floor than petrol of course), and with a hefty water tank on board too, this RHB vessel keeps its fluids weight midship and benefits from unbeatable resting stability from its solid PE foam collar that is protected by an outer layer of thermoplastic polyurethane.
This outer collar can literally be zippered open – a design championed by Cordina Marine – which helps with maintenance, durability and inspection needs.
“The King George with its Cox 300 diesel outboards sums up our approach to design and custom boat building,” says Joe, “we are always evolving our builds to deliver the best custom design we can.”
Keep an eye out for more Cox diesel outboard applications on Cordina Marine builds coming soon!
King George and Cox 300 Diesel outboards: Operating in tough conditions
Cox Marine developed the Cox 300hp through over a decade of R&D, with rigorous testing in harsh marine environments. Built from the ground up, the engine was designed to replace petrol outboards in commercial, rescue, and military applications, offering unmatched reliability and operational cost savings.
East Kimberley Marine Rescue in Western Australia operates a volunteer-based service in some of the toughest waters in Australia, if not the world. Combine eight-plus metre tides, saltwater crocodiles more than half that length and hundreds of isolated kilometres of coastline teeming with things that can make life uncomfortable for humans, including the temperature – it’s hot for much of the year!
Rescues and vessel retrievals from this Wyndham-headquartered operation often involve large distances, (a 150 kilometre round trip is not unusual for this vessel), and huge tides can sometimes dictate logistics of when the King George is deployed, (unless it’s a medical emergency, fighting against a 6 knot-plus tidal current is often not the best way to travel!).
“We are very proud that the marine rescue group had the confidence to go with us for this build,” says Joe, “they are operating in remote locations and sometimes extreme conditions. We’re glad we could provide them with the right boat for the job.”
Power Equipment: Your Trusted Cox Marine Partner
At Power Equipment, we provide industry leading marine power solutions, including Cox Diesel Outboards and a wide range of marine engines to meet the needs of Australian boaters. Our commitment to performance, fuel efficiency, and reliability ensures that our customers get the best in marine propulsion technology.
With a nationwide network of dealers and expert technical support, Power Equipment ensures that customers receive the highest level of service and product knowledge when selecting a Cox Diesel Outboard. Our team is ready to help you find the right solution for your boating needs.
Explore Diesel Powered Excellence Today
If you’re looking for a high-performance, fuel-efficient diesel outboard engine, the Cox Diesel Outboard is the perfect solution. Contact Power Equipment today to learn more about the benefits of diesel powered marine propulsion.
