Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 17 May 2006 16:37:31 GMT, Don W
wrote:

What do you think?

It depends.

How are you going to use the boat?

Ocassional weekends; light duty coastal for 2 or 3 weeks at a time;
liveaboard coastal - constant use; extended cruising in the boondocks?

For ocassional or light duty coastal usage I'd leave it as is,
maintain the engine well and flush it with fresh water before any
extended down time. Keep an eye out for cooling system issues, leaks,
etc. It may surprise you with its future longevity if well maintained
in the past.

For constant use or cruising in the boondocks I'd probably consider a
new engine at some point. In my opinion it is already too old to get
much benefit from a FWC conversion. The damage has already been done
and is irreversible.

These Yanmars are not the sort of rubbish you get from dump-truck and
converted auto engines, they are known to last far longer than the
equivalent Volvos, and to assume that in X years you will have Y
deterioration is crazy.

By all means replace the wearing parts, fuel pump, injector pump etc etc,
but keep the engine in good serviceable use until at some future time, the
wear on the block which you seem to fear most, is obvious. This might well
be after you are long finished with sailing, but so what?

Get the 3 injectors serviced annually, this is probably the best money you
will spend, and I always found that this simple service reduces smoking and
gives a fair amount of extra SHP at the start of the season.

Change the engine oil every 100 hrs running, and pay scruculous attention to
winterising the engine if you live in an area where winter means a longish
and frosty lay-up.

I think your engine could well outlast you!


Dennis.