On Sep 14, 5:48 am, Frogwatch wrote:
On Sep 14, 3:37 am, wrote:





Jeff:

A bit of additional research on my part reveals that the Westerbeke
44B Four and the Vetus M 4.17 are the same Mitsubishi block... the
Mitsubishi is, in fact 'self-bleeding' (I own one) which is a nice
feature but perhaps not one to base a decision on

Don't get confused at the Volvo site; all of their photos show the
engine attached to a saildrive, but all are in reality equally
available with standard marine transmissions. Your best bet seems to
be...

http://www.volvo.com/NR/rdonlyres/EE...C6-5100F8A3BEB...

Volvo has a reputation for expensive parts, *but* their engines are
now made by Perkins which has a long and proud tradition of rock solid
diesel engines. Want proof? Note the displacement / bore / stroke of
the Volvo in the above .pdf with the Perkins model 404D-15 he

http://www.perkins.com/cda/layout?m=97265&x=7

So, if Volvo is simply 'marinizing' a Perkins, and if Perkins parts
are widely available and resonably priced, why shy away? Too, the
Volvo has a whopping 115 Amp alternator as standard equipment... which
is a nice feature, but perhaps not one to base a decision on

I believe Yanmar makes a fine product, and unlike all of the above,
it's *their own* product, i.e. they aren't 'marinizing' someone else's
block - it's a Yanmar from tip to tail. This might be considered a
good thing by some, and a bad thing by others.

My suggestion would be to print out the various spec sheets available
from these manufacturers for the 40+/- hp engines, grab a highlighter
and start making notes.

With a few hours study, you'll be well on your way to making a
informed decision, which will give you a leg up when it comes time to
buy.

Let us know what you decide, and - perhaps more importantly - why!

MW

Am not sure why Hodgett does not like Yanmar. I have had two and they
are the most reliable machines I have ever seen.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Ditto my experience. Yanmar very reliable. I've had various 1, 2, and
3 cylinder Yanmars, all reliable. Very, very important to have good
shaft alignment with any engine installation. Poor alignment is the
usual cause of motor mount breakage, although some mounts aggravate
the problem by sagging. Also very important: clean fuel and proper
propellor match. With proper gearing and prop match, high rpm engines
very OK for sailboats. The only real disadvantage is that hand
starting can be next to impossible with the low flywheel mass, so be
sure to maintain your starting system (battery, wiring, starter
motor).
Paul Mathews