I'm building a 22" Sisu lobsterboat with the VW diesel. 53hp
conversion is by a Canadian company Pathfinder Marine. The watercooled
manifold/heat exchanger is made by an english company and the adapter
to fit engine to a hurth or borg warner transmission can be purchased
from Pathfinder. There are used ones around and the engine is the same
as the automotive. they have a larger aluminum oilpan with a longer
pickup tube on the marinized as well. Most are setup with wet exhaust
but I put piping for keel cooled which is better for winter in Maine.
There were a number of yachts which used these for aux power and
they've been around for awhile. The VW has an aluminum head so its not
an engine you ever want to let overheat. Otherwise I think it will be
a very reliable engine which won't be costly to maintain.


Terry King wrote in message ...
Hi Brian,

I've done conversions on automobile V-8's and run them for years..

I have a 350 GM in the same boat I built in 1978 (25th anniversary last
Summer on Lake Champlain).

The 'conventional' conversion adds exhaust manifolds, water
pump/plumbing, flame arrester, drive train solution, and motor mounts.

Since it's been so long since I've done one, and I'm interested in 1 or 2
small diesels for a slower bigger boat, I wonder what people here have
done.

In article ,
says...
I've done an engine aero conversion, and there is more to it than
meets the eye, so I am leery.
But thinking on your suggestion, we are talking cooling and we are
talking forward/reverse. Think you could handle those?
If you can, VW would be very, very promising.
Or howz about a Mercedes?