Will do, thanks. I read a lot of sailing narratives and if it wasn't a
Gray in the '50s, it was a Perkins 4-108 in the '60s, '70s and '80s. A
few Volvos after that, but not the 2002 model, apparently.

R.

On Mon, 22 Sep 2003 19:01:34 -0400, "Doug Dotson"
wrote:

Check out www.perkins.com. I don't think the 4-108 is made anymore as
such, but they are making similar engines. I have a 4-236 (1985) so I am
also concerned about this. A friend has a boat with 2 4-236 engines that
are only 5 years old.

Doug
s/v Callista

wrote in message
.. .
I have an Atomic 4 and am very familiar with dead designs and the joys
of extending the working lives of extinct engines.

My next boat will have a diesel. I have heard amazing things about the
Perkins 4-108, etc. but I get the impression they don't make 'em
anymore and it's strictly, like the Atomic 4, rebuilds, aftermarket
and DIY Frankenengines.

Is this the case, and if so, is it worth it to buy a used Perkins for
world cruising within five years? If not, what is the best choice in
the 30-60 HP range for sheer reliability versus sensible design (I
love the A4 Beta Marine/Kubota design, for instance) versus cost of
spares (why I won't likely get a Volvo, because even though they seem
reliable enough, the cost of spares and their worldwide availability
is off-putting in the extreme).

Any thoughts appreciated. Might go Yanmar by default, but I would
prefer Big Iron That's Bulletproof.

Also wouldn't mind a way to hand start on one cylinder, but no curent
engine seems to allow that...

R.