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#1
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Diesel Engine Time: Opinions Sought
I appreciate that this may unleash the floodgates of opinion and rant,
but that's what I'm looking for...! I'm building a 30' cutter, and am at the point where I need to get an engine in place. 20 H.P. +/- is what the plans call for (traditional reduction gear driving prop shaft). I've narrowed the field down to the Kubota variants and Yanmar, specifically: Universal M3 20B Beta Marine BD 722 Phasor P3-20-SM Yanmar 3YM20 The first three are all based on the same 3 cylinder Kubota block which has been around for a while; the last (also 3 cylinder) is so new it's not yet shipping. The Universal and Phasor are available for about $5.7K, the Beta (I assume largely because it's imported from the UK and the dollar is an also-ran at the moment) about $6.5K. The Yanmar about spilts the difference at $6.3K (all prices are "boat show" quotes [!]). Volvo was not considered because parts price / availability *seems* to be a major issue. I'd appreciate any comments on your experience with these or similar engines from these manufacturers - or any others that I may have overlooked. Mike Worrall Los Angeles |
#2
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#4
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On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 18:03:59 -0500, Courtney Thomas
wrote: Pardon my ignorance but...if the Universal is a Kubota under the hood, is there a question of whether he can use Kubota parts ? My impression is that the blocks are Kubota, but there are a number of parts and design differences that distinguish, say, equivalent Universal/Westerbeke and Beta diesels. I have a neighbor that substituted a Universal, M4-30 I believe it's called, for an Atomic Four, has had it a long time and is satisfied. I'm not knocking the Universal A4 replacement...but the OP was comparing diesels, and I have heard enough positive things about how the Beta is designed for easy access that if I pitch my Atomic 4 for a diesel, I would likely choose the Beta dimensional replacement over the Universal. One man's not particularly strongly held opinion, as I still run an A4 G. But as the years pass, a lot of A4 owners where I said (*still* about 40%) are choosing to repower with diesel. This can be an expensive and time-consuming choice, so the OP who wants a diesel suggestion is avoiding at least that debate. R. |
#5
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I am a fan of Yanmar engines, have owned three in the past. All were GM
series, two one cylinder and one three cylinder. Is there a reason you have not listed the GM series for consideration. The two cylinder should be about what you are looking for. They are expensive but extremely reliable. DAve |
#6
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On Mon, 4 Oct 2004 10:02:53 -0400, "Dave W"
wrote: I am a fan of Yanmar engines, have owned three in the past. All were GM series, two one cylinder and one three cylinder. Is there a reason you have not listed the GM series for consideration. Yes, because: "They are expensive but extremely reliable." I think you can get a similar level of reliability at less cost, or at least it's worth investigating. Yanmar are pretty well the 'default setting" of marine diesel auxiliaries at this point, where, say, a Perkins 4-107 or 4-108 would be in 1980. So they don't need promotion from me. If all alternatives are examined, and Yanmar is the best choice, then I wouldn't suggest other than a Yanmar. However, alternatives do exist and I encourage alternatives. I didn't suggest Volvo, either...beautiful diesels that are usually reliable, but if they break, you better have a mechanic AND a bank manager...G R. |
#7
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Dave wrote:...
"Is there a reason you have not listed the GM series for consideration." The only GM series engine still being manufactured is the 9.8 HP 1GM10. The 'Y' series has (apparently) superceded (sp) the GM series, due - I suspect - to stricter environmental regulations. Since I need 20 HP (per the plans I'm working from), the new 3Y20 seems the only logical Yanmar choice. MW |
#8
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"mike worrall" wrote in message om... Dave wrote:... "Is there a reason you have not listed the GM series for consideration." The only GM series engine still being manufactured is the 9.8 HP 1GM10. The 'Y' series has (apparently) superceded (sp) the GM series, due - I suspect - to stricter environmental regulations. Since I need 20 HP (per the plans I'm working from), the new 3Y20 seems the only logical Yanmar choice. MW Yes, but in this change over from the GM to YM you might still be able to get a GM at a significant discount. -- Evan Gatehouse you'll have to rewrite my email address to get to me ceilydh AT 3web dot net (fools the spammers) |
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