Tom,
Two things to start with:
Look up www.goodoldboat.com you might want the free issue, but you also
might just as well subsribe now.
Bookmark www.moyermarine.com that is the current best source for A4 parts.

Is this a fresh or sal****er boat?

In any case:
Examine your alternatives carefully.
Are you a competent mechanic or can you get a hold of one?
A complete rebuild of an old A4 is about 6-700$us in parts. The hard
part is getting it out of the boat.
The price quoted for a new diesel is about right, but count on another
2k$us to install (I have seen it be twice that). They can be had used,
but can you get a good answer as to why it was removed?

If it is a fresh water boat, the fiberglass will weather away before the
A4 corrodes to distruction.

What Peason is it?
What condition is the rest of the hull and rig?

Matt Colie




Thomas Wentworth wrote:
A friend has offered me his old Pearson sailboat. It is in good shape.
But, it needs a new engine. It has the original Atomic 4 gas.

What diesel engine would be the best replacement? How much do the diesels
cost? How much work is it the replace an old Atomic 4 in a 1968 year
sailboat? When replacing the engine, does the shaft, fuel tank etc also get
replaced?

Any other info???


Thanks,,, Tom

Matt Colie wrote:
Tom,
Two things to start with:
Look up www.goodoldboat.com you might want the free issue, but you also
might just as well subsribe now.
Bookmark www.moyermarine.com that is the current best source for A4 parts.

Is this a fresh or sal****er boat?

In any case:
Examine your alternatives carefully.
Are you a competent mechanic or can you get a hold of one?
A complete rebuild of an old A4 is about 6-700$us in parts. The hard
part is getting it out of the boat.

Which, mind, you will have to do anyway, if the pan needs to come
off to effect a repair, if you can avoid a rebuild. Real men love
this kind of ****, and any decent mechanic can tell you what minimum
the engine needs, in about 10 minutes! You could tell, if you
understand compression, fuel, and spark.

Does it spin over OK?

A six pack will make removing the engine happen, where I come from.

If you pull the mounts with the engine, it will fall back in easily,
with no shaft realignment required. Changing tranny, engine bed,
batteries, tank, exhaust, etc is not worth the pain, and the safety
of diesel is so high priced and so unproductive as to be not cost
effective (how often do you hear that some one with a stuffed up
nose actually dropped his zippo into a puddle of gas in the bilge?)

The navy is right: it is safer to have only one fuel on board, and
it the most war explosion proof. The A4 is an old friend, been
around forever, was "the best" once. May still be if cost
effectiveness is figured. This is a toy boat, right?

A business boat is cost deductible.

Do you have a "hobby business?" It's a great investment in business
education.

Put an ad in the paper: "Boat for rent." Don't, for heavan's sake,
rent it yet, you are just getting started. Get a receipt for the ad,
and buy a copy of the paper, with a receipt. Pay for the boat, get a
receipt, let your buddy treat you to a Trip to Las Vegas, later. You
need to generate expenses, for when you sell the boat.

Then try to fix it. Messing about in boats is the best way to waste
time. The most relaxed cursing you will ever do is at a boat that
you care for and love. Is it any wonder they call boats "She?"

Is it any wonder we all wish to be watch officers, Captains? -Even
Engineering officers?

Terry K


The price quoted for a new diesel is about right, but count on another
2k$us to install (I have seen it be twice that). They can be had used,
but can you get a good answer as to why it was removed?

If it is a fresh water boat, the fiberglass will weather away before the
A4 corrodes to distruction.

What Peason is it?
What condition is the rest of the hull and rig?

Matt Colie




Thomas Wentworth wrote:

A friend has offered me his old Pearson sailboat. It is in good
shape. But, it needs a new engine. It has the original Atomic 4 gas.

What diesel engine would be the best replacement? How much do the
diesels cost? How much work is it the replace an old Atomic 4 in a
1968 year sailboat? When replacing the engine, does the shaft, fuel
tank etc also get replaced?

Any other info???


Thanks,,, Tom