I found one of these puppies in a custom steel pilothouse sloop of
25,000 lbs. displacement yesterday which I am considering purchasing
for world cruising. Apparently, they were made from 1981-1990 and most
parts and gasket kits are still available. This one, due to the boat's
extended build time and use as a liveaboard, has a mere 1,200 hours on
it (the boat is stated as being built...but not completed...in 1988).
It's 52 HP as the model number would imply.

Thoughts on this engine? How does it compare to, say, a Perkins 4-108
of the same vintage?

I have an Atomic 4 so I am familiar with Westerbeke, but apparently
they had or have some relationship with Perkins. Interchangeability of
spares and parts is a selling point.

R.

Westerbeke is not actually a motor manufacturer, but an OEM that
assembles parts from other manufacturers, marinizes the resulting
motors, and sell them under the Westerbeke name. So the block could
well be a Perkins, or Matsubishi, or something else -- even 2 motors of
the same size might have different manufacturers. Here in the States,
there's no big problem, as there are numerous distributers (call
EnginesOne in Norfolk, VA ,800-548-6252), but if you go cruising abroad
you have to do some research to find out who made the original part, or
pay for an American dealer to ship it to you.

On 2 Nov 2005 12:55:47 -0800, "Akka" wrote:

Westerbeke is not actually a motor manufacturer, but an OEM that
assembles parts from other manufacturers, marinizes the resulting
motors, and sell them under the Westerbeke name. So the block could
well be a Perkins, or Matsubishi, or something else -- even 2 motors of
the same size might have different manufacturers. Here in the States,
there's no big problem, as there are numerous distributers (call
EnginesOne in Norfolk, VA ,800-548-6252), but if you go cruising abroad
you have to do some research to find out who made the original part, or
pay for an American dealer to ship it to you.

I had that impression and I suspect it might be some form of Perkins
(which would be good), but I didn't have this level of detail.

Thanks! Now, does anyone actually OWN one?

R.