40hp vs 54 Hp Beneteau 393

[DaveKdot]

I am looking to buy a Beneteau 393. What do I get or give up by buying this boat with the Westerbecke 40 Hp or one with the optional Yanmar 54Hp? I assume either will provide hull speed propulsion.

[svGenesis]

The 40hp is plenty to push that dispacement, If your constantly running through channels and currents and need more response then maybe the 54HP and a better/bigger prop.

[SailFastTri]

I'm not familiar with the boat, but it's a sailboat. 40HP should be plenty to push a 39 footer, even against strong headwinds. You're not going to exceed hull speed with either engine. Your carbon footprint might be a bit bigger with the larger engine, depending on how much you push it, but not enough to notice in day to day use.

[DaveKdot]

Thanks for the quick replies. Any comments on the Westerbecke vs. the Yanmar? Parts availability? Reliability?

[Orion Jim]

All else being equal I'd go with the engine with less hours AND a track record of required maintenance. One brand over another is personal preference.

[DaveKdot]

Thanks all

[chuckr]

We have a Jeanneau DS40 that has a yanmar 54hp and love the engine. Love having the power we have and a couple of times really really glad we had it. The arm chair guys will tell you 40 is good but get into a tight pinch and find you do not have enough power is not the time to figure out you should have gotten the bigger engine.
As for Yanmar we have more than once had a someone on board to do a bit of maintenance and I said Yanmar and they smiled and said great engine and will take a beating and keep on ticking -- and lasts a long time --
as for parts we have not had a real issue getting parts almost anywhere we have been .
this may cause a bit of controversy but Yanmar probably makes the best marine engine there is.

[DaveKdot]

Reading the forum threads, I have seen nothing but glowing comments about Yanmar and it's reliability and parts availability, as your reply indicates, chuckr. The worst I have heard is about the high cost of those parts. I have seen nothing good or bad about Westerbecke, it's a complete unknown to me. Thanks for your reply.