Universal M25xp or Yanmar 3gm30f

[paulstenlund]

Hello
I am repowering a Buchan 37 and can obtain a Universal 25xp or a Yanmar 3gm30 for the same amount. What are the pro and cons f the respective engines.

Thanks

[gaspass3]

Either one should be just fine. There is no wrong answer here, just personal preferences.


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[a64pilot]

I'd go with the Universal, I beleive if not mistaken that some of those model Yanmars had piston failures.
Verify that as I could be wrong

[Robin3]

3GM30 Yanmars are a very fine engine fitted to many boats. We have one in our Beneteau Oceanis 36CC. I do not know anything about the Universal.


Note subtle differences between European Yanmar 3GM30s and USa ones, Euro ones have 'E' suffix on serial number. THey were 'assembled in the EU to get around importduty but th only real difference IIRC is the water pump, USA version is a Johnson and uses a different impellor but both versions are available from yanmar dealers if the right serial number is quoted.

[Excalibur5]

I believe both are very good engines, but be sure to check the network of dealers for both in the areas you intend to take the boat. It is a machine, it will break, and having to order absolutely everything can be very frustrating.

In the US at least, I have found Yanmar's dealer network to be very good. I don't know about Universal's though.

[Cheechako]

The universal is Kubota. The Yanmar is not a 30 hp engine as the labeling might indicate to some and does have a rep for piston failures.... at least in the early years. Not like every engine but it does happen.
I'd probably go with the Universal, especially if you are buying used.
I had early piston failures in 2 of 2 3GM30's (1992 manufacture.)

[Island Time O25]

My personal preference would be Universal. But I have several reasons to be biased. One of them is that both of my boats have Universals and second there is a Universal dealer/distributor less than a mile from my mooring field.

My marine pro-diesel mechanic buddy who maintains a fleet of 60+ boats with deisels, swears by Yanmars but only the older, pre-electronics driven ones. He says the latest models have too thin blocks which can't stand up to marine environment as the older ones can.

Also the parts pricing and availability can be a tricky issue with older Yanmars as they tend to discontinue many parts after X number of years. But Universal, being a marinized version of Kubota, will probably keep on making replacement parts as long as their tractors are around.

Few years back I was given a boat which needed TLC but otherwise solid and had to "re-gift" it to my hauler as I found it very frustrating trying to locate parts for an older QM Yanmar. Very simple parts like fuel lines, linkages, etc. were not made anymore by Yanmar and the ones from other models would not fit, not even close. Sure I could have improvised and/or ordered them at a machine shop or spend time searching online but that would be too cost/time prohibitive and would defeat the purpose, which was a mooring space/permit holder.

[Robin3]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

The universal is Kubota. The Yanmar is not a 30 hp engine as the labeling might indicate to some and does have a rep for piston failures.... at least in the early years. Not like every engine but it does happen.
I'd probably go with the Universal, especially if you are buying used.
I had early piston failures in 2 of 2 3GM30's (1992 manufacture.)

Ours is from 1998 and the horsepower is 27, but measured after the gearbox 'at the prop' and useable at full throttle continuous not an intermittent measure like some motors claim, so very likely 30 if measured back at the flywheel I"m not sure what the Yanmar base engine is but it is a tractor one, maybe Mitsubishi?

I would expect Yanmar spares availability to be the better on a worldwide basis not all boats are USA only.

[a64pilot]

I think Yanmar is a manufacturer, they roll their own I believe and not buy engines and marinize them

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

Also the parts pricing and availability can be a tricky issue with older Yanmars as they tend to discontinue many parts after X number of years. But Universal, being a marinized version of Kubota, will probably keep on making replacement parts as long as their tractors are around.

Both good engines for your use.

The BIG thing to be aware of is parts availability and pricing.

The Universal is a Kubota block and you can get many parts from tractor dealers. My understanding is that you HAVE TO buy Yanmar parts from a Yanmar dealer, no other resource.

You should also consider the availability of useful information about the two engines. If you find one like this for the Yanmar, all in one place, please let me know:

Diesel Engine - c34.org

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Both good engines for your use.

The BIG thing to be aware of is parts availability and pricing.

The Universal is a Kubota block and you can get many parts from tractor dealers. My understanding is that you HAVE TO buy Yanmar parts from a Yanmar dealer, no other resource.

You should also consider the availability of useful information about the two engines. If you find one like this for the Yanmar, all in one place, please let me know:

Diesel Engine - c34.org

Try this one. motoren.ath.cx: Yanmar motoren, motors engine | manual download

[builder dan]

my old 3 pot yanmar has been going strong for 27 years love it bulletproof motor

[Robin3]

i can understand the thinking behind having an engine based on another commonly available one but in practical terms is it really an advantage? I re-engined one boat I owned with a Volvo MD22L 50 hp. this was an Austin Montego car/van engine, marinised by Perkins and sold by them as a Perkins Prima, volvo put their gearbox on and bosch electrics and painted it green, the Perkins version was blue. My engine had a label in one place saying Volvo' and another in a different place saying 'Perkins'. The reality was that in 8 years of use the only parts ever rquired were regular service items and nothing that would have had me hunting the auto dealer's shelves. Alternator belts are easily found at at an industrial transmissions specialist supply place and water pump impellors will be available as the pumps are most likely Jabsco or Johnson. Filters, fuel and oil can be tracked down with a little effort but I liked to use the maker's one anyway, a) just in case b) because my motor had a 5 year extended warranty and using non-Volvo ones would have voided that. When I lived on a motor yacht here in Florida, with twin Cummins diesels the one time I needed something that might have been available from a RAM truck dealer, a fuel line, it was not and the engineer working on it had to have one made up specially anyway. So perhaps the concept of a common base engine being best is more theoretical than practical?

[Sailmonkey]

I assume these are both used engines?

Then the final decision should really be about the general overall condition of the engines. The one that is cleaner and better maintained wins.


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[boeing1]

are these used engines, have worked on both, both are good engines, as stated in the above thread, the universal is a kabota and parts are much less that yanmar.