Opinions needed on the Toyota/Kubota/Nanni Diesels

[SabreKai]

I may need to replace my aging VP MD17c and ran into a booth at the Toronto Boat show selling the Nanni Diesels which I am told are Toyota/Kubota built. Anyone have words to say about them, good or bad?

Thanks

Sabre

[knottybuoyz]

Have no personal experience with Nanni diesels but the designer Jacques Mertens (Bateau.com - boat plans on line since 1993) swears by them and recommends them for his designs.

[Jim Cate]

G'DAy Sabre,

Insatiable II has a Nanni 4 cyl 43hp aux. It is now 18.5 years old, has some 3-4K hours on it (PO didn't have an hour meter), and it still runs like new. Had the heat exchanger die while the PO had the boat out of the water for a two-year refit, but otherwise the only repairs have been impellers and seals in the water pump">raw water pump. This version is based on a 2 litre Kubota tractor engine, so that engine (not marinization )parts can be sourced from tractor dealers around the world.

In short, I am completely satisfied and would buy again in a flash.
Oh, and we average 2.3 L/hr driving our 46' 11 tonne boat.

Cheers,

[starfish62]

Universal, Beta and Phasor are all Kubota blocks, which as Jim Cate said have parts availability globally. I've heard nothing but good things about them.