Replacement engine

[Gaphumbala]

I currently have a Volvo 35 hp MD17C engine which I need to replace. I am looking for advice on what to replace it with. I will be doing a lot of offshore cruising so replacement parts and service is a consideration. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

[sy_gilana]

Replace with same, break down old one for spares. The hidden cost of changing engines is higher than you think, arrangement of mountings, hoses, shaft, electrical etc will add problems and $$$.

[Gaphumbala]

That engine is no longer available.

[Lepke]

Rebuild the one you have

[skipmac]

Hard to beat a Beta Marine engine. Based on a Kubota tractor block so the basic engine parts are available world wide. Beta does a great job of marinization of the Kubota. All the pumps and belts are well made and easy access.

Customer service is great and I believe they can work with you to make the engine mounts match your current installation, within limits. You can buy the complete package with alternator including options like high output, serpentine belts, etc.

Not the cheapest engine out there but if I have to repower I'll go with Beta.

By the way, I had a boat with the MD17C. I thought it was a great engine and might be worth rebuilding but parts are probably getting hard to find and expensive. That is another plus for the Beta, parts are reasonable and they will even give you the Kubota tractor block number so you can buy the non marine parts from a tractor dealer.

[Gaphumbala]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Rebuild the one you have

The cost for parts alone exceeds $6000.00

[bvander]

ditto on beta.

[Viking Sailor]

I met a couple that replaced there MD17C with a beta and it cost them $25K That was with them doing some of the glass work. Hope you can find a better deal.

[RaymondR]

I went through this whole process a few years ago and found that the cheapest option was to buy a used Japanese auto engine and marinise it. However I ended up buying a new Kubuto V2203 industrial engine instead.

[Gaphumbala]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

I met a couple that replaced there MD17C with a beta and it cost them $25K That was with them doing some of the glass work. Hope you can find a better deal.

OUCH!!

[Gaphumbala]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

I went through this whole process a few years ago and found that the cheapest option was to buy a used Japanese auto engine and marinise it. However I ended up buying a new Kubuto V2203 industrial engine instead.

An interesting idea. BTW, I too have a modified Roberts 36.

[nauticalnomad]

I bought a Nanni. Same Kubota engine as Beta. Beta have better options but too late now. There are also Beta dealers in all corners of the globe..

[bvander]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

I met a couple that replaced there MD17C with a beta and it cost them $25K That was with them doing some of the glass work. Hope you can find a better deal.

We repowered 8 years ago replacing a lehman-peugot 50 with a beta 50. Engine including options and shipping was $12k, install was $3k. I did most of the disconnect and reconnect myself. Beta configured mounts to fit your engine bed so no major reconstruction.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Viking Sailor

I met a couple that replaced there MD17C with a beta and it cost them $25K That was with them doing some of the glass work. Hope you can find a better deal.

That seems awfully high. I had a friend repower a Westsail 32 for about half that.

What size engine? They do start getting a lot more expensive in higher HP sizes. Also I would guess at that price they went to a yard and more or less wrote them a blank check to do the job. Any chance they gave you a breakdown on the costs?

[nhschneider]

The original engine on our boat was a Volvo MD40A and at about 7,000 hours, had developed so many problems that a rebuild or replacement was necessary. I was going to rebuild it myself but the parts alone came to slightly over US$20,000 and that didn't include overhauling the transmission.

We bought a Beta Marine 90 for about US$16,000 (with a new transmission) and have been delighted with it. It now has over 2,500 hours on it, has consistently started quickly and run smoothly, has never leaked a drop of anything and burns less than one gallon per hour at cruising RPM. Beta Marine recommends lubricating oil changes every 250 hours but in the owner's manual for the Kubota MX-6 excavator, which uses the same engine, it says to change the oil every 500 hours. Which do you think gets worked harder: A piece of construction equipment or a sailboat engine?

Fair winds and calm seas.