Install Yanmar 3JH and SD50 without engine bed

[mfleury]

Hello all,

I jst received in India (where i build my future 50' cat) my 2 Yanmar 3JH5 and saildrives SD50.
And big surprise, they arrived without engine bed...

So now, i have two choices :
- buy and have sent here 2 engine bed, but it will be very expensive and slow
- make a wooden bed, reproducing the precise dimensions of the engine bed (available easily).

Of course, i would prefer to make the bed myself, but i have two doubts :
- if there is any sort of counterplate Under the part where the saildrive comes in contact with bed? There are 8 bolts tehre holding firmly the engine. I would replace that by 8 big wooden screws in about 4cm of wood; hoping it would allow enough pressure.
- Under the base of the saildrive is a seal that exceed the surface of about 5mm. This seal seems very hard, and i am wondering if there is any sort of groove on the engine bed (can't see any on pictures), or if the pressure created by the 8 bolts is enough to get saildrive base in full contact with bed (which seems to be, as i see no gap beetween saildrive and bed on the available pictures).

I attach a picture of this seal excess.

Thanks a lot to all of you who have access to this bed, or have used it before and can give me any advice.

Best Regards,

Matthieu

[Freerider]

Having recently removed a Volvo md11 w/ 110s saildrive from my boat, with plans to install a Yanamar 3GM30f w/ SD 20 saildrive i can offer some advise.

There is no groove on the saildrive bed for the rubber seal to fit into, its just a flat surface. It relies on the pressure of the bolts squeezing the seal in place.

However, under the flat "ring" surface is a steal plate, that must be drilled at tapped so the saildrive can be bolted down. This is the most important part, in my opinion, about the install.

Wood screws are not going to cut it here, not even close. You can purchase online the steel ring inserts to glass in place though.

Here's an example:

[CaptainRoss76]

From an experience marine engineer and delivery captain;

You must consider the seal around the drive will become an integral part of the hull.
I wouldn't even be considering anything other than the geniune part or at a push
the part made to exact specifications - if theres someone skilled enough to make a bed of wood they are skilled enough to make a plug for the correct part - purchase some thread inserts for the pinch bolts- job done.
Hope this helps