Ditching the diesel inboard engine

[Caminantes]

Hi, i thought about starting a new thread on my specific current diatriva.

Im relatively new to boats, living and traveling on them since two or three years. Currently in Bremen, Germany, working on my steel sailboat before heading for a journey around Europe to the Med, via the North Sea.

I have a Bukh 20 diesel engine that came with the boat. It doesnt start since 4 years, seems to have compression, but the electric was a mess and i have disconnected some cables that where underwater in the bilge, i also dont have the start key for the motor... and i m no mechanic. So.

Every sailor i meet says its a great motor, and that i should make it run. But i m here, living on board, wanting to just go cruising now with this boat (new to me). And i have no money.

So im not a mechanic and i live and cruise with almost no money. Like, really no money. I dont pay to have the boat in places, i do exchange with the people in charge every time. It works for me.

My feeling is to just take this motor out, maybe sell it cheap, and get a ton of storage more on board (i need it, i travel with my tools and instruments).

I do have a brand new outboard from yamaha, a present from a friend, but its only 4PS. It runs smooth, and has maybe 15 hours of use. The boat weights maybe 4 to 5 tons.

So i can only go with the current using the outboard, when its calm. I mounted it in the stern on the portside. I built a nice motor mount so that i can get the motor and propeller out of the way while sailing and in doing so, it also doesnt interfere with the windvane.

My logic is that being no mechanic and having no money, i shouldnt be relying on a diesel inboard engine at all.

Other people can, because the either can fix the motor themselves, or have acces to workshops, or the money to pay specialists.

But in my specific case, i believe a big heavy motor that i dont understand nor enjoy working on, may not be for me.

Even if i could make it start, it would be a big economic effort to invest on the filters and oil needed for a minimum service. And if anything breaks at some point, i will be clueless on how to fix it, not to mention my unability to buy spars.

I also dont like much sharing my vital space with a motor. Nor the prospect of dragging a propeller while going under sail. Nor the holes in the hull. Did i mention that i ve got rid of the galley and the sea toilet in all my boats?

Now the question: am i crazy ditching the diesel? I know it can save your life/boat and also make your life easier...

But in my experience, and i am a long therm traveller, carrying expensive and heavy stuff that i cant fix... is a no no. Even if it can be helpful sometimes.

All other matters on board, i can fix, and i do fix myself. Woodwork, metalwork, stitching, etc. I m just no mechanic, and i dont enjoy working with motors. I can build and fix a windvane, a sculling oar, dismantle a carburator from an outboard and clean the chiclets, but i struggle to see myself dealing with the big heavy diesel motor.

To cruise with a tiny outboard will require better preparation and study of the passages, but i feel its the right thing for me. I would like to hear your take on this one.

By the way, im now working on the boat before i depart from Bremen direction Mediterranean.

There will be a fair amount of North Sea southerm coast from Bremerhaven to Bres. Thats the bit that wil require more careful planning i m guessing.

Then there is the bit of Biscay, which i hope to sail no later than July.

And then a more relaxed leg i expect, down the portuguese coast.

Im looking for people who may be interested in joining, but i will start a different thread for that.

I post this thread because some times, even if i have good reasons to do or dont do something, somebody comes with a clever/different perspective that either changes my mind or convinces me to proceed with the way i was already thinking.

So far all threads i started in the forums gave me a variety of new insights for which i m very thankful.


Thank you in advance!