jeanneau 57 engine replacement

[Pdemajo]

Hi All,
im in the process of buying a used Jeanneau 57. the engine, a VW 150hp is in poor conditions and im thinking of replacing it. Shaft drive.
As i have been doing with my old boat, i often do 400NM one stretch journeys, and here fore i need something reliable, but also something that i can understand and "repair" myself.

the choice would be one of the following:

1) volvo penta d3 new at around 35k - very electronic
2) Yanmar 4LV150 new at around 30k - very electronic
3) yanmar 4HJ110 new at around 16k - very electronic
4) reconditioned Yanmar 160hp of 2020 at around 10k - 150hp but a mechanical engine perfectly reconditioned by my mechanic.

for some reason, after having had a boat with a VP tmd22-p mechanical engine, im a bit reluctant about putting in a digital engine, as when something goes wrong i would not know how to handle the sensors and identify faults on a journey.

ive heard not so good things about the D3
the yanmar 150 seems good but im worried about the digital part, and the price is high
the yanmar 110, im worried that it would be under-powered specially in bad weather
im seriously considering the reconditioning, as it would give me something i can handle and understand, apart from the much cheaper price.

any thoughts or experience on the above?

[Zanshin]

I've got the same engine - but mine is still in good condition. I wouldn't go for an engine that has less than 150HP for this boat; but a well-cared for older engine would be OK. Yanmars are pretty common and parts/spares and mechanics for them can be found all over the world. Unlike the VW/Mercruiser engine! I was once in Newport, RI with 20+ Mercury dealers (who bought the VW engine rights) around and couldn't find anyone that would work on the engine; I had to get a car mechanic to look at the engine.

Are those prices just for the engine itself or do they include the installation costs as well?

[Pdemajo]

Hi zanshin, thank you for your reply. Those prices are just for the engine...quite expensive, but since i travel with the boat to around greek islands its quite difficult to get spares and mechanics aniway.... that's why the thought ....

[SailingHarmonie]

A fair number of my clients have D3s installed in their boats. They love them, or they hate them, there is no middle ground.

When running well, this is really an amazing engine. Quiet, fuel efficient, smooth, responsive, just a delight. This is NOT your father's diesel engine.

On the other hand, several people (not one...) have had things go wrong that confounded every Volvo certified mechanic they had work on the engine. It's one thing to have an engine that the boat owner can not repair, it is another case entirely to have an engine that the manufacturer can not repair.

I delivered a boat with a dead D3 under sail from the USVI where the local Volvo mechanics had given up on getting it to run after literally months of effort, down to Martinique where the "best Volvo mechanic in the Caribbean" was going to fix it. Nope.

The requirement that basic maintenance be done at a Volvo certified shop to maintain the warranty coverage is serious issue for real cruising boats who can not just schedule a port call that might be hundreds of mile away every time they need an oil change.

[barnakiel]

I would go for one with identical or nearly so engine mounts / angles. I think Beta can make mounts to fit earlier models of Y and VP. Beta are very decent motors too. Imho.


For the electronic package on VP - it is a disaster. My friend runs a charter boat where the package failed 3 times - and the 3rd time VP were VERY reluctant to make it under warranty.


I mechanical everything is an advantage, but not easy to get these days.


b.

[Pdemajo]

Thank you SailingHarmonie, i think i would stay away from the D3. i cant afford these problems sailing around islands...

[Pdemajo]

thank you barnakiel. i agree that it has to have at least the same power if not more. Though it may be hard to find, i think mechanical would be my first choice too. Thank you also for the company for the mounts!!

[Hoodsail]

Your boat much larger/heavier than mine, BUT I am re-powering my bristol 35.5 and reviewed both the torque and horsepower curves of a Beta and Nanni to my existing westerbeke w30 (25hp). Ultimately the Nanni 4.38 (38 hp) output, both torque & HP at the lower end of RPMs (2100-2200) was very similar to my old engine while the Beta 30 developed similar output but at a much higher RPM...I mention this because does torque matter? As the turning power of the engine you would think so, but noone ever discusses and boat specs never list torque only HP... so have you compared engine torque/HP curves of your existing diesel to those you are considering??

[Gonzalo Barros]

Hi Pdemajo, I have a sailboat like yours, a Jeanneau 57 from 2013, and I’m thinking about changing the engine. I’d like to know if you changed the engine and which one you installed. If you did, it would be very helpful for me to learn about your experience with this change and to receive any advice you may have. Greetings from Chile.

[Pdemajo]

Hi Gonzalo,

yes, i changed my engine just before summer because it was becoming impossible to find spare parts, and quite frankly i wanted peace of mind. My first preference would have been the yanmar 140hp mechanical engine, but unfortunately they stopped producing them and moved on to the more electronic based ones. I prefer a proper mechanical one which i know how to manage myself, rather than having a multitude of sensors.

After much research i chose what is known as a Ghisellini LP 4140TIC.
Basically its very similar to the yanmar, as they both use the same Kubota block. It also uses the same disposables, such as filters etc.
Its a much lower revving engine - it peeks at 2600 revs and cruises very comfortably at 2000/2100. at those revs the boat does around 8.5 kts (if you set the prop pitch properly). Let me know what you kneed....ive got pics, prices, etc. probably best if you send me a private message. Greetings from Malta!

[Greatest Lakes]

Nice. My dad has the VW in his 57, aside from filters, oil and the usual, it has had several electrical problems, most of which were hard to trace. Burned up one of the alternators, had some relays go bad, and some issue caused it to shut down over 1500 or so RPM. Drawing a blank on the cause, but it was electrical.

I've had 6 different Yanmar engines over the years, the newest being a 2012, and it has impressed me the most. I k ow if my dad ever opts to get rid of theVW, it will be a Yanmar too.

[Shrew]

The reconditioned Yanmar....hands down. The Yanmar's are good engine. rebuilt properly, I'd expect to get your money's worth out of that engine.

[Zanshin]

@Greatest_Lakes - I've had some problems with my VW engine as well, mainly with loss of power above f1500RPM as well - and I haven't solved that yet. While the engine has never completely failed me, I'm debating going the repowering route as well.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Shrew

The reconditioned Yanmar....hands down. The Yanmar's are good engine. rebuilt properly, I'd expect to get your money's worth out of that engine.

I agree with this. The best -- and cheapest -- solution of the ones proposed.

[NBs]

Cummins B 4,5l They are reliable, easy to maintain, and spare parts and servicing are available everywhere. A long service life has been taken into account right from the design stage.

https://www.cummins.com/engines/b45l-marine