Best diesel for sailboats?

[barnakiel]

https://bukh.dk


The above is the best.


Beta is decent.


Avoid marinized Mistsubishi blocks. Imho.


I think Nanni, Sole, Vetus and Westerbeke may be Mitsubishi blocks.



Cheers,

b.

[fish53]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

https://bukh.dk


The above is the best.


Beta is decent.


Avoid marinized Mistsubishi blocks. Imho.


I think Nanni, Sole, Vetus and Westerbeke may be Mitsubishi blocks.



Cheers,

b.

I have a Bukh DV20 which is a nice engine but is possibly the most expensive and difficult to get parts for of any brand. Nanni is predominately Kubota especially in the smaller hp range.

[LittleWing77]

Here you go, Awe. Long thread on this endless debate from about a month ago. It was a fun thread, though!

Which engine would you choose?
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...se-234234.html

Best choice for new right now (+ reasonably priced parts) would be non-common rail Beta.

LittleWing77

[mikedefieslife]

Wouldn't it make sense to check the weight and diamensions of the engines. It's not like there are a billion choices in the 40hp. What some people say is easy to work on, might well be, but might be so big that for your space it becomes a pig to work on. Where as another might be smaller and so afford more space around the engine.

I have a very old 3GM30, and I've not seen an engine in the same range even nearly as light as it. It downside is that it is quite tall/deep, which on my boat makes some things hard to access.

The Yanmar 3JH40 is supposed to be the smallest engine. It's a good 60kg heavier than the old 3GM, but does some extra ponies.

[250224]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

[snip]
Avoid marinized Mistsubishi blocks. Imho.
I think Nanni, Sole, Vetus and Westerbeke may be Mitsubishi blocks.

Why would you say to avoid Mitsubishi blocks?

In my experience Solé [1] diesel motors work very well. Can't comment on other manufacturers.


[1]: Link: Boat Engines - Solé Diesel

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by fish53

I have a Bukh DV20 which is a nice engine but is possibly the most expensive and difficult to get parts for of any brand. Nanni is predominately Kubota especially in the smaller hp range.

OK. Then Nanni and Beta will be based in Kubota. I think Kubota blocks are decent starting point.



b.

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by blu3534

Why would you say to avoid Mitsubishi blocks?

In my experience Solé [1] diesel motors work very well. Can't comment on other manufacturers.


[1]: Link: Boat Engines - Solé Diesel

Based in extremely bad experience servicing Westerbeke gensets. Block corrosion issues.


b.

[Bycrick]

My first boat had a little Volvo. The same Volvo-only mechanic worked on it for 20+ years. When I went looking for a newer boat, he recommended Yanmar.

Gord is right about Yanmar prices. Exactly the same water pump">raw water pump is used on some 3J and 4J models. But it has different part numbers and a $300-490 price difference. Parts for older engines are often more expensive even if the identical part is used on a newer engine

[jkindredpdx]

Although I've heard some Dis them on CF, my 1974 HR has an original 4 cylinder Volvo MD21. I don't know much about parts etc, cuz (knock on wood) I've only done regular maintenance

[mikedefieslife]

Originally Posted by Bycrick

My first boat had a little Volvo. The same Volvo-only mechanic worked on it for 20+ years. When I went looking for a newer boat, he recommended Yanmar.

Gord is right about Yanmar prices. Exactly the same raw water pump is used on some 3J and 4J models. But it has different part numbers and a $300-490 price difference. Parts for older engines are often more expensive even if the identical part is used on a newer engine

Aren't the ancillaries made by 3rd parties anyway? Like the Yanmar raw water pumps made by Johnson.

[fish53]

Originally Posted by mikedefieslife

Aren't the ancillaries made by 3rd parties anyway? Like the Yanmar raw water pumps made by Johnson.

That's true with many marinizing parts like seawater pumps, alternators, transmissions, drive plates and some exhaust parts, that's why it isn't all that hard to marinize an engine yourself.

[Andreas W]

Actually the Yanmar is one of the few engines I know that is not marinized, but from the start designed as a marine diesel engine. Probably one reason that they are so reliable.

[malbert73]

Originally Posted by Andreas W

The Yanmar engines ar by far the most reliable and easy to maintain and overhaul. Product support from the manufacturer is great. They were very helpful when I wanted to add an additional Balmar marine alternator, and checked my calculations.
In my boat repair practice I had to repair lots of engines. Only very few Yanmar engines, and those had minor issues.

I respect that’s your opinion but first sentence is not widely established as true.
It seems that Yanmar most common in new boats and are great. But repairs on new CR engines requires professional help in many cases
Beta most common repower and are great and always easy for end user to service etc
I repowered with Beta after considering Yanmar. Splitting hairs in quality; but don’t want a tech to have to service or replace an injector down the road eg

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by Andreas W

Actually the Yanmar is one of the few engines I know that is not marinized, but from the start designed as a marine diesel engine. Probably one reason that they are so reliable.

Yanmar Marinizes their own industrial engines. They’re not purpose built.

[mikedefieslife]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Yanmar Marinizes their own industrial engines. They’re not purpose built.

All of them? Some do seem purpose built. Like the diesel outboards they make for example. They claim the 6ly is purpose built for marine use, I imagine quite a few other models are too.