Bukh DV10 parts? Underpowered?

[Buddy_Y]

Hi All:

I just inspected a used 30-foot sailboat today, owned by a widow who didn't know what engine it had. It turned out to have a Bukh DV10. (Pic below.) The engine is labelled DV10 / DV20, but I subsequently located some paperwork from an old survey that lists it as the DV10.

I would have assumed that I'd want to immediately repower something that old, but the engine sure looks in great shape (and indeed, although the PO passed two years ago, the boat has been stored indoors and presents well). I've googled the engine and know the basics of it, and that there seems to be a consensus that though it's quite an old model, it's a solid reliable engine. Thus, in making decisions about whether the boat would likely need an immediate repower, I have two first questions:

a) I've seen internet discussions characterize parts for the Bukh DV10 as "available but expensive." But the most recent thread in that regard that I found is several years old. Is this still the case?

b) The DV10 is only ten horsepower, alas. It's a 7500 lb displacement thirty-footer. Even if it turns out that the engine is still in the pink, I'm worried that 10 hp is underpowered. As a person with designs on heading south down the intracoastal waterway sometime, I'm more engine-conscious than most sailboaters.

As a complicator, the boat is half buried in a warehouse, it's mostly apart, and the deal being offered is 'as is.' All the widow knows is that the engine was working fine before her husband winterized it two years ago and then passed.

So, what do you think? Should I give this old soldier of an engine a try next summer, or make the Visa bleed this winter for a repowering?

[magicmoments]

My previous boat had a Bukh DV10 and displacement of 9800lbs. I used it for over 20 years. I could motor at 4.75 to 5.5 knots in all but the strongest head winds. For 1 cylinder it really idled smooth.

[Compass790]

My uncle had a DV20 which is basically 2 DV10's & it was a very reliable long lasting engine. Yes parts are horrendously priced but you may not need any for a long time.
They are a very heavy engine for the hp compared to a Kubota or Yanmar.
If it has good compression & no obvious issues I'd give it a go. Don't know about parts availablity sorry.
You can survive with a 10hp on that size boat but a 16-20hp would be better if you intend to do more motoring than sailing especially against strong winds or currents.
Magicmoments seemed to find it ok so worth a try unless you reqire a sustained 6+ knts

[Fore and Aft]

Buddy_Y I would give it a go. Our first 30 foot yacht had a Bukh DV10 that had spent 5 days underwater. We flushed the engine out, got an alternator from the auto wreckers and we hand started that Bukh until I could afford to get the starter motor fixed. I had that engine for two years and it never missed a beat.
As for being under powered we cruised New Zealand and never noticed a lack of power.
Cheers
Drew

[mvweebles]

I do not know the engine but can comment on horsepower. Heavy *thumper" diesel engines have relatively high torque curves. Means they can be fitted with a larger prop run at lower rpm. The usable power is decent, especially compared with a 9.9 hp outboard that will only whip up water without much push for a boat this size.

Good luck

Peter

[PLeffe]

Bukh engines power 25% of all commercial lifeboats on the planet. Once you sort it out they just run. I have a 16,000 pound Swan with a DV20. There is no issuer with power or performance. I’ve had my DV for 18 years. Get yours running and try it. I believe you will be very happy.
As for parts, go to LSM Diesel in Denmark. Talk to Eric the owner. He speaks perfect English and knows each and every part of every Bukh engine. They have a website although I usually call and talk to him directly. I don’t find the cost of parts excessive at all. LSM ships DHL so you have any part in two days.
LSM is the factory parts distributor and has been for around 55 years.
I tried buying parts in the USA and Canada. That didn’t work out for me at all. No inventory and higher prices than direct from Denmark.
I have no affiliation with LSM but when I needed parts (because of a lack of maintenance by the PO of my boat) LSM solved my needs with ease.
Good Luck.
Peter

[GordMay]

I’d expect that the Bukh DV10 is undersized, for a 30 Ft boat.
I'll admit, though, that I fall into the "HP is your friend" camp.

The BUKH DV10 is a single cylinder engine, rated only 10HP @ 3000 RPM
➥ https://bukh.dk/upload_dir/docs/FAQ/...%2020%20ME.pdf
➥ http://www.marinesurveyorontario.com/BukhDV10L.pdf

FWIW:
An oft-quoted rough Rule of thumb for determining Horsepower Required for a Sailboat:
One horsepower per 500 pounds ( ± 50lbs ) loaded.
Westerbeke Corporation suggests 2 hp for every 1,000 lb of displacement for coastal cruising, and 2.5 hp per 1,000 lb of displacement for offshore.
In their book "The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction", the authors suggest a good rule-of-thumb is 1 hp for every 500 lb of displacement.
Some people suggest 1 hp for every ft. of boat waterline length.
Some people suggest 3 - 5 hp (continuous rating) per long ton (to calculate the boat's weight in long tons divide the displacement by 2,240).

[patrickbarbary]

You just brought back memories. When I was 15 (50 years ago,) my dad built a 15 m ketch and it had a 100HP Bukh. The engine could be started and was equipped to start electrically, with compressed air and with a small cartridge of explosive... Never had any issue with the engine...

[Hesti]

It will run without any electricity
It can be hand started
It is on the small side for extended motoring (small meaning a bit slow) but ok for getting you in and out of a harbour and also for making a bit slow way under engine.


So, a boat at that size with such an engine is more of a sailboat with auxiliary and less of a motorsailer. Ok, if your focus is on sailing, even in light winds but not ideal if your focus is speedy passage making independent of wind and weather.

[Buddy_Y]

Thanks everyone! I've screwed up my courage to give it a try. The owner just accepted my offer, so I've got my winter project ahead of me.

I'll see if I can resuscitate the Bukh for use this summer, then make a decision next winter as to whether I want a repower. (Assuming that I can get the Bukh working at all. If I can't, then the Visa bleeds sooner rather than later.)

[Compass790]

Originally Posted by Buddy_Y

Thanks everyone! I've screwed up my courage to give it a try. The owner just accepted my offer, so I've got my winter project ahead of me.

I'll see if I can resuscitate the Bukh for use this summer, then make a decision next winter as to whether I want a repower. (Assuming that I can get the Bukh working at all. If I can't, then the Visa bleeds sooner rather than later.)

Good choice to give it a shot I reckon, they are pretty bulletproof AFAIK.
My Sf ladyfriends Cal 29 with a 10hp farymann diesel didnt seem too bad powerwise but I didnt use it in harsh conditions

Post back how you get on please.

[Buddy_Y]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I’d expect that the Bukh DV10 is undersized, for a 30 Ft boat.
I'll admit, though, that I fall into the "HP is your friend" camp.

The BUKH DV10 is a single cylinder engine, rated only 10HP @ 3000 RPM
➥ https://bukh.dk/upload_dir/docs/FAQ/...%2020%20ME.pdf
➥ http://www.marinesurveyorontario.com/BukhDV10L.pdf

FWIW:
An oft-quoted rough Rule of thumb for determining Horsepower Required for a Sailboat:
One horsepower per 500 pounds ( ± 50lbs ) loaded.
Westerbeke Corporation suggests 2 hp for every 1,000 lb of displacement for coastal cruising, and 2.5 hp per 1,000 lb of displacement for offshore.
In their book "The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction", the authors suggest a good rule-of-thumb is 1 hp for every 500 lb of displacement.
Some people suggest 1 hp for every ft. of boat waterline length.
Some people suggest 3 - 5 hp (continuous rating) per long ton (to calculate the boat's weight in long tons divide the displacement by 2,240).

Indeed, I found that formula and applied it to this boat--and that was one reason that I originally assumed that I would need to repower it straightaway. And I'm still nervous because I am either going to keep it in Port Stanley Ontario (and Lake Erie can kick up) or Sarnia, where the St Clair River's currents will be a factor. (I'll be starting a different thread in another forum to ask some opinions about the two locations.) On the positive side, the boat has a big beefy three-blade prop.

[Compass790]

When it kicks up too bad in our underpowered 26ft yacht ( sailboat) we motorsail with a storm jib or a lot rolled up on the headsail. You have to tack your way home but can get to windward in 30 knts solid, gusting to 45 but pretty slowly. We have a 7hp continuous rated engine but as we are overpropped we can only get 5 hp out of it.
A marina neighbour with a sistership powered by a 20hp 3 cylinder kubota reckons he can do 7 knts into quite strong wind but I didnt get an exact figure.
We only do 4.5 knts in fairly flat water but if it was propped correctly I guess it would do 5.5 knts at least. It's an easily driven hull tho & sails at 6 knts.
I'd expect your 30 footer powered by a 10hp to do 6+ knts easy with a fixed 3 blade prop in flat water if the hull form is ok.
Good luck getting it resuscitated.

[Grattaway]

I have a Bukh 20 powering a 32 ft Hartley ferro that is approx. twice as heavy as what your are purchasing - circa 7500kg
Installed 1974 - maintenance history prior to my purchase 7 years ago is unknown
We have done a bit of work to it -impellor, injector pump, alternator but it runs fine, always fires up when I turn the key
I am sure newer motors perform better but sails are the primary motive power after all

Bukh are a reliable robust power unit, plenty of parts available and actually not that over priced and you should definitely try before you decide to replace - it looks in good order for its age.
If you do swap it out you should find a buyer without any problem

although I wouid throw a new impellor at it before cranking the handle - or pushing the button


have fun
Wayne