Catalina 310 with 26 HP Universal, WTF

[sigbear]

I am on the market for a used Catalina (2003-2007) and came across 2 Catalina 310's, one a 2003 the other a 2005, both with "new" 26hp universal engines. I guess I thought a small diesel engine would last for at least 10-20 years.

I don't know a whole lot about diesel engines, but is the universal engine short lived?

Would I be better off looking at the Catalina 309 with the Yanmar engine?

Thanks,

Sigbear

 

[sigbear]

Hmmmmm,

Wow, now I just read a 2008 Catalina 28' listing with a "new" 26hp universal.

Makes me wonder if these people ruined their engines with lack of maintainance or if there may be a problem with these newer engines?

Am I reading to much into this?, I am by no means a diesel mechanic.

 

[JCDSAIL]

CAT 310 for sale

I am selling a 2004 CAT 310 with only 230 engine hours. These Universal diesels have very good longevity.
JCD SAIL

 

[rpwillia]

What do they define new as?

Did they state they had replaced the engines? I did see someone on this forum said they had a 2000 with only 100 hours on it. That would count to me as new. If all you do is clear the breakwater and then throw the sails up, you really don' use the engine much.

 

[jimmcgee]

I have a 1995 C30 with the Universal 25XP. I did some research on this engine before I bought the boat. It has a repuation for being very reliable, parts are readily available as it's a marinized Kubota diesel used in lots of heavy equipment and it's still available from Universal. The manuals are digitized and searchable online on the Universal web site as is the parts list.

My guess is a 2008 boat listing with a "new" engine says more about the listing broker than about the engine.

 

[Calif. Ted]

My '94 270 has a Perkins (900 hrs to date) and the first time my mechanic saw it he said "Too bad it's not the Universal they put in later boats, it's a much stronger engine".

 

[sigbear]

One of the 310's I saw said it had a new westerbeak engine, It was somewhere between 2003/2005, I wish I still had the for sale add so i could have posted it on this forum.

Sigbear

 

[rpwillia]

Westerbeke and Universal

Universal is owned by Westerbeke, and when I bought my boat the ad said Westerbeke, but when I finally checked the engine plate is did state is was Universal. People get confused.