You stated compression was the reason the engine is bad what are the numbers are they the same for all cylinders? A old trick you may want to try is add some oil to the cylinder then check the compression if its up its rings other wise valves. At 1500 hrs my guest would be valves and seats needs looking at for pitting from carbon burn. For the cost and time to pull the head to check would give you a better idea of what you need to do.
Engine is caput
- Thread starter mshimota
- Start date
My 1996 Westerbeke purrs like a kitten. It would be dollar foolish to toss a low usage diesel engine without knowing what is wrong with it. I have heard horror stories about modern Yanmars with high pressure fuel rails and computer controls being extremely expensive to repair if you can get the parts.
If the hour meter failed and was replaced at some point the current hours may not be real. Is there a maintenance log with the boat? Another option is buy a rebuilt motor and they will take yours for a core credit.
I just replaced an '88 Universal M25XP with a new Betamarine 25. Our mechanic friends told me that the old engine could indeed run indefinitely with a rebuild, but after spending several thousand on it, it would still be an old engine. 
The new one really does represent newer technology. It's amazingly quiet in comparison. Really.
Some folks balk at the cost. Consider... that a new aux. power plant is cheaper than a new suite of quality sails (the other power plant). For some reason many folks think that an engine change out is more "serious" than a change of sails.
I figure that if you plan to keep your boat another 8 or 10 years, the reliability and pleasure of the new engine will amortize out in more fun and less stress.
IMHO, and YMMV.
BTW, Betamarine engines are all Kubota based.
I have some verbiage and some photos up in my blog at the Ericsonyachts.org site, and will be adding some more. Note that upgrading all of the plumbing and electrical stuff on a middle-aged boat will take more days than the actual changing of the engine!
If the 'devil is in the details' that devil does keep busy....
The new one really does represent newer technology. It's amazingly quiet in comparison. Really.
Some folks balk at the cost. Consider... that a new aux. power plant is cheaper than a new suite of quality sails (the other power plant). For some reason many folks think that an engine change out is more "serious" than a change of sails.
I figure that if you plan to keep your boat another 8 or 10 years, the reliability and pleasure of the new engine will amortize out in more fun and less stress.
IMHO, and YMMV.
BTW, Betamarine engines are all Kubota based.
I have some verbiage and some photos up in my blog at the Ericsonyachts.org site, and will be adding some more. Note that upgrading all of the plumbing and electrical stuff on a middle-aged boat will take more days than the actual changing of the engine!
If the 'devil is in the details' that devil does keep busy....