I am considering buying a 'project' boat - 1982 C30. Hull and decks, rigging are structurally sound ( had it surveyed ) but the diesel engine and all related components need to be replaced. I'm sure others have replaced their Atomic 4's - can anyone give me a realistic cost? At the Annapolis Boat Show, I got ball park estimates from $2500 ( for a Kaboto? ) to $5000 for a Universal. Any real world experience? Also, the boat has an Edison wheel and I will need to drop the rudder to do some work. Is this a difficult task? Any room to work in there? Thanks.
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New engine
Greetings, I think that you will find that repower costs vary a great deal depending on the what else has to be touched (engine bed, exhaust, guages and wiring, shaft and prop etc.) and how much you participate. I would guess that the prices you mentioned don't include much, if any, installation labor. If you decide to go ahead, I would be interested in learning more about the old engine. Maybe it would be a rebuild candidate that I could use to replace the existing 6hp, 60s vintage, Petter diesel in my Catalina 27. Or, if anyone else reading this has any old inboard diesels, in whatever condition, laying unused in their shop that you want to get rid of, I would be pleased to hear from you. Perhaps I could rebuild your old engine for my old boat. Paul algonquin23@yahoo.ca
Greetings, I think that you will find that repower costs vary a great deal depending on the what else has to be touched (engine bed, exhaust, guages and wiring, shaft and prop etc.) and how much you participate. I would guess that the prices you mentioned don't include much, if any, installation labor. If you decide to go ahead, I would be interested in learning more about the old engine. Maybe it would be a rebuild candidate that I could use to replace the existing 6hp, 60s vintage, Petter diesel in my Catalina 27. Or, if anyone else reading this has any old inboard diesels, in whatever condition, laying unused in their shop that you want to get rid of, I would be pleased to hear from you. Perhaps I could rebuild your old engine for my old boat. Paul algonquin23@yahoo.ca
I got a quote of $7000
Barney, I was looking at a C30 in Deale MD a few months ago, and same exact story.. Great boat, but the engine was bad. I wanted to switch it to deisel, and found a quotes to have it put in around $10000. Now, that was parts and labor. -Andrew
Barney, I was looking at a C30 in Deale MD a few months ago, and same exact story.. Great boat, but the engine was bad. I wanted to switch it to deisel, and found a quotes to have it put in around $10000. Now, that was parts and labor. -Andrew
Woops not 7000
Sorry, I started writting this, and called the boss and she told me it wasnt 7 grand it was 10. -Andrew
Sorry, I started writting this, and called the boss and she told me it wasnt 7 grand it was 10. -Andrew
Engine Replacement
You may want to check with Don Moyer at Moyer Marine to find out what a rebuilt A-4 would cost. He's located in the Chesapeake Bay area. I believe Universal was acquired by Westerbeke. From what I understand, Westerbeke uses a marinized Kubota engine.
You may want to check with Don Moyer at Moyer Marine to find out what a rebuilt A-4 would cost. He's located in the Chesapeake Bay area. I believe Universal was acquired by Westerbeke. From what I understand, Westerbeke uses a marinized Kubota engine.
Thanks for the info
Thanks for the info. $10,000 would be a deal killer as I would never get my money back. Hmmm.. anyone put an outboard on a 30?
Thanks for the info. $10,000 would be a deal killer as I would never get my money back. Hmmm.. anyone put an outboard on a 30?
You never do. 
You never "get your money back". It's a boat, not an investment. 1982 C30's average about $25,000 the last time I checked. Low was $19,000 high was $29,000. Get 2-3 estimates to re-power and subtract that from your offer. Also subtract the cost of other items listed on the survey. I'd expect to get at least 75% of the costs of repairs off the price. Or require the seller to have the repairs done before the sale. Survey items can be argued to be safety items. The boat is not insurable until they are repaired. If the asking price is like $12,000 it has been discounted from the average because of the flaws and you will end up with a $25,000 boat when the repairs are complete. The boat will never be worth $25,000 with an outboard.
You never "get your money back". It's a boat, not an investment. 1982 C30's average about $25,000 the last time I checked. Low was $19,000 high was $29,000. Get 2-3 estimates to re-power and subtract that from your offer. Also subtract the cost of other items listed on the survey. I'd expect to get at least 75% of the costs of repairs off the price. Or require the seller to have the repairs done before the sale. Survey items can be argued to be safety items. The boat is not insurable until they are repaired. If the asking price is like $12,000 it has been discounted from the average because of the flaws and you will end up with a $25,000 boat when the repairs are complete. The boat will never be worth $25,000 with an outboard.
C-30 repower - been there
My 81' C30 had a Universal (aka marinized Kubota) 5411 (aka M-15). She finally gave out after over 20 years of marine use. I looked into repowering new (the Universal M-25xbp, I think) Total cost to "do it right" was about $12K. Too much to justify so I got REALLY lucky & foud a good used Universal M-18 (darn near the same as my old M-15, with a few more horses to boot) for $250. I thought with a near drop in replacement, my repower would be unbelievably cheap! Now for the rest of the story... Mounting footprint wasn't exact although from looking, you'd swear they were. With all the boat yard bills to get my repower to "turn key" operating, it took another $3K (ouch)!!! Bottom line, you may get lucky & either be able to rebuild, or find a compatable used motor, but even then it will cost you. Almost always cheaper to buy a boat with a good motor than pay for a repower...
My 81' C30 had a Universal (aka marinized Kubota) 5411 (aka M-15). She finally gave out after over 20 years of marine use. I looked into repowering new (the Universal M-25xbp, I think) Total cost to "do it right" was about $12K. Too much to justify so I got REALLY lucky & foud a good used Universal M-18 (darn near the same as my old M-15, with a few more horses to boot) for $250. I thought with a near drop in replacement, my repower would be unbelievably cheap! Now for the rest of the story... Mounting footprint wasn't exact although from looking, you'd swear they were. With all the boat yard bills to get my repower to "turn key" operating, it took another $3K (ouch)!!! Bottom line, you may get lucky & either be able to rebuild, or find a compatable used motor, but even then it will cost you. Almost always cheaper to buy a boat with a good motor than pay for a repower...
Rest of the story says it all
You'll never budget enough. Right now I am in the process of having an exterior overhaul of my 1986 M-25 in the C-30. It includes new oil pan / dipstick tube, muffler, exhuast pipe, engine mounts, wire harness, alternator bracket upgrade, starter rebuild, etc. The estimate (at an expensive yard) is $5-6,000. Add to that about $6,000 in other repairs last year. All this on a boat that surveyed really well. I figure that if I amortize those repairs over the length of a loan, I could have purchased a 3 year old near new boat with no or low maintenance for a few more years. One of life's experiences!!!
You'll never budget enough. Right now I am in the process of having an exterior overhaul of my 1986 M-25 in the C-30. It includes new oil pan / dipstick tube, muffler, exhuast pipe, engine mounts, wire harness, alternator bracket upgrade, starter rebuild, etc. The estimate (at an expensive yard) is $5-6,000. Add to that about $6,000 in other repairs last year. All this on a boat that surveyed really well. I figure that if I amortize those repairs over the length of a loan, I could have purchased a 3 year old near new boat with no or low maintenance for a few more years. One of life's experiences!!!
Not as bad as you might think....
I repowerd a C30 here last year from a Universal 5411 to a Universal M3-20B. I think the total was under $8500. Whatever you do DON'T use a Yanmar in there, they just don't fit right and you end up spending more money adapting the sette to the new engine. Look at the Universals and the Beta's the are the best fit. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
I repowerd a C30 here last year from a Universal 5411 to a Universal M3-20B. I think the total was under $8500. Whatever you do DON'T use a Yanmar in there, they just don't fit right and you end up spending more money adapting the sette to the new engine. Look at the Universals and the Beta's the are the best fit. Pat McCartin Inland Marine Diesel Buford, Ga imd_ga@hotmail.com
REpower
Ive seen a dsl moter swap site on the net they take your old moter and give you a new one with all new parts and it bolts right in I think it was around 4500 plus shiping . If you have the same moter it will be around 1200 bucks to haves it droped in.(11/2 day)Ive helped on two moter jobs and it was no big deal.one in the water and one on land the boat in the water was easy becouse we pulled the moter out and droped the new one in with a crain at a dock at the boat club dock.The boat on laand we pulled the moter with the boom and there was alot of climing in and out of the boat. Ive seen some heavy brackets on some S2 with 15 HP outboard but i think I would go DSL. John
Ive seen a dsl moter swap site on the net they take your old moter and give you a new one with all new parts and it bolts right in I think it was around 4500 plus shiping . If you have the same moter it will be around 1200 bucks to haves it droped in.(11/2 day)Ive helped on two moter jobs and it was no big deal.one in the water and one on land the boat in the water was easy becouse we pulled the moter out and droped the new one in with a crain at a dock at the boat club dock.The boat on laand we pulled the moter with the boom and there was alot of climing in and out of the boat. Ive seen some heavy brackets on some S2 with 15 HP outboard but i think I would go DSL. John
Have Same Boat
Can't speak for the M3-25 guy above but the m3-20b universal I installed 2 years ago went in very nice. You'll need to cut notches in the stringers approx an extra 2.5 inches deeper on the rear motor mounts to get the shaft alignment if yours is the same (lay some new glass down on the cuts before setting new motor down,). Replace the tranny while your at it. Do new fuel tank if yours isn't like new and put the good fuel water/seperator with the drain bowl and you'll have one safe, reliable setup. I bought mine right before the boatshow and got $1500 in show discounts. New engine, tranny fuel filter, fuel tank , installed was $7500 -$8000. Good Fuel Good Compression, equals Good Times. DON'T Screw up a new engine injectors with dirty fuel from a dirty tank. Believe me ,I know and my tank looked fine on the outside. Fuel comtamination will be your only problem with a diesel on a 30 Catalina because the fuel filler cap is always immersed in the rain. Replace the o ring every year on the fuel cap. Get water in that tank and you'll be sorry.The Cabin Top and Bow are so large and in heavy rain all that water channels right over the fuel cap cause of where Catalina located it on the 82.
Can't speak for the M3-25 guy above but the m3-20b universal I installed 2 years ago went in very nice. You'll need to cut notches in the stringers approx an extra 2.5 inches deeper on the rear motor mounts to get the shaft alignment if yours is the same (lay some new glass down on the cuts before setting new motor down,). Replace the tranny while your at it. Do new fuel tank if yours isn't like new and put the good fuel water/seperator with the drain bowl and you'll have one safe, reliable setup. I bought mine right before the boatshow and got $1500 in show discounts. New engine, tranny fuel filter, fuel tank , installed was $7500 -$8000. Good Fuel Good Compression, equals Good Times. DON'T Screw up a new engine injectors with dirty fuel from a dirty tank. Believe me ,I know and my tank looked fine on the outside. Fuel comtamination will be your only problem with a diesel on a 30 Catalina because the fuel filler cap is always immersed in the rain. Replace the o ring every year on the fuel cap. Get water in that tank and you'll be sorry.The Cabin Top and Bow are so large and in heavy rain all that water channels right over the fuel cap cause of where Catalina located it on the 82.
Diesel trader..com
Ive helped drop in two moters from DT.com and they took about two weeks to get.The m25xp cost about 3200 bucks and cost 300 doller to ship both ways {when they drop the new moter they picked up the core. They where around 300 LBs . John
Ive helped drop in two moters from DT.com and they took about two weeks to get.The m25xp cost about 3200 bucks and cost 300 doller to ship both ways {when they drop the new moter they picked up the core. They where around 300 LBs . John
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