Engine swap

sailnoproblem

sailnoproblem

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Oct 10, 2011
619
Tartan 34C Toms River, New Jersey
OK guys/gals, I think I have had enough of my Universal Atomic 4, and want to replace it with a Diesel.
I am not looking to just stay with a Universal M25, I am open to any and all suggestions.
My boat is a early model Tartan 34C. Which means I have a lot of room, and will be doing the swap myself (with help) as I am a motorhead.
Sorry if a motor swap has been posted before, I went back some and didn't see any.
I am aware that it will include fuel tank, exhaust, and wiring change.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,060
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
The folks at Beta have a good reputation and they sell an engine with mounts in the same place as the Universal..
It is a Kubota base so parts are pretty plentiful.. Yanmar certainly has a fine reputation as well but I am not familiar with their new common rail electronically controlled engines.. some decent used engines are available as well, example :https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yanmar-3GM...h=item286823f147:g:K2IAAOSwCA5baZfR:rk:4:pf:0 Not recommending that one, just saying that some are available..
This says "3GM" but the heat exchanger would indicate that it is a 3GMF.. my boat has that engine and I really like the little bugger..
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,874
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Go retro... Go power.... Go Perkins 4.108...
Baby Blue Baby
 
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BrianRobin

BrianRobin

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Dec 31, 2016
319
Beneteau Oceanis 351 Charlottetown
jssailem said:
Go retro... Go power.... Go Perkins 4.108...
Baby Blue Baby
Click to expand
That new or a build? Sweet looking! The one in my boat is my third Perkins engine I've owned since 1980 Noisy, but dependable and fuel misers!
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,874
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
It looks to me like a rebuilt to me. I was just looking for an image for the message not a source.
Trans Atlantic Diesel sells Perkins 4.108's. http://tadiesels.com/used-meng-1051.html
Not sure if you ever read the story of the Perkins. https://sites.google.com/site/perki...pets/the-story-of-the-4-99-4-107-4-108-engine
I have a 4.107 that was made in 1973 and is original install on my boat.
The engines have been a standard for Refrigerated Storage containers. They have long run times between maintenance. As such a perfect fit for the job.
National Power Supply has them for the trucking industry. But they would also fit the marine world. There might need a tweak and a little set up but like Kubota they are good engines for a sail boat. IMO
http://nationalpowersuppl.com/perkins4108engine.html
 
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FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,094
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
I changed from an aging M25XP Universal to a Betamarine 25 this spring. While both use a Kubota base engine, the new engine is LOT quieter. You will like it. Beta does advertise mounts to replace an A4.
I have a few blog entries about it over at ericsonyachts.org.
 
sailnoproblem

sailnoproblem

.
Oct 10, 2011
619
Tartan 34C Toms River, New Jersey
I want to thank everyone for there input. Seems Betamarine is the front runner. It's going to be a long winter project.
 
LeslieTroyer

LeslieTroyer

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May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
I pulled my dad’s A4 out of his boat many years ago (I was still in school). It’s easily doable if you pull it to a short block inside the boat. Use the boom as your lift point and put a tight halyard at the same place.
 
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Mark Maulden

Mark Maulden

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Jan 25, 2011
2,436
S2 11.0A Anacortes, WA
+1 for Beta. I just did a 35. Quiet by comparison to the green thing! One little tidbit..The 35 red lines at 2800rpm and is the exact same engine as the 38 which redlines at 3600 rpm. So, if I ever have to, i can run wide open forever at hull speed. Put the biggest diameter prop on the boat that it can accommodate. I’m running an 18” J-Prop
 
T

Trey66

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Nov 18, 2018
4
Morgan 28 oi Clear lake
I have a 74 Morgan 28 with a dead Volvo 15hp what would be a good replacement?would 15 b the right hp?I'm considering beta marine.anyone have a link to them
 
FastOlson

FastOlson

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Apr 8, 2010
2,094
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Trey66 said:
I have a 74 Morgan 28 with a dead Volvo 15hp what would be a good replacement?would 15 b the right hp?I'm considering beta marine.anyone have a link to them
Click to expand
As you would guess, I am a fan of the Betamarine line.
https://www.betamarinenc.com/all-engines/

http://www.ericsonyachts.org/infoexchange/blog.php?28-quot-Fresh-Air-quot/page2
(several blog entries on line)
Depending on your boat's displacement, something in the 15 to 20 hp should do. Just check the bed logs and shaft height for fit. Even tho we were replacing a older Kubota-Based Universal diesel with a Kubota-based Betamarine, we still needed to adjust the height some. Your old cable connections for throttle and shift will likely need some attention, no matter what brand you change to.
We also used this opportunity to upgrade the old engine compartment with new sound insulation and replace the old Racor with a new 500 series.
 
T

Trey66

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Nov 18, 2018
4
Morgan 28 oi Clear lake
Pardon my ignorance when a sailboat is out of the water at does it rest fully on its keel or is it supported by side support
 
jssailem

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
22,874
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Trey66 said:
First time sailboat owner
Click to expand
Congrats on your first time boat. Welcome to the forum. We’re a salty lot but have all been “first time sailboat owners “ once.

For big keel boats the weight, which can be thousands of pounds, at least 30% is in the keel. So the boat is often rested on wood blocks on her keel. Then 7-10 stands with pads are placed around the boat and at the bow to keep the boat balanced.

Once positioned the marina crew removes the straps or pulls the trailer to leave the boat standing on her own.

Good luck with your boat. Take and post a picture of your baby.
 
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FastOlson

FastOlson

.
Apr 8, 2010
2,094
Ericson Yachts Olson 34 28400 Portland OR
Trey66 said:
Did you do the work yourself?what was your cost for the engine
Click to expand
I did the 'grunt work' of prepping the old engine for removal. I cranked the winch for raising it and lowering in the new one. I installed the new sound insulation and ran the new fuel supply and return lines and mounted the new Racor 500. I mounted the new panel and fabricated a cover plate for it. I used this time to also re-route all the major wiring in and adjacent to the engine bay.

All of the technical work to measure and fab new mounting plates was done by a master ship wright. He also brought our battery cabling and fusing up to ABYC standards - way overdue I should add.

The actual cost of the new Betamarine25 engine/trans/panel in a crate was about 10K.
Gotta say, the new engine is Sooooooo quiet compared to older technology! Starts instantly, even without the supplied glow plug button.
As for cost comparison, I rationalize it as being on a par with a new quality suit of sails. And, having owned this boat since 1994, we are planning on continuing to amortize upgrades like this.

(Unrequested editorial comment: I am not sure that many owners spend the time and $ to really keep their boat 'current' and perhaps that is why our insurer did not quibble about increasing our Agreed Value by 10K for very little additional premium. A well-maintained vessel is less likely to have a claim. )

Perspective: there is a private golf club not too far from our moorage and they reportedly charge 30K just to join...
all hobbies have their costs... and benefits.... and we all justify our participation. :)
 
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