Hunter 30 Power Plant

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Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
In a post about a possible transmission problem, I have told my tale of whoa, so I won't repeat it here. I think my venerable YSB 12 and the transmission may have reached a point where repowering needs to be considered.

I appear to have four options:

Repower with a new diesel, or a sound newer used diesel.
Possibly have the exisiting power plant rebuilt.
Scrap the inboard and go with an outboard.
Consider an electric drive system.

Unfortunatley, money is an object. I love Islander and am fairly sure she will be my second and last boat but she cost me $6K and even with the improvements if she had a new engine I might get 11 or 12K in the current market. Repowering with a new diesel seems out of the question local price seems to be about 12K as turn key and assuming I could be of some help in the process, it isn't likely to save me all that much.

Rebuilding the existing engine, possible what it would cost I hope someone here might have an idea. Problem is it will still be an underpowered boat even if we could get it back to factory spec for the engine, which i doubt is possible. Anyone have any experience with this?

Go to an outboard. I know with some smart shopping and perhaps some sweat I can accomplish this for under 4K and end up with a 15 to 20 hp engine. Question is how will the boat handle, do I need to/should I pull the old engine out, if I do do I need to add something to make up for the lsot weight to keep it trimmed right. Do I pull the shaft and seal its exit?

Go electric, cost may not be much less than a new diesel, could save something by doing much or all of the work, limitations are run time under power, pluses very quiet and very clean. My wife hates the smell of the diesel etc.

Any and all thoughts are appreciated.
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
I did my own repower for under $8000, brand new Yanmar 30hp. Resale was not an issue, I do not plan to sell. The best price/performer would be a used 2GM if you could find one. Taking one out and replacing with another is not a difficult task. I have seen a 30 with an outboard. It performed terribly in just two foot waves. A rebuilt is the cheapest route but as you said, still leaves you wanting more power.
 
Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
Thanks Ed, given the size and shape of the Chesapeake waves can be an issue, beyond that there are the stink potters who seem to take pleasure in churning up the water on light wind days.

As to the handling with an external engine was figuring on using a long shaft mounted fairly low to keep the prop under in most conditions but not sure if its effective. Would love to talk with someone who has done this on a 30, or for that matter a similar era Catalina, which has fairly similar form factors. I may repost in all sailors if I don't hear back from more people.
 
Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
Ed thanks did look a the posting. Been crusing the web looking to see what I can find in the way of a new engine. Found a remanufactured 2 GM with warranty, but that begs the question how much work will be needed to set it and align it and if it will mate with the existing transmission or that would need to be changed too.
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
It would be unusual if the 2GM was not sold with the transmission. Pretty certain the 2GM will not mate to your tranny. Nor would you want it to.

The only important dimension is width, the distance between the front mounts. You can measure from the middle of the mounting rails, side to side. I think you will find that the 2GM engine mounts will have the same width. The mounts are lag bolted into the rails(wood under the fiberglass). So you can move the 2GM forward or back to obtain the correct shaft/prop location.
 
Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
2 GM

All of this is new to me, including the likelihood of the engine coming with its tranny. As I mentioned somewhere in this Islander is only my second boat owned her the last two years and her predecessor was a 14 ft dinghy so inboard engines are all new to me.

Thanks again.
 
May 27, 2004
2,056
Hunter 30_74-83 Ponce Inlet FL
I replaced my YSM 12 with a 2GM on my 79 H30 and there were no large mounting issues. The stringers were a little wide and low for the 2GM, but this was fixed with wood inserts on the inside and top of the stringers. New power is amazing, so grab up the engine with a warranty and find a qualified mech to do the install. I've owned Intuition since new and I won't be selling either. Invest the money and enjoy a lifetime of sailing!
 
Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
Thanks all. Given the age a life time of sailing is a finite thing. My 60th is not quite 6 months away. My hope is to work another 4 to 5 years and then retire to the Eastern Shore of MD. Problem is depending on where that ends up being the draft on Islander could make her the wrong boat.

Appreciate everyone's input. Waiting to hear from the mechanic with some numbers.
 
Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
So if I discard the electric option which I but have done, it still sounds like a great idea just not wild about the limitations then the next question has got to be what will the new engine be.

I can get
 
Aug 23, 2009
361
Hunter 30 Middle River MD
Accidentally cut myself off. In any case I have three options a new power plant perhaps a 3gm or rebuilt 2 gms one a 2gm15 and the other the fresh water 2gmf20

Price is a consideration but I think I would go the extra 600 for the freshwater version of a 2gm. Both the 2gm are coming from a remanufacture with a 1 year warranty. Does the new engine offer enough to be worth the additional 3 to 5 k.

After living with this engine I want easy for a while.
 
Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
Yanmars are so bulletproof that I would not hesitate to install a rebuilt with a warranty.

Having written that my friends are going to wonder why I opted for a brand new 3YM30. The answer is simple. Because I could. Same reason I occasionally buy a new car. There is absolutely no justification, do it because I want to.
 
Jun 10, 2004
135
Hunter 30_74-83 Shelburne
I do have 35 year old experience with an outboard on my 30. My dad had an outboard mount fitted on the stern and would use the 5 hp British Seagull long shaft he bought as dinghy motor/emergency auxiliary.

It was a terrible dinghy outboard and an even worse emergency auxiliary. It of course was pretty ridiculously low power for the 30, but in addition, even though the shaft was probably even longer than the deep prop outboards that I see for sale today for sailboats, and we had the mount as low on the transom as we could get it, the prop would bob out close to the surface of the water in very small chop. Totally useless and I doubt the increased HP would be much better.
 
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