Just purchaes a 1980 Catalina 30

[Uwe Abels]

Just purchased 1980 Catalina 30. I have a 11Hp Atomic 4 Diesel amd would like to upgrade/increase engine size. Does anyone have any idea if this can be done and at what cost?

The bow navigation lights on the 1980 model are built in to the hull and the lenses have lost their color. Does anybody know where I canget the exact red and green replacement lights/lenses for this model boat?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Just purchased 1980 Catalina 30. I have a 11Hp Atomic 4 Diesel amd would like to upgrade/increase engine size. Does anyone have any idea if this can be done and at what cost?

The M25 series engines were installed in C30s starting in the mid to late 80s. A small Yanmar may also fit. You're looking at at least $5K to $10K for the engine and install. You may want to reconsider, since small diesels have less horsepower than your A4. Keep your A4 and go to www.moyermarine.com. Unless you got a super deal on the boat and can afford a new engine, it seems an odd purchase. As I recall the A4s were 30 hp. The freshwater cooled Universal 5411s were 11 hp. Something sounds odd.

The bow navigation lights on the 1980 model are built in to the hull and the lenses have lost their color. Does anybody know where I canget the exact red and green replacement lights/lenses for this model boat?

www.catalinadirect.com

Also get familiar with www.catalina30.com

 

[Team118]

I would have to agree with Stu. I also wasn't aware that Atomic made a diesel, but that is possible.

I wouldn't think it would be economincally feasible to replace an engine on an '80 Catalina 30. The original Atomic should have more than enough umpf to get you in and out of trouble. Of course, if the current engine is worn out, you have no choice.

Catalina Direct has the lens you are looking for.

Good luck and enjoy!
Chris

 

[Old Skool Neil]

Just purchased 1980 Catalina 30. I have a 11Hp Atomic 4 Diesel amd would like to upgrade/increase engine size.

Looks like we have a contradiction in terms. The 11 HP engine was a 2 cylinder Universal diesel while the Atomic 4 was a 4 cylinder Universal gas engine. Please post a picture of what you've got as a place to start.

The bow navigation lights on the 1980 model are built in to the hull and the lenses have lost their color. Does anybody know where I canget the exact red and green replacement lights/lenses for this model boat?

Do they look something like this??
http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=86258F

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Uwe,
When I purchased my 1980 C30, it had what was called the 5411 atomic universal diesel engine. 10.75 HP @ max RPM (at the flywheel). Run down your shaft to the prop with the drop in horse power, and you were lucky to be pulling 6HP @ 2200RPM.

My boat couldn't get out of its own way. I looked at various models. I liked the Yanmars, but they were too high. Wanted to get the 25XP but I would need to cut and build out the front area in my settee. I purchased the 3M20A.

I designed transitioned brackets from 1/2" SS plate and they worked fine with my stringers. I have the drawings if interested. The Perkins engines were cheaper but once again too high profile.

On the older model 3M20A's like I have, I needed to have a 4 pass heat exchanger made because Florida water gets warm and driving thru passes would run hot. I do believe the heat exchanger has been upgraded by now.

Stu is correct in price, as you will also want to purchase the admiral control panel & wiring harness at the same time. You may also want to install it above where it is now to the backrest area cockpit seat. It's an easy install and just use a close-off plate for the old location.

As for the old enine, I changed out some seals, sandblasted, painted and re-sold it at a boat fleamarket for $2000.00. You can offset some cost if this works for you.

Good luck,
CR

 

[Old Skool Neil]

The information in the replies is right on the money. For a pretty thorough treatment of Catalina 30 repowering have a look at
http://www.soundmarinediesel.com/catalina30repower.html

If repowering is for sure, be careful what you invest vs. boat value when you're done. It can be a slippery slope that seldom makes financial sense. Depending on what you paid for the boat, you may be $1000's ahead by reselling what you have as-is and buying a boat that already has the engine you want.

Best of luck.

 

[Uwe Abels]

The M25 series engines were installed in C30s starting in the mid to late 80s. A small Yanmar may also fit. You're looking at at least $5K to $10K for the engine and install. You may want to reconsider, since small diesels have less horsepower than your A4. Keep your A4 and go to www.moyermarine.com. Unless you got a super deal on the boat and can afford a new engine, it seems an odd purchase. As I recall the A4s were 30 hp. The freshwater cooled Universal 5411s were 11 hp. Something sounds odd.



www.catalinadirect.com

Also get familiar with www.catalina30.com

Hello Stu,
thank you for your reply. Even though i have owned a 1984 Catalina 30 with a 25Hp Universal Diesel before, I have to admit this engine thing is a bit new to me again since i never had any issues with the previous boat/engine. And i am learning this boat all over again. I rechecked the specs on my current model. The engine manual is titled "Universal Atomic Diesel" - Sorry for the confusion! The actual model engine i have is the 5411, 11Hp, 2-Cyl, 3000RPM, Sea-water cooled. The reason for my inquiries (increase/upgrade engine size) I am not sure that i have used this engine to its max capacity yet. I picked this 30 year old boat up 2 weeks ago in Maryland and took her on her maiden voyage through the Chasepeake Bay and through the ICW to North Carolina. Not knowing the condition of the engine i wanted to go easy on the engine so i never revved the engine to full throttle. Max speed under power i got 4.5knots not knowing actual engine speed - there is currently no RPM indicator on the boat - I believe the manufacturer recommends cruising speed to be 80% of max rated rpm. I did check engine temp continouisly with an IR meter. The temp it seem to stay 135 - 140 Degree-F.

 

[Uwe Abels]

Uwe,
When I purchased my 1980 C30, it had what was called the 5411 atomic universal diesel engine. 10.75 HP @ max RPM (at the flywheel). Run down your shaft to the prop with the drop in horse power, and you were lucky to be pulling 6HP @ 2200RPM.

My boat couldn't get out of its own way. I looked at various models. I liked the Yanmars, but they were too high. Wanted to get the 25XP but I would need to cut and build out the front area in my settee. I purchased the 3M20A.

I designed transitioned brackets from 1/2" SS plate and they worked fine with my stringers. I have the drawings if interested. The Perkins engines were cheaper but once again too high profile.

On the older model 3M20A's like I have, I needed to have a 4 pass heat exchanger made because Florida water gets warm and driving thru passes would run hot. I do believe the heat exchanger has been upgraded by now.

Stu is correct in price, as you will also want to purchase the admiral control panel & wiring harness at the same time. You may also want to install it above where it is now to the backrest area cockpit seat. It's an easy install and just use a close-off plate for the old location.

As for the old enine, I changed out some seals, sandblasted, painted and re-sold it at a boat fleamarket for $2000.00. You can offset some cost if this works for you.

Good luck,
CR

Hello captnron,
I am definetly interedted in your suggestions. Where did you purchase the3M20A? can you send me the drawings?

 

[Uwe Abels]

I would have to agree with Stu. I also wasn't aware that Atomic made a diesel, but that is possible.

I wouldn't think it would be economincally feasible to replace an engine on an '80 Catalina 30. The original Atomic should have more than enough umpf to get you in and out of trouble. Of course, if the current engine is worn out, you have no choice.

Catalina Direct has the lens you are looking for.

Good luck and enjoy!
Chris

Chris, thanks for the tip om Catalina Direct for parts.

 

[Uwe Abels]

Looks like we have a contradiction in terms. The 11 HP engine was a 2 cylinder Universal diesel while the Atomic 4 was a 4 cylinder Universal gas engine. Please post a picture of what you've got as a place to start.



Do they look something like this??
http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=86258F

Thanks Neil, that is what they look like. I will have to check the dimensions.

 

[Windy City]

My 1980 5411 blew out the rings after I had the boat six months. I sent the core to Schooner Bay Marine in Wisconsin in trade for an M-18 14HP.(I'm on inland lakes and 14 HP is plenty) I highly recommend Al at Schooner Bay. He remanufactures his engines with new rings, rebuilt pumps etc. Complete going over. A remanufactured 5411 is $2,700. The M-18 was $3,400. He also has 25XP's and others.

Regards,

Jim

 

[Twice Around]

Just to help clarify...during this time frame (late 70's- early 80's) when Universal was shifting away from the "Atomic 4" gas motor to the M-15/5411 11HP 2-cyl diesel as a replacement, they continued to use the "Universal Atomic" moniker on their gauge faces on the diesel engines..they simply dropped the "4", but I still think people sometimes get confused. After a while, I think they finally dropped the Atomic part. I seem to recall my friend's Ericson 38 with a big 45HP diesel may even have "Universal Atomic" on his gauge pod!

Uwe, good luck with your new boat...unfortunately, you have the most anemic of the diesel engines in the C-30..as noted, it will cost several thousand $$'s to replace it. I cruised extensively on a Tartan 3000 (2,500 lbs. lighter in weight!) with the same 11HP motor. It performed admirably in flat water when there was no wind, but we often found when it piped up, we simply had to sail. Putting up the mainsail and short tacking 15-20 degrees off the wind often helped a lot however...the 5411 simply doesn't have enough punch to pound directly into any real chop.