MD6A Engine 4 Sail

pelagicasd · Jul 16, 2002

Just out of curiosity, what are you going to replace it with? Walt

navydavy12000 · Jul 16, 2002

I am going to use the BetaMarine (BZ482). I believe that this is the
preferred engine for the Vega. I will be working with the BetaMarine
company in North Carolina. I am replacing everything. The Engine,
Transmission, Shaft, and Propeller assembly. Along with all of the required
accessories.

Please tell me if you see me doing something wrong, or saying something
stupid.

David

pelagicasd · Jul 16, 2002

David, Sounds like a great plan to me. I wish I'd gone with the Beta also.
The Yanmar wasn't all I had hoped it would be. Walt

navydavy12000 · Jul 16, 2002

This is going to be a new experience for me. I am hoping everything works
out OK. I started off talking to Steve in the UK. It just didnt make sense
having things shipped from there to me here in the U.S. I contacted the
Beta Marine company and they put me in touch with their N.C. Dealership. I
am working with them on this effort. I am sailing the boat now, and am
waiting until the fall to start the actual work.

David

dobermanct_dave · Jul 16, 2002

Just curious, has anyone looked at the Phasor engines? They appear to be
yet another Kubota marinized engine.

bbach1949 · Jul 16, 2002

Walt: Just curious as to problems you've had with your Yanmar. My 2GMF has
been reliable and effective for the past 15 years. Bill Bach

electricpowersteeringengineer · Jul 16, 2002

I almost bought a Phasor to repower my 9.2 meter S2. I built a spreadsheet comparing Phasor, Westerbeke, BetaMarine, Universal, Yanmar. the BetaMarine won out based on all the items that came standard with the engine, and the fact that it was direct drop in for the volvo penta. The betamarine also had the smallest footprint and the lowest upfront cost for the ponies.....$/horsepower is an interesting comparision. but due to budget constraints, I ended up repowering with a used Universal, which so far has worked well, with the extra ponies, and the new Campbell Sailor 3 blade prop. Check out boatdiesel.com and marinediesel.net and torresenmarine.com.....the Phasor that I almost purchased was on a classified, brand new from the dealer, still in the crate, but was last years' model. Was about $1500.00 US less than the newest model.....same damn engine tho. price shop, price shop, price shop! But the BetaMarine would have been my choice by far....$/hp....more standard items.....footprint....and being Kubota based, you can get the engine components from your local Kubota farm equipment dealer. If I recall, the salesperson in NC that I dealt with was Frank. Great source for information and had the best deal going. Nice to find out it would have been cheaper to ship the motor in from out of state, than to buy it local and pay Ceasar his sales tax. J

navydavy12000 · Jul 17, 2002

Thank you for your comments.

pelagicasd · Jul 17, 2002

Hi Bill. I will say its been reliable. Starts easy and gobs of power. My
problem might be the prop. We didn't really get to know the engine as it was
installed just before our cruise. We were over propped the first year 12X9RH
and at 3200 RPM (as recomended) we would dig trenches in the water. Took the
prop back to San Francisco when we left the boat in Mexico over the the
summer and talked with the prop experts. We had the pitch changed to 12X8
and the boat ceased making trenches but it was still overkill at 3200 RPM.
We tended to use it around 2600 RPM but were burning a 1/2 gallon an hour
and getting lots of black soot. We are using the 2GM20 which we bought new.
All the experts said we had to use a 3 blade prop but I wonder if 2 blades
would allow more RPM. We are a heavy boat (a wife working in West Marine
means lots of temptation when the goodies are nicely discounted). It's also
loud. the size didn't allow much room to insulate the engine compartment
either.I guess my main complaints are fuel consumption, poor combustion at
lower RPMs, and noise. We also tend to use lots of oil. Any suggestions from
the community would be appreciated. Walt S/V Lyric #120

PS anyone doing a repower might want to consider moving the guages and
switches out of the cockpit well and installing them higher up on the aft
cabin bulkhead. It was pointed out to me by a very experienced cruiser that
eventually everybody gets pooped and if the cockpit is filled with water you
will loose the electrics. Of course this was pointed out to me after I had
put everything new in the old location!

wxt8981 · Jul 17, 2002

Hi.:
About 2 years ago I replaced my ailing O21 engine with a Yanmar 1GM. I
replaced everyting
but the stern-bearing and stuffing box. (I have 2 spare stuffing boxes,
and I've never seen a better
one than ALBIN provides.)
This 'little' Yanmar engine is great! It runs about 4.5 hours on a
gallon of diesel, and pushes me
at about 6.5 mph. (calm sea, no wind).
Wilhelm V257 'VIKING'

BBach1949@... wrote:

bbach1949 · Jul 17, 2002

Walt: I agree with you that Yanmars are loud. Mine is a 2GMF, predecessor
to your 2GM20, with 13 hp. The engine fills the space without much room for
much else except insulation, which helps a lot, however. I'm using a bigger 3
bladed prop (14 x 9) than you. My gear reduction is 2.62:1. Michigan Wheel
recommended even a bigger prop (15 x 10) and that was what was on the boat
when I bought it. It couldn't get to 3200 with that. I now get 7 knots at
3000 RPM and maybe more at 3200, though she squats badly and loads up at max
(3600). We burn about 1/3 gallon per hour at 2800 rpm in moderate
conditions. The transom gets a black moustache after a few hours running,
but it's not oily. No oil consumption problems between 50 hour oil changes.
You might want to check your injectors and valves if your fuel and oil
consumption are high. Quality of fuel could do it as well. I only use
diesel out of my own farm tank as much as possible, as I have picked up bad
fuel too often, even at high volume fuel docks. A quieter smoother engine
would be nice, but one that starts always and is cheap to own is ok too.
Bill Bach

pelagicasd · Jul 18, 2002

Bill. Thanks for the reply, We filter it well and actually haven't had to
change filters very often at all. The only fuel problem we had was with gas
for the dingy's outboard. We had purchased it in San Diego. Water in it.
Once we switched to Mexican gas, no mas problemas. The 2GM20 develops 18HP
at max, probably around 16 at 3200 RPM of which around 14 is usable.
Problems were from the start meaning brand new injectors. Valves were done
when we got into San Diego from San Francisco. We'll sort it all out
eventually. New home port will be Crescent City. I'm really looking forward
to being back aboard the boat. Some really big halibut 25 miles off of the
Oregon California border. Some nasty seas too though. First of all we've got
to get her home, then unload all of the cruising stuff. When we get some
weight off of her we'll see what happens.
Walt

electricpowersteeringengineer · Jul 19, 2002

try using the Lucas engine oil additive from Car Quest
or Napa. The stuff works if the situation isn't too
bad.

Poor combustion (dry soot, and / or oily soot) at low
rpms could be worn injector tips, the wrong injector
tips, worn injector pump, poor injector timing, and/or
a combination of the above items.J