universal 11 hp

[Mic]

I have interest in a boat with a universal 11 hp, and I would like to know how many hours can one expect this engine to live? It appears to have had good care and maint. Also are they all raw water cooled? Thanks for your input. "MIC"

 

[John Olson]

They live along time

I asked the man that winterised my boat boat the same question.He said he could not tell me becouse in the 16 plus years he had been working at the yard he never had a sail boat disel that needed to be replaced .He never even had a sail boat that did not start in the spring.Except for afuel problem or dead battrey .He had one over heat real bad and the owner motered for an hour or so with the throw hull closed and he thought it was shot but when he got the moter spining again put in a new impeler it started right up it was smoking a pit but after a couple of hours it was runing cleaner and that was six years ago.Even if the boat sinks in fresh water the moters seem to be ok after they get dryed out and the oil changed. I think some thing has to happen to the moter like oil pump failure, or over heating,, water in the block, but to where out a small disel ? I dont no what it would take.The raw water cooling is not as good os the closed system It can clog up .If it starts up in cold weather and runs clean you can expect it to do it every time. I think a deal could be had on a boat with a small 11HP disel since every body seems to be looking for the XP25disel if the price is right go for it when the moter stops makeing good head way you should be sailing anty way.The only problem with the 11hp is there is no extra power for a hi out put alt.There is a boat at my dock that has a100amp alt and he has a switch to turn it off if he needs full power. Now he is looking at my solar pannels that are over my stern seat. JohnOlson

 

[Jack Swords]

Loooong time

Before buying our boat (Cat 30, 1983), I called several diesel mechanics with the same question. I was told that the engine, with care, would outlast me! That's all I ask for. We installed plumbing and valves to route the sink drain through the engine (not all the time) so we can fill the sink with fresh water and flush the engine after each use. We can do this even when at anchor at an island. We store the engine by adding radiator anti-corrosive to the sink fresh water and running it through the engine. This little engine sits for 6 months, unused and starts promptly. I worry more about the unused diesel fuel remaining in the tanks as this motor sure doesn't use much of it. We use passive solar down here and an alternator controller for charging. Pretty sunny all the time.