Universal 5411 diesel

S

sailinggreg

.
May 1, 2014
6
Catalina 27 Alameda
Hi All,

I'm thinking of buying a Catalina 30. One I'm looking at has a Universal 5411 inboard diesel.

I just heard that the Universal 5411 produces only 11hp and is sea water cooled. Can someone confirm if that is correct and also what issues that would raise.

The whole reason for me to spend the extra $$$ on an inboard diesel is so I feel comfortable sailing the California coast, maybe Mexico and eventually beat back north.

Thanks!
 
Marc14857

Marc14857

.
Jun 5, 2004
485
Hunter 44 Mystic, Ct
We prEviously owned a 30 foot 1985 Catalina tall rig with universal engine. I don't recall the HP but there was a modification that needed to be done on the alternator bracket which had a history of failing. The modification for the new bracket was pretty easy to accomplish. I'm sure if you check the Catalina owners section you will be able to get more detailed info.
 
J

joe-fran

.
May 13, 2009
17
Ericson 28 Hingham
fairly certain you are correct about the 11HP and as I recall the C 30 was underpowered with that motor and they upgraded to the 18 HP soon after. Not sure about the raw water cooling but that would be visibly obvious.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
joe-fran said:
...fairly certain you are correct about the 11HP and as I recall the C 30 was underpowered with that motor and they upgraded to the 18 HP soon after.
Click to expand
That is such an unwarranted statement. Underpowered? Not really. They had those engines back then, and when larger engines with the same footprint became available, they added them. They eventually ended up with the M25XP, 23 hp. Does that mean the 23 hp was OVER powered? C'mon. Our C34s have had 21 hp M25s (like mine) and finally were built with a 35 hp motor. Yes, my mates with those engines could go a tad faster than I could at cruising rpms of 2500 (for a 300 rpm WOT engine), but that translated to maybe 1/4 mile over a 10 mile course. I've cruised together with those "other" boats with engines with more hp for 16 years and quite frankly don't see much of a difference.

I've sailed all over Northern California with our "puny" 21 hp diesel engine. I have no issues with it.

Yes, more hp may get you to "punch" through waves, and buck big headwinds. In that case, you either oughta be in port, or sailing! :)

The engine is an "auxiliary" not a prime mover. You want that? Get a mobo or a motorsailor.

As far as the "underpowered" claim, you might want to check out the C30 Association website and their Google group. I'd bet there are plenty of happy skippers with those boats.

Now, as far as not being fresh water cooled, there you DO have a reasonable point, however, there are remedies for that, too.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
sailinggreg said:
The whole reason for me to spend the extra $$$ on an inboard diesel is so I feel comfortable sailing the California coast, maybe Mexico and eventually beat back north.

Thanks!
Click to expand
Cruising World publsihed an article called The Baja Dash, not Bash, a number of years ago. Concept was to avoid the Bash. pm me and I'll send it to you.

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=668163&highlight=Baja Dash

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=661614&highlight=Baja Dash

http://forums.catalina.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?p=370666&highlight=Baja Dash
 
Prime Time

Prime Time

.
Sep 25, 2008
544
Bristol 43.3 Perth Amboy
I would not be happy with 11 hp on that boat. Although an "auxiliary" when cruising and you want to be somewhere upwind against some chop, you will crawl. I had 8 hp on a mirage 27 and that was very marginal in anything other than minimal waves.

Lots of boats out there.
 
Stu Jackson

Stu Jackson

.
Feb 26, 2004
23,047
Catalina 34 224 Maple Bay, BC, Canada
Perhaps true, however, anyone remember that old sawhorse about "hp per ton?"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Top Bottom