Yanmar or Universal?

tommays · Jul 17, 2009

I would go with a BETA

The one in Zzzoom has been great and you pay tractor part prices NOT MARINE

They did a great job on making all the oil and filter chenges very easy EVEN bleeding

zeehag · Jul 17, 2009

sigbear said:
If you had a choose between a Yanmar or Universal engine for your boat, which would you choose and why?

I don't know anything about either engine, but some of the boats that I am looking at have 1 or the other, so, I'm trying to get as much info as I can, reliability and ease of maint. is important to me because I am all thumbs.

Donny

i lik eyanmar--i have one in my ericson35----is an excellent engine and runs welland for long periods of time with great reliability.....universal is also a good engine, but i have no experience with them--are kubota based i am advised and thaqtr is a good thing----yanmar is known for reliability as is universal......either is a good choice---look for number of hours on engine and maintenance records....take pix of each and post for comments from others .....and take a goood mechanic with ye for the inspections of each boat if possible....and availability of parts in every place you are prone to be found ..lol...makes a big difference in your experiences.....

Big Windy · Jul 17, 2009

I too have a Yanmar. Very reliable and easy to work on... and there are thousands out there.

butchrobbins · Jul 17, 2009

sigbear said:
If you had a choose between a Yanmar or Universal engine for your boat, which would you choose and why?

I don't know anything about either engine, but some of the boats that I am looking at have 1 or the other, so, I'm trying to get as much info as I can, reliability and ease of maint. is important to me because I am all thumbs.

Donny

Yanmar. I've had both and have had nothing but problems with a much newer model of universal.

Stu Jackson · Jul 17, 2009

They are both good engines. The Yanmar doesn't have glow plugs, the Universals do.

The trick is NOT which is better, but how much YOU learn about YOUR own engine and how to keep it running properly with good maintenance and an understanding of how it works.

So many people take "generic" diesel courses, not recognizing that the ONLY useful course is one on their OWN engines.

MafaldaII · Jul 17, 2009

I have a Universal and its very reliable. Like many other brands (Beta and Nanni) are marinized Kubota tractor engines. If you do a little research you can find tractor part prices for them. Mine is Universal M25 that correspond to a Kubota d850. How the engine is taken care of is more important than the brand IMHO.

Bill Bell · Jul 17, 2009

I've one Universal and two Yanmar's. No problems with either brand, but I like the Yanmar better for the lack of a glow plug.

sailaway78 · Jul 17, 2009

What some don't know

While it is somewhat more difficult, you can also cross many Yanmar marine parts, with Yanmar tractor parts. I have had two boats both with Yanmar's, and cannot find any fault in them. Just excellent engines. But I do not believe you can go wrong with either. My decision would be based on the dealers in my area. A good local dealer would probably make the difference for me.

Ross · Jul 17, 2009

Re: What some don't know

It seems to be rather difficult to find a not good small diesel boat engine. I have read complaints and praise for every brand around. Generally if the name sounds the least bit familiar it is probably going to be as good as the maintainance was.

Cpt. Jon · Jul 17, 2009

I have had Yanmars on both my boats and they are great solid deisels. I don't have any reason to dislike Universals, but my preference would be Yanmars because I know them. That said, Stu is right, whichever you get, make sure that you learn and know the one you got. Most problems that I think most people have happen when you are on the boat, so having a repair manual, tool, and some basic replacement parts on board is a good plan.

So far, I have only had minor issues or routine maintenance that I've had to do, but the timing is usually when is least convenient (like motoring back to the slip through a narrow channel) when something happens and the engine cuts out, but that just because that's the main time we are using them. They are pretty easy to troubleshoot and you can pretty much do all the maintenance and repairs yourself if you take the time to figure out what you need to be doing.

Joseph Shirley · Jul 17, 2009

Both are good engines. I have a Yanmar Main and a Kobota Genset. My Yanmar (3HM25F) needed to have double pulleys made and installed to drive a small frame 124 A alternator. It is not recommended to put a large frame Alternator or to run a small frame with a single pulley because it will damage the water pump bearings. I don't how the alt belts in a universal are configured.

Another concern to address is maintenance accessibility. My Yanmar oil change is through the dipstick on the stbd. side. Mt engine access is from the port side so I have to climb over the engine to make an oil change, My Kabota has access and drain plug on the stbd. side so it is much easier. These are a couple of things you might consider.

The Beta someone mentioned is set up for easy maintenance, so you might want to take a look at that one.

Another thing to look at would be the cooling system. The fresh water cooled Yanmar has an integral heat exchanger properly sized for the engine and I don't know about the Universal. I personally prefer an engine with a separate heat exchanger, because they are easier to remove and clean, or replace plugged tubes, or exchange with larger if you prefer.

Sometimes an engine will overheat through impeller, belt, Blocked intakes, plugged mixing elbow, stuck thermostat, or other problems; and sometimes after that it overheats easier. Some of this may be caused by a film on the inside of the engine from the overheated coolant, and cleaning the engine doesn't always work as advertised. So when something like this happens it is great to be able to simply put in a larger heat exchanger.

None of these things I mention would disqualify any engine to me but would be little things I would look at.

Good luck

Joe S

kloudie1 · Jul 17, 2009

Like Easy says, both are great engines with proper maintenance.. I'd look to the local dealer too.. My anmar 3 GMF has been a pleasure to have.

petersea · Jul 18, 2009

one more vote for Yanmar

kloudie1 · Jul 18, 2009

But I wouldn't dismiss a great boat that had a Universal or a Westerbeke .. I am surprised MainSal hasn't weighed in here..

Warren Milberg · Jul 18, 2009

Maintenance and upkeep are the key deciding factors, not brands. I assume the boats/engines you are looking at are used? Ask to see the maintenance records for both engines. If an owner did not keep maintenance records, I'd be suspicious. And while this is mostly ancectodal, engines that look good (no rust, no leaks, nor carbon buildup) are usually engines that have been well-maintained.

Oldhokie64 · Jul 18, 2009

I'm new to sailing but I have a history with diesel engines. On last count, my Universal/Kubota is my 21st. It is my 4th Kubota and I have found them to be bullet proof. The only piece of junk that I have had was a GM Oldsmobile conversion which blew its heads off at 29, 31, and 33 k miles. I'm not so keen on the Universal marinization which uses a bunch of schedule 40 galvanized water pipe for the exhaust. I would have gone for flex CSS (corrigated stainless steel). That exhaust system left me stranded in the middle of the Chesapeake last month.

Look for access to the dip stick, transmission oil, coolant etc.

A number of the boats I looked at, it appeared that they had given no attention to access, I think they took a running start to shove the thing in the hole.