Yanmar or Westerbeke

pelagicasd · Jan 2, 2004

Yanmar 1GM might be marginal considering tides. I installed a 2GM20 and
consider it overkill. Am not familiar with the Westerbeke but like what I
hear about the Beta. Walt S/V Lyric

stevebirch2002 · Jan 2, 2004

Hi All

The Beta also make a 20HP (BD722) which is just six inches longer than
the Beta BZ482. Fits easy straight on the original bearers of Vegas over
V1400. Easy to fit and align. Cost about £500 extra on the BZ482 price.

Kind Regards to all and Happy New Year to all Vega owners from across
the pond..

Steve birch Vega Southern Comfort V1703

bbach1949 · Jan 2, 2004

Dave: I have an old Yanmar 2GMF (predecessor to the 2GM20) with 15 rather
than 18 hp. It's a tight fit and pretty heavy. Not easy to get at the
dipstick, fuel pump, or anything else alongside the engine. Raw water pump is easy to
get at, but I'm confounded as to why Yanmar put the impeller cover on the
back side of the pump. Maybe the new ones are improved? I just pull off the
whole pump when I check the impeller.

This engine is extremely reliable, however, and parts are easy to come by.
It's noisy, like all diesels, but only burns about a quart of diesel an hour at
2200 rpm. Plenty of power and 6.5 knots (at 3200 rpm) with a three bladed
Michigan Sailor 14 x 9. Lots of current on the Columbia River and Puget Sound,
so I wouldn't want much less horsepower.

I'm not a Westerbeke fan, but the Beta sounds like it doesn't have the
disadvantages of access and weight of the Yanmar. It's a marinized Kubota block,
but can you easily get the rest of the parts when you need them? I see that
someone on the East coast advertises Beta so you might check price and parts
availability.

Bottom line: I'm not unhappy with the Yanmar and am just happy that I don't
have to spend three quarters of the value of the boat on a repower project
just now! When the time comes, the Yanmar will get rebuilt.

Just my humble opinions. Happy New Year, Bill Bach, V1071 Calimera

stevebirch2002 · Jan 3, 2004

Hi All

As you have said, the Beta fits a treat and we already have quite a few
installations of the 20HP. The BZ482 (13.5HP) is more than adequate but
for those wanting the 20HP then the BD722 is a three cylinder version of
the BZ482 and it just six inches longer and slightly more weight. Still
fits quite easily and straight on the old bearers of the Volvo Vegas.
Price is about £500 more than the BZ482 and can be delivered direct to
your airport as a complete kit and ready to install. Usually takes a
couple of days to remove the old and replace with the Beta. Full
instructions, photos etc are provided. We now have over eighty
installations with the Beta BZ482 into the Vega and about ten using the
BD722 (20HP).

Kind Regards and Happy New Year to all

Steve birch Vega Southern Comfort V1703

pelagicasd · Jan 8, 2004

Just wondering, can the Beta and or the Westerbeke be started with a hand
crank? How about the older Yanmars? The Yanmar 2GM20 has no provision for
doing so. As an aside for anyone considering buying one, find out where it
was built. Origional ones were from Japan, later ones were built in Germany.
I know that the water pump impellors are different and wonder if there are
any other changes. Walt

imbissfrank · Jan 8, 2004

The Westerbeke 13 has no handcrank capability. On purchase I was told it was basically a Japanese engine.
Frank

"walt/judy brown/allore" bestvega@... wrote:

stevebirch2002 · Jan 8, 2004

Hi All

The Beta cannot be started by hand but takes very little power to turn
over and starts straight away.

See ya all. Off to the London Boat Show next Friday.......Steve B

bhofler · Jan 8, 2004

Hello gas fired VEGAtarians:

The 022 can be started easily by hand!!!!!!!

Cheers
Brian-V1039
In AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com, "Steve Birch" steve@a... wrote: