and another idea for a vyv_cox article....

Sans Bateau

Sans Bateau

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A few days ago vyv_cox started a thread about marine engine oils, it was suggested that he approaches YM to write an article for publication on the subject.

As far as I am aware most of the designs of the engines that we have in our boats started life as concrete mixer or dumper truck engines. How about we ask YM to get someone knowledgeable on the subject to write an article on the origin of our engines before VP, Yanmar etc got hold of them?
 
[ QUOTE ]
As far as I am aware most of the designs of the engines that we have in our boats started life as concrete mixer or dumper truck engines.

[/ QUOTE ]Not just the design. I once contacted Perkins about my engine and they said "Oh we thought that one was in a Commer Van". It turned out to have had a secret pre-life as a white van write-off.

I keep getting these strange urges to tail-gate other yachts ...
crazy.gif
 
Mine's a BUKH. As far as I know they have always been marine engines and were specifically designed as such. [Must be some justification for the sky-high prices /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif]
 
I got the following concerning the VP 2030 from somewhere on the web in the distant past:-

Your engine is what Perkins calls a 103-10. Perkins started importing these 100 series engines from a Japanese company called Ishikawajima Shibaura Machinery, Ltd. nearly twenty years ago. ISM is part of Ishikawajima Harima Industries, one of Japan’s largest industrial companies. Perkins marketed this engine in a marinized version as the Perama M30. They sold the engine to Volvo Penta who marketed it as their MD2030. They also sold the engine to Massey Ferguson, McCormick, Terramite, Textron, Jacobsen, Cushman, Vermeer, Leech Lewis, JCB, Kobelco, and Northern Lights to name just a few. In the US, the engine was distributed thru Detroit Diesel – Allison which is closely tied to the MTU conglomerate. By 1996, Perkins had become so successful at marketing these engines to other equipment manufacturers that they formed a joint venture with ISM called Perkins Shibaura Engines, Ltd. and began assembling the engines at the Perkins facility in Peterborough, UK from parts shipped from Japan. In 1997, Perkins was acquired by Caterpillar. With an added boost from Caterpillar, this little engine has become one of the most popular engines in the world. It’s used in turf equipment, tractors, mini-excavators, brush choppers, compressors, welders, pumps, generators, etc. etc. etc. Even Caterpillar uses it in some of their smaller equipment. The “Perkins” name was highlighted on the engine ID plate which is located on a distinctive boss just forward of the injection pump. The 2006 model year’s production of the engine has “Shibaura” highlighted on the ID plate. In 2001, the larger Shibaura 400 series engine was introduced with assembling at Peterborough, UK from parts mostly from Japan, and in June, 2004 assembling of the 400 series engine began at a Caterpillar facility in Griffin, Georgia, USA with production exceeding 100,000 units per year.
 
See that is IMO really interesting and judging from the pole, others have an interest too.

Some engines, like the Buhk are a genuine marine engine (?) although the single cylinder Buhk does have a similarity to the engine found in a tractor built by Porche (yes Porche!)

Porche tractor

Some engine are clearly visible as being based on Ford and BMC. Others though from Volvo, as TonyS demonstrates have a fascinating past. Engines from Yanmar and Betta may have an equally interesting ancestry.

Anyone know the history of the Volvo 2003 series?

One benefit to boat owners, if they know where their engines started life, might be cheaper service parts and spares. I bet a set of pistons for a Perkins is a damned sight cheaper than VP ones!
 
My beautiful Mercedes engine (OM636 - actually a SOL 636) started life in one of these...

2006052484795331325_rs.jpg


Then was used in airport tugs, tractors, refrigeraration units and unimogs.. a real beut...

2006053765759755233_rs.jpg


/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
My engine is a Sole Mini-14 (Spanish) marinisation of a Mitsubishi small commercial engine. Also to be found on a variety of site equipment.

On my mate's boat, we installed a Yanmar commercial engine that had been badged by ThermoKing and drove the fridge unit on a trailer. The engine is the same unit as a 2GM 20, but the front end ancillaries are specific to purpose. Such things as filters and pipework are much cheaper from the Thermoking agents!
 
A bit off thread but the redoubtable Rover 3500 v8 started out life when lord stokes met his Buick counterpart on board a liner going to the states.

Buick had the v8 in a speed boat, rover brought the designs and tooling from Buick this we all know.

But apparently when rover engineers went to buick to help dismantle the tooling and collect engineering drawings etc, a lot were marked Bayern Motorwerken (BMW) and tooling made in germany.

It had supposedly been taken as part of war reparations by the yanks.
 
For anyone interested who doesnt already know, the Volvo Penta MD22L is based on the Montego 2.0 Diesel engine circa 1990. So far I've been able to source belts and filters from car suppliers at much less than Volvo prices. i think it is also a perkins prima 50 in another guise, (Blue??).
 
Going off-thread

If you want to go off-thread, here's my contribution.

My son worked for a time as engineer on a large motor-yacht named Giriz, out of Palma Mallorca. In its day this was a super-yacht, once owned by Sophia Loren, but now ageing nicely. She was fitted with beautifully built and installed Gardner engines.

The boat was owned by a family called Gardner. When they bought her they knew nothing about her engines, or any other kind of engines. However, Mr Gardner liked the look of them so much that, to quote a phrase, 'He bought the company!' Absolutely true. He has now passed on but his wife, as far as I know, is still the owner of whatever is left of Gardners.
 
Even more off-thread

I reckon Vyv coul do a nice number on Great Crested Grebes (It's a very strange story with sofar a most un-myti outcome /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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