Beta 30 to replace a Volvo 2030B?

G

gregcope

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 Aug 2004
Messages
1,634
Visit site
So, Sunday go to start engine and the Volvo 2030B Backfires, ejecting black smoke from the air intake and also fails to start. It was working okay Saturday...

An engineer is going to look at it but it may need money spending on a 25 year old engine.

So thoughts turn to a replacement. I do not like Volvos spares prices and some design choices leave a little to be desired - e.g. Boots on the heat exchanger with the alternator and relays under the wet bits. The high rise exhaust elbow is shockingly expensive.

Yanmars are nice and light. Although their spares prices seem expensive too.

So thinking of the Beta 30. Spares seem okay. NIce touches like the oil drain pump and the high rise exhausts are not too expensive and made from Stainless.

So, any feedback, reasons to get a Beta 30 or not? Anything to change my mind?

Ta.
 
Just waiting delivery of my new Beta 30. Chose it primarily because of the installer. There is little to choose among the 4 main brands - Volvo Yanmar Beta and Nanni in terms of size, power, economy, engineering, price - they are all Japanese made industrial engines although Yanmar do their own marine versions whereas the other 3 buy base engines in, Volvo from Perkins the other 2 from Kubota. My preference was for a Volvo D1 30 as I have had excellent service out of both a 2030 like yours and a D1 30 but I could not get any sense out of the local Volvo dealer. There are bits of the Volvo design that I don't like such as the electronic interface and the heat exchanger/exhaust elbow, but once you know what to do later in life not really an issue. Spares cost is a bit of a myth - consumables are broadly the same across brands and you might be surprised at the prices of engine specific parts from the other brands. One boat I looked at with a Beta had needed a replacement heat exchanger because he had not replaced the anode (a weakness of the Beta) and his bill was little different from doing the same on a D1 30. The reality is with these engines they are so well made and reliable that the need for anything other than routine parts is so low as to not be worth bothering about.

You don't say whether you have a saildrive or shaft. If the former a Volvo replacement wins hands down as it is virtually drop in, particularly if you buy a new drive as well. Even with shaft drive installation times will be lower than a Beta but the overall cost may be little different.

Suggest you do what I did get (or try to!) quotes for all, but be aware that prices are all over the place - the base price went up nearly £1k between when I started looking early last year and when I ordered in March this year. Supplies are short as you can see from ordered end of March being delivered this week.
 
Not a big deal in the whole scheme of things. Fixed props are relatively cheap and most folding or feathering props can be changed either by re-assembling to run the opposite way or replacing just the blades. If a saildrive ot does not change anyway as the drive determines the rotation.
 
Beta are I have always thought a good choice, based on the Kubota engine and marinised by Beta Marine here in the U.K., one gets a well designed and reliable replacement engine.
I have always found Beta Marine a friendly and helpful company, I bought my first replacement engine from them over 25 years ago.
True their spares prices have risen recently, but so have everyone else’s and when compared to Volvo replacement parts they are decidedly cheaper.
 
Praxinoscope said:
I have always found Beta Marine a friendly and helpful company, I bought my first replacement engine from them over 25 years ago.
True their spares prices have risen recently, but so have everyone else’s and when compared to Volvo replacement parts they are decidedly cheaper.
Click to expand...

They answer the phone and let you talk to a proper techie person straight away, rather than pushing you to disinterested dealers. That's a great thing to have. In outboard world Tohatsu are equally good in this respect.
 
I need a new prop, which this may the chance for a folder!

Its a shaft drive.

A Beta Hi-rise exhaust is about 1/3 of the price of a Volvo one and made of stainless!

Thanks for the feedback all!
 
I have ordered the high rise exhaust as well. Shaft drive makes the decision easier or rather more open in that there is little to choose between the brands whereas with saildrive for all sorts of reasons it is better to replace an old 2030/120 with a new D1 30 /130s unit rather than graft a Beta onto the old 120 drive.

With regard to props, I picked up my Featherstream today, lovely bit of kit. suits my boat, but had Flexofold 2 blades on last 2 boats and if that suits your boat they are also excellent (and much cheaper!)

Good luck with your project
 
How much is a new Beta engine, plus fitting?

I viewed a boat this week where the original Volvo had been replaced with a Beta.
 
Just a thought - Volvo parts are largely available worldwide. the Marinised parts for Beta, or Kuboto will be less easily available and not necessarily in stock. Some common Volvo parts are not always in stock either - but just a thought.

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
Just a thought - Volvo parts are largely available worldwide. the Marinised parts for Beta, or Kuboto will be less easily available and not necessarily in stock. Some common Volvo parts are not always in stock either - but just a thought.

Jonathan
Click to expand...

I think most of the’marinised’ Beta parts are thé least likely to fail and require parts quickly. It’s really only the heat exchangers which may prove a problem, exhaust pipes can be welded, rubber hoses replaced.
Oil, fuel and air filters are all standard items found in motor factors, (just a matter of equating Beta part No’s with alternatives), the impellers are Jabsco so again standard, all the engine components are Kubota so could be obtained from a Kubota agency.
The electrical components are again standard OEM available units, and not specific to Beta.
 
I had no regrets swapping to a Beta. I had a VP 2002 in my Westerly Storm, and put in a Beta 25. I selected Beta because we use them in out club boats.
In summer the ferry is worked very hard, all day weekdends and bank holidays, as well as mid week for evening races. The only problem we have had was a stop solenoid sticking. Also you can phone Beta Marine an talk, almost immediately to a human being and get sound advice.
 
Rattly Beta?! Ours runs like a sewing machine. I’d take a Japanese long block against anything from the ‘how many ways to rebadge a Perkins’ lot ;)
 
tillergirl said:
A well maintained 25 yr old 2030B has ample years of life ahead. Have you checked your glow plugs? Might be cheaper than than buying a rattly Beta!
Click to expand...

First time I have seen a Beta described as ‘rattly’ , I have had Beta engines now for coming on for 30: years and everyone comments on how quiet and smooth they sound.
 
Last edited:
Oh I know I am not allowed to criticise a Beta - like the annual requirement for the heat exchanger service (see OP please where the alternator is - right above where you have to open the heat exchanger!), or checking the anode annually or more frequently - but before I bought I actually went to several installations to compare noise (and other things). The Volvo was streets ahead on quietness. But of course the Kubota is a very sturdy reliable unit as is the Volvo.

I apologise for criticising the Beta. I am surprised the moderators allowed me to do that! I am so sorry. I won't do it again (PS OP - check your glow plugs. Your description is a classic example for the first thing to check. You can get glow plugs at a good motor factor).
 
Emmark said:
How much is a new Beta engine, plus fitting?

I viewed a boat this week where the original Volvo had been replaced with a Beta.
Click to expand...
Just doing that. Beta 30 with TMC box, high rise exhaust, basic panel just under £7k delivered. Installation depends on how much existing gear needs to replaced modified, but minimum£1500, but expect nearer £2500 as you will discover lots of old bits are knackered. smaller sizes are obviously cheaper 25 is about £600 less but installation costs are much the same.
 
dankilb said:
Rattly Beta?! Ours runs like a sewing machine. I’d take a Japanese long block against anything from the ‘how many ways to rebadge a Perkins’ lot ;)
Click to expand...

If the number of ways of re-badging an engine is a disadvantage then Kubota must be up there.

What a strange measure of performance - surely the more an engine, or anything is taken as a base - then its either as cheap as chips ..... or reliable.

Most sewing machines are extremely noisy - one might almost say they sound.... well rattly.

Speak you mind tillergirl
 
tillergirl said:
A well maintained 25 yr old 2030B has ample years of life ahead. Have you checked your glow plugs? Might be cheaper than than buying a rattly Beta!
Click to expand...
Also a fan of 2030 based on the one I had in my Bav 37. Would have preferred one to go in my GH, but impossible to find a good used one with a decent gearbox (most are saildrives). Unsurprising as they have been out of production for over 15 years and nobody replaces a good one. However happy with my choice of Beta as all the installations of the 30 that I have seen run as quietly and smoothly as the 2030.
 
dankilb said:
Rattly Beta?! Ours runs like a sewing machine. I’d take a Japanese long block against anything from the ‘how many ways to rebadge a Perkins’ lot ;)
Click to expand...
Don't understand that. Only Volvo marinise the Perkins engines which just like the Beta/Nanni/Westerbeke/Kubota are made in Japan and primarily used in small tractors, diggers and other agricultural and industrial machinery.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top