Beta Vs Yanmar

[seaesta]

I am starting to plan for the replacement of my old Volvo MD1. The Beta 10 and Yanmar GM 10 look the favorite options. The Beta is slightly higher power and twin cylinder with a heat exchanger rather than raw water. The Yanmar is lighter and uses raw water (easier , lighter etc) . Some postings on this site have praised the GM10.
Does anyone have a view on the merits and respective costs of these two engines - are there better options??
Martin of Seaesta of Whitby

 

[seahorse]

Can't say much about Yanmar's but being specialist marine engines parts are probably expensive. I replaced my MD11 with a Kubota (base engine for the Beta) which I marinised myself. Being an industrial engine parts are relativly cheap & easy to get. My engine is 3cylinder & runs very smoothly & is half the weight of the Green Monster it replaced.

 

[LadyInBed]

Without doubt Yanmars are good engines, but the single cylinder causes quite a bit of vibration at low revs. I know nothing of the Beta, but the more cylinders, the smoother things get (and the heavier) and the heat exchanger will give the ability to put in a hot water tank.

 

[Guest]

I think a main concern here is not so much the cost of the engine on the short term as it would be cost over the long term. The raw water cooled engine is not going to last nearly as long as the engine with the heat exchanger.

I have a 27 year old Perkins 4-108....that runs quite well and is in overall pretty good shape and that is because it has a heat exchanger, and has never had salt water in the engine.

I also would prefer a multi-cylinder engine for the extra power when needed and the lower vibration factor.

I think I would go for the Beta Marine engine.

Reality is the cause of all stress!!

 

[salamicollie]

Having just replaced a 25 year old Yanmar YSB (due to the need to reline the bores and new rings), I don't think there is much difference in life time with a well kept raw water cooled engine.

I would agree that a multi cylinder is smoother running though the 1GM is smoother than the older horizontal single cylinder units

 

[jfkal]

No issue if you maintain your zincs. My Yanmar is 18 years and no corrosion.

 

[John7]

When I replaced our engine the deciding factor was accessing the impeller. Our boat design , Vergo Voyger, had a limited access to the forward end of the engine. Most engines had the impeller on the left had side which was imposable to access with out major rebuilding. The Beta was on eliminated through this. Yes vibration is a pain, but if idling is take up to the 850/875 it should be its less of a problem (why do engineers not read the spec's for setting these things up?).

The Yanmar, IF you have access (we don’t), can be hand started and as I had to once, does have a decompression facility you can use when battery starting.

Yes spares are expensive but there have been a number of posts on cheaper parts on this site. Many maintance parts and oil can be much more cheaply obtained than the Yanmar ones (it greaves me to see the listed US prices compared to ours) but I suspect this will be true of most marine parts!

 

[dickh]

The Beta is a good engine and based on Kubota as mentioned. Also consider the Nanni, also based on the Kubota. Definately go for a Heat Exchanger model - the engine runs hotter and is more efficient.
I believe the impellor is difficult to get at on the Yanmar so consider this as well.
Go to the LBS and see what deals you can do on a new engine.
Also look at the Volvo Penta 2010 - also Kubota...
dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by dickh on 02/01/2003 09:43 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[John7]

IGM10 impeller is the easy one from the Yanmar engines the others are pigs I understand. My 1GM10 has a speedseal and can be directly accessed un like the GM that really need you to remove the pump!

 

[stevebirch2002]

Hi. Having tried most of the engines on the market I would plumb for teh Beta and go for the BZ482. It is twin cylinder and fresh water cooled. The 10HP is exactly the same engine but goverened down to 3000RPM so giving 10HP. I have found that Beta really do care about their customers and are always on hand to give advice. They have now supplied over seventy Beta BZ482 13.5HP to the Albin Vega Club to replace the old Volvo MD6/7 combination. The spares are available worldwide and the main engine is based on the Kubota block which is the most popular diesel engine in the world. SUpplied in Tractors, grass-cutters, diggers, cement mixers etc. If you need any more info then email me at

steve@albinvega.com or go to www.albinvega.co.uk

Albin Vega "Southern Comfort" V1703

 

[jimboaw]

Another consideration is the the required RPMs to produce the needed power. I have just replaced an old Yanmar HM35 with a Volvo MD22L (used) The Volvo produces 50 HP at 3500 whereas a Yanmar would need to be run at about 5000. My last boat had a 4-108 and 2000 rpm became my tolerance level.

 

[Guest]

I have a Beta 10 in my Sadler 25 and it has been most successful, driving a two bladed folding prop it works very well. So far (4Years) no problems at all.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Bukh???

You should at least consider Bukh as well, which like Yanmar is one of the few motors designed from the bottom up as a marine engine. It's also single cylinder in 10 hp config, but is pretty well counterbalanced to damp out vibes. Can be hand started easily, and has the impeller in a very accesible position (top front on port hand side of the engine). Spares are available pretty well worldwide if you intend to go globe trotting.

 

[mick]

Re: Bukh???

Ken,
How do you do it? I have a Bukh DV10 in a Sadler 26 and I have tried and tried and tried and never come anywhere near starting it manually. I can get the engine spinning like a nicely spinning thing but as soon as I move the decompression lever everything stops dead.

 

[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I fitted two new yanmar 1GM10 engines into my Heavenly Twins last year. Both have been tremendous; vibration is maybe a little more than the twin beta. They are lighter and easier to source spares than the Beta's, my humble opinion.

Also, the ability to shut off compression to allow hand starting or low battery starting was the decider for me, after weight. They are very ecconimical too.

But do get the alternator upgrade if you go with Yanmar.



Julian

http://www.ukstaffords.com

 

[Twister_Ken]

Bukh starting

Firstly I should say I've only ever done this once - just to find out how to do it. I get what sounds like three or four compression cycles after closing the decompressor. This was not enough to fire the engine on the first spin, nor the second or third, but it did catch after the fourth spin. By which time, I was considering whether I should visit the gym more often!

 

[seahorse]

Hi again, I've found a test report on the Nani (Kubota) 10 hp, If you would like a copy pls eml your address & i'll send the jpeg files.

 

[daveheaddon]

Re: Beta Vs Yanmar (COST?)

Hi All,

I'm replacing (or hoping to) my old Volvo MD1 with a similar output engine and I'm considering all of those listed in this thread. However, as an owner of a sinlge-cylinder thumper I have to say that most things on my wish list fall down below not having my entire boat shaken to bits at any throttle speed! Two cylinders for me and therefore the Beta tops my list.

However...great thread but who knows how much these things cost and what negotiating scope there is? Why does no-one mention cost until you've spent 30 minutes chatting?

Cheers
Dave

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