Betamarine 30

Paddydog`1 said:
Thinking of re-engining
Any thought /experience of this engine?
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Not with the engine but I will say that the headquarters staff are brilliant. They will happily chat over what you want/need. They are very knowledgeable about the 'how' too. It was this aspect of the company/product that took me to Beta as opposed to any other brand.
 
I upgraded from a penta 2003 (28 hp) to a Beta 30 last winter. I chose to do this as it was a (almost) like for like power range swop. My experience so far after 160 hours is the basic engine is good - but its based on a Kubota so is widely used.
However, I have a few niggles:
the red paintwork is not that brilliant and required 'touch up'
The 'waterproof' control panel is not that waterproof and is very brittle (the corners crack off easily).
 
Beta engines are excellent and well proven, there are no issues and regarding paint I have yet to find a ferrous marine engine that dosen't require some touching up in a marine environment.
 
My 10 yr old Nanni still has all its original paint & i have never changed an anode yet.
I did change the exhaust elbow @ 700 hrs due to the cast iron rusting. it is bottom fed after the gearbox h/e & obviously gets air / salt water sitting there, not a good conbination.
 
The quotes I've had are around £7000 for replacement taking my 2003 in part exchahge vs around £35000 for a rebuild of the 2003. Seems a replacement is the way forward given that I intend keeping my boat for the foreseeable future.
 
Having seen a video of how Beta paint them the non-durability of the finish is not a surprise! They just get a blow over on top of Kubota's own finish with no rubbing down or anything.
 
penfold said:
Having seen a video of how Beta paint them the non-durability of the finish is not a surprise! They just get a blow over on top of Kubota's own finish with no rubbing down or anything.
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Do you have specific information/sources (video or other) about how other engine marinisers do their paint finishing?
 
I swapped a VP 2003 for a Beta 30 last winter- a job that was far easier than I thought it would be- the job made all the simpler by Beta's engine mounts made for my boat. Their advice and experience was freely given and most helpful. The one slight niggle I experienced after about 20 hours running was quickly resolved by a call to their base.

The Beta is much smoother and quieter than the Volvo, sips fuel and starts easily.

I spent a fair bit of time looking at options before deciding on the Beta and I'm glad I did.
 
Paddydog`1 said:
The quotes I've had are around £7000 for replacement taking my 2003 in part exchahge vs around £35000 for a rebuild of the 2003. Seems a replacement is the way forward given that I intend keeping my boat for the foreseeable future.
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At that price I am not surprised. ;)
 
Paddydog`1 said:
Did you do the complete job yourself?
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Everything except lining it up.

Oh, and lifting the old engine out and the new one in- used a crane for that....

While the old engine was out I took the operchancity to strip out the filthy old foam insulation and replaced it with Halyards excellent foil backed insulation, replace the stern gland with a PSS seal, replace the worm prop shaft and cutlass bearing and fit an also excellent Kiwi prop.
I intend to keep this boat forever.
 
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Hydrozoan said:
Do you have specific information/sources (video or other) about how other engine marinisers do their paint finishing?
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None, I just saw the Beta video clip on youtube or similar. I'd be surprised if any of the others have significantly better paint finish, my anecdotal experience is that the corrosion protection of all of them(including Beta; the red coming off just reveals the Kubota blue underneath) is pretty good and only go crusty if there's long term water leakage onto the engine; avoid leaks into the engine compartment and attend to developing leaks in the cooling system and the paint will last years with little maintenance beyond the odd wipe down.
 
penfold said:
None, I just saw the Beta video clip on youtube or similar. I'd be surprised if any of the others have significantly better paint finish, my anecdotal experience is that the corrosion protection of all of them(including Beta; the red coming off just reveals the Kubota blue underneath) is pretty good and only go crusty if there's long term water leakage onto the engine; avoid leaks into the engine compartment and attend to developing leaks in the cooling system and the paint will last years with little maintenance beyond the odd wipe down.
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Thanks. My experience with a 19 year old Beta is that some touching up has been increasingly required in later years (as I would expect), but that it is true of the Beta parts (heat exchanger) as well as the Kubota elements. In general, I think the Beta finish has lasted well.
 
I put a Beta 14hp in my last boat and am now considering what to buy as replacement for VP2003 in my current boat. The Beta (Kubota) engine itself was mechanically reliable but it suffered almost immediately from simple but annoying faults - excessive belt dusting (as described on various other threads), poor connection of certain elements using self tappers that quickly became loose from the engine , poor paintwork, excessive anode depletion, broken and rusting starter keys. I am keen to know if Nanni is a better buy on these aspects?
 
Slowtack said:
I put a Beta 14hp in my last boat and am now considering what to buy as replacement for VP2003 in my current boat. The Beta (Kubota) engine itself was mechanically reliable but it suffered almost immediately from simple but annoying faults - excessive belt dusting (as described on various other threads), poor connection of certain elements using self tappers that quickly became loose from the engine , poor paintwork, excessive anode depletion, broken and rusting starter keys. I am keen to know if Nanni is a better buy on these aspects?
Click to expand...

My Nanni 10 ys on
paint as installed
never replaced an anode, it doesnt need one due to compatible metals used
the belt has been an issue but i hope i now have the correct / better belts
i had issues with the panel due to Peachments using a too smaller size of crimp connector, correct by the yard @ Peachments expense.
i have replaced the exhaust elbow @ 700 hrs. the issue is raw water fed up into the elbow from the gearbox H/E, when the engine stops & the void has salt water & air in it, therefore rusts.
i did have the PRM 150 box fitted rather than the std one as i have a MaxProp
apart from routine maintenance by me nothing else has been needed
 
I installed my Beta 13.5 in 2004. Paint as installed and not in need of touch up. Changed the belt last year because I felt I ought not because it particularly looked like it needed it. Routine maintenance including a new anode each year. Oh, changed coolant couple of years ago. That's it.
 
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