Do you worry about your engines and driveline?

[Bouba]

The other thread got me wondering, do you worry about your engines?

Mine are 1997 Cummins 5.9ltr. A brand new aftermarket block is £800, a kit of pistons and bearings etc, about £900. A heat exchanger about £900. The only killer is the exhaust manifold @ £2500 from Cummins, but I have a spare. Its a pushrod straight 6. No special tools needed. Weighs about 550kgs, so can go in the back of my van.

Worst case, one throws a leg out of bed or runs the bottom end, I lose best part of a season and I'm a couple of grand out of pocket. No biggie.

A gearbox is £300 second hand and its £150 for a clutch pack and seals. Drive damper plate about £200. New shaft is £500, a prop about the same. Not so sure about a P bracket, but I do know where the casting pattern is.

So, really, even under the worst case, my machinery isn't a disaster. I could easily rebuild after a sinking no bother.

I get the feeling some of big stuff, or the Yanmar or Volvo stuff, and outdrives, live in a world fearing mechanical failure.


(The rest of my boat falls apart as a hobby!)

I have the newest version of the venerable 5.9 the 6.7 It's a superb motor, my only worry is that I only have one. I wouldn't worry at all if burgundyben was with me, he sounds like he could rebuild the engine at sea!