Engine re-spray

Champagne Murphy

Champagne Murphy

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The trusty(?) 31 yr old Bukh has been partially dismantled and is awaiting craning out for new wet liners, piston rings and a full gasket set. A birthday in other words. While she's out of the boat I rather like the idea of getting her blasted and re-sprayed, some rust and grot as would be expected.
Anyone any ideas where/who might be the best to do this?
 
Champagne Murphy said:
The trusty(?) 31 yr old Bukh has been partially dismantled and is awaiting craning out for new wet liners, piston rings and a full gasket set. A birthday in other words. While she's out of the boat I rather like the idea of getting her blasted and re-sprayed, some rust and grot as would be expected.
Anyone any ideas where/who might be the best to do this?
Click to expand...

Have a chat with Ralph at Foxs
 
Champagne Murphy said:
The trusty(?) 31 yr old Bukh has been partially dismantled and is awaiting craning out for new wet liners, piston rings and a full gasket set. A birthday in other words. While she's out of the boat I rather like the idea of getting her blasted and re-sprayed, some rust and grot as would be expected.
Anyone any ideas where/who might be the best to do this?
Click to expand...

1. 31 years old
2. new wet liners, piston rings and gasket set required

Why would you blast and respray the engine - maybe it's only the rust and grut holding it together.
Was the case with the similar Vetus I planned to sell on when I re-engined.
Came apart in the slings as it was being lifted out.

IMO: save your pennies - run the engine 'as is' till it dies and when it does re-engine with a new one.
 
OR4751 said:
1. 31 years old
2. new wet liners, piston rings and gasket set required

Why would you blast and respray the engine - maybe it's only the rust and grut holding it together.
Was the case with the similar Vetus I planned to sell on when I re-engined.
Came apart in the slings as it was being lifted out.

IMO: save your pennies - run the engine 'as is' till it dies and when it does re-engine with a new one.
Click to expand...

That Bukh will be like new for a few 100s of £s
 
sailorman said:
That Bukh will be like new for a few 100s of £s
Click to expand...

Quite so! Good for another 30years. I'll have probably lost interest by then! A new one is about 7k and a different brand eg Beta/Nanni/Yanmar etc all end up costing the same sort of dough. Look at Snooks re-engining of his Sadler 32 in YM recently, cost over 10k! I've got a new gasket set (C350), new rings,(under 100), new wetliners (same again). If I spend some on a re-spray I'll still be several thousand better off and I'll have an engine that runs more reliably. You can buy a lot f beer for that kind of money!
 
sailorman said:
That Bukh will be like new for a few 100s of £s
Click to expand...

Does that include rose-tinted spectacles?

I've been there twice before.
It starts with a couple of hundered here and there, then it's injectors, cylinder heads, alternator, gearbox, ... .
Before you know it, you've spent several K on a lump of iron XX years old with no absolutely guarantee that it will work next time you press the button. And when you find the power of prayer doesn't do it anymore you will have to spend the dosh anyway and all you've spent before has just been money down the drain.

If and when we end up getting another boat, it will most likely be another MAB. First indication I get that the engine requires more attention beyond just a normal service it's going.

As for the price Snooks paid to re-engine: he must have paid RRP, because when we re-engined a 44' boat (60hp engine) two years ago, I paid significantly less than 10K.
And I don't think that was because the yard had taken pitty on us and decided to take us on as a charity case.
 
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You said you had been there twice before.

As a matter of interest could you say what make & how old were the donks you replaced.

Thanks.
 
Champagne Murphy said:
Quite so! Good for another 30years. I'll have probably lost interest by then! A new one is about 7k and a different brand eg Beta/Nanni/Yanmar etc all end up costing the same sort of dough. Look at Snooks re-engining of his Sadler 32 in YM recently, cost over 10k! I've got a new gasket set (C350), new rings,(under 100), new wetliners (same again). If I spend some on a re-spray I'll still be several thousand better off and I'll have an engine that runs more reliably. You can buy a lot f beer for that kind of money!
Click to expand...

Now that a good idea, how about starting @ Oostende vor Anker nxt May
 
OR4751 said:
1. 31 years old
2. new wet liners, piston rings and gasket set required

Why would you blast and respray the engine - maybe it's only the rust and grut holding it together.
Was the case with the similar Vetus I planned to sell on when I re-engined.
Came apart in the slings as it was being lifted out.

IMO: save your pennies - run the engine 'as is' till it dies and when it does re-engine with a new one.
Click to expand...

If I had to choose an old engine it would be a Thorny or a Bukh; Wet liners will go eventually though DCA4 or coolant with it in will make them last many more years. If you put a new engine in it will have lost all the added value in about 7 years time. You can buy a boat with a knackered engine that's got 20 hours on the dial - just run it with the seacock closed; you can also buy a boat with a trusty 30 year old lump that will last another 30 years. Replacing a yacht engine has more to do with emotions and pride of ownership than economics - nothing wrong with that but don't let it rule your decision. A blast and respray will give most of the emotional payback of it looking like a new one :)

FWIW Foxs tested our engine after we said 'replace' and found it had the compression of a new Thorny and just needed about £600 spending on the ancillaries. It was £11,500 for a new Nan fitted because of all the ancillaries. I trust their opinion because we'd already said to replace it, they could have made a hell of a lot more money.
 
One more factor in favour; taking it apart and putting it back together is fun! No, really. Giant, real Meccano. I always wanted to be an engineer, now I can play at it:)
 
OR4751 said:
As for the price Snooks paid to re-engine: he must have paid RRP, because when we re-engined a 44' boat (60hp engine) two years ago, I paid significantly less than 10K.
Click to expand...

No, as he explained in a recent thread, his cost was actually lower than reported- he didn't pay RRP, but as he was writing for the magazine he was obliged to use RRP prices.
 
LittleSister said:
No, as he explained in a recent thread, his cost was actually lower than reported- he didn't pay RRP, but as he was writing for the magazine he was obliged to use RRP prices.
Click to expand...

- Don't read every thread posted. Even if I had the time, I don't think I would want to.
- Was this mentioned in the article? Because Champagne Murphy certainly seemed to believe the figure mentioned reflected real costs.

And here lies the danger. If this wasn't mentioned in the article, I fear that there may be people out there who are hanging on to their old engine - and throwing good money after bad - because the cost of having a new engine is prohibitively high.
When this is not necessarily the case.

On previous boat, I spent nearly 3K on a rebuild which added nearly 3 years to the engines life. I eventually re-engined previous boat at a cost of just over 6K and I never had an engine problem again.
 
OR4751 said:
- Don't read every thread posted. Even if I had the time, I don't think I would want to.
- Was this mentioned in the article? Because Champagne Murphy certainly seemed to believe the figure mentioned reflected real costs.

.
Click to expand...

Retail costs they may have been and he's a lucky lad if he can get it cheaper. Good for him but I'm just one of the sheep and, as such, lumbered with paying the real price:( I know he had all the extras with chips on it but even so, it takes a long time to earn the lolly to pay that kind of bill....
 
Champagne Murphy said:
Retail costs they may have been and he's a lucky lad if he can get it cheaper. Good for him but I'm just one of the sheep and, as such, lumbered with paying the real price:( I know he had all the extras with chips on it but even so, it takes a long time to earn the lolly to pay that kind of bill....
Click to expand...

plus you have spanners & know how to use them :)
 
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