Fitting new engines in an old boat - worth it?

Just a thought but according to a very brief google those new engines develop their max power at very high revs compared to the nice old low reving lumps in there at the moment.
A few years ago we had one of our workboats converted from a low reving old something-or-other to a flash new Caterpillar. The racket the new engine made was bloody awful at the revs it needed to develop any power.
 
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http://www.thurstonengineering.co.uk/ this firm do a good job. you do not say where you are in your bio, these people are in essex.

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Those guys look like just the sort of no-nonsense set up I'm after. Thanks.

Good point about the revs. The old Fords sound glorious IMHO, especially past 1800 rpm with their turbos howling. Only for short blasts, mind...
 
If yours are turbo then as Omega says they are not 120hp.

I'd recommend a chat with Mermaid Marine.

You do very much need to keep in mind the power delivery/torque curve and revs. One thing I love about mine is the 1800 rev gurgle gurlge at 20 knots.
 
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http://www.thurstonengineering.co.uk/ this firm do a good job. you do not say where you are in your bio, these people are in essex.

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H'mmm, wonder what they can do with two aged 6354s and if its economically viable. Like ohters I'd be interested in an engine change and have the porblem thta most of the time I am river pottering at 4 knots, but would still like to be able to hit 20 or so at WOT out at sea. Smaller, lighter and more economical engines appeal, but the costs scare me as they all rev faster and thats new gearbox, possibly V box and prop time too.
 
Nelsons are lovely boats and if everything else aboard is OK then I would re-engine. As the owner of a Dunkirker I did'nt have much choice, the 2.5lt Leylands were a pig to work on as they were paid over and spares were getting hard to get so I bit the bullet. Bought a pair of used 2000 Ford 2.5lt transit lumps for 350 GBP each, Freemans of Folkstone supplied the PRM gearboxs and marinisation kits and the whole shebang cost me 4,000 GBP including a pair of Aquadrives. I did all the rebuild work myself and the boatyard helped me drop them in. Theres lots of extra room in the engine room and boy is it great to just flick the key and they burst into life, filter changes are a dodle with the self bleed plus I use less fuel.

If you can afford new lumps go for the otherwise look for a pair of nearly new ones, give Freemans a buzz they are very helpfull and have many makes of engines in stock or can get them cheaper than Lancing.
 
I am thinking the same way.
Would love slightly higher to speed and no worries on reliability for a few years.
Saw a pair of Nannis at LBS which are similar footprint to Perkins and 200Hp. Still very tempted...
 
Andrew - like you I have 6.354's.

One viable option is the Cummins 6BT 5.9, (Leyland DAF 45) ex vehicle lumps can be bought for about £500 to £800, piston and liners and shells etc is another grand, marinisation about 2 grand. You could build one up for about £4k, you can get 190hp without adding a intercooler.

Max revs is 2600 I think so similar power delivery and I think no need to change gearboxes.
 
Depending on the available pennies htis year as an alternative I have wondered about a pro rebuild from Golden Arrow or similar, much as mentioned above, the pain element being getting engines to them, so in boating range has much to recommend it. Physically smaller engines have the upside of making more stowage space so you carry more gear and lose out on consumption that way instead, all that wine!
 
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I am thinking the same way.
Would love slightly higher to speed and no worries on reliability for a few years.
Saw a pair of Nannis at LBS which are similar footprint to Perkins and 200Hp. Still very tempted...

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Seconded. I like the idea of using a Toyota 'domestic' engine that's still 6-cylinder. I thought they just made little saildrive engines...
 
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I am thinking the same way.
Would love slightly higher to speed and no worries on reliability for a few years.
Saw a pair of Nannis at LBS which are similar footprint to Perkins and 200Hp. Still very tempted...

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Seconded. I like the idea of using a Toyota 'domestic' engine that's still 6-cylinder. I thought they just made little saildrive engines...

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aluminium blocks heads, lots of anodes to keep an eye on, sky high spares, and exhaust elbows at £400 a throw, are you really sure about this??
 
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