Nanni engines - any opinions?

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MisterBen

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I have just bought a boat (Sadler 26), well out of my area, which needs a new engine. The local engineer recommends a Nanni, partly because it is evidently very compact and will fit into the fairly tight engine space. I don't know any one who has owned a Nanni. Can Forumites supply any pros or cons?
Will I find a Nanni service agent in Falmouth?

Thanks for your advice, folks.
 
Hi Misterben.

I would try your question on the Sadler site forum, there seems to be many 26 owners who post there and they may well have first hand knowledge of the Nanni engine in a 26.

The forum is www.mikelucasyachting.co.uk/frameset.htm
Just crash in and go to forums where you should be able to pose the question.

Best of luck......... Peter
 
Everybody else seems to recommend them; I had bad experiences both on the money side (we overpaid after requesting a modification and could never get the money back) with Peachments and a couple of technical issues which their agents haven't been able to resolve (tacho works intermitanly, suffers from low temperature running and high oil pressure, very noisy tappets, and more recently a starting problem).

I may just be unlucky, but wouldn't buy another Nanni.

You'll find if there's a problem there're Peachments) always at a meeting/holiday/funeral and will get back to you, but don't.


IanC
 
A Nanni is basically an Italian BETA with arguably better added components mainly on the electrical side. Both very good - based on a Kubota block.

If your looking at a Nanni - you should also be looking at a BETA too. I went for a BETA purely for local servicing agent up the road. The Beta also was marginally cheaper.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A Nanni is basically an Italian BETA with arguably better added components mainly on the electrical side. Both very good - based on a Kubota block.

If your looking at a Nanni - you should also be looking at a BETA too. I went for a BETA purely for local servicing agent up the road. The Beta also was marginally cheaper.

[/ QUOTE ]Actually, Nanni is French.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have just bought a boat (Sadler 26), well out of my area, which needs a new engine. The local engineer recommends a Nanni, partly because it is evidently very compact and will fit into the fairly tight engine space. I don't know any one who has owned a Nanni. Can Forumites supply any pros or cons?
Will I find a Nanni service agent in Falmouth?

Thanks for your advice, folks.

[/ QUOTE ]We bought a Nanni for our Sigma 33. It was a close call between the Nanni and the Beta at the time. They are both based on the same engine anyway: the marinising done by different factorys and then the whole thing painted red (Beta) or Blue (Nanni). The difference that swung it for is was that we preferred the Nanni control panel at the time. It also had a solenoid stop, and we were offered a good 'boat show' deal.

You will find lots of people on the forum swear by Beta, but its the same engine, so see which is the best deal that you get. I don't buy the better vibration characteristic claim of Beta - can't see the engineering to back it up. Both companies buy in the engine mounts anyway.

We were very happy with our Nanni. It was quiet and reliable and very smooth running.

Not sure about dealers in Falmouth.

I wouldn't go with the first quote your local engineers give you!
 
We sailed on a Moody 28 for a short time with a Nanni 2 cylinder 13.5 HP. It certainly pushed the boat along OK, would do 6kn @3100 rpm (max rpm was 3600). I thought it was quite noisy, a sort of harsher noise than normal marine engines, but that could easily have been due to that particular installation.

No hand start facility. Cold-start and engine stop are both electric, so it will have more reliance on the boat electrics. Maybe that's the case with all modern engines.
 
Spent the weekend on the boat fitting the engine, With the help of a couple of Frenchmen we lifted the old engine out and the replacement in, bit heavy but using the scaffold tower over the stern it was ok.
The mounts worked well and everything lined up without any problems /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
One or two things now need sorting, the exhaust will need extending to the other side, fuel line 3 inches two short, stop cable needs new end fittings. The only slight problem was the alternator was a little wide as it has a 60A size not the standard one. The bulkhead had to be cut and the steps will need to be modified.
Overall a good weekend work.

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[ QUOTE ]
I have just bought a boat (Sadler 26), well out of my area, which needs a new engine. The local engineer recommends a Nanni, partly because it is evidently very compact and will fit into the fairly tight engine space.

[/ QUOTE ]And mostly because he can fleece you for new prop shaft, propellor, new control cables, new exhaust, reworking the engine beds etc, etc..

What engine is fitted at the moment?
What is wrong with it?
Would a good service or overhaul not suffice?
Unless you plan to keep the boat for yonks, a new engine is the last resort IMHO and even if it really does need changed I would look at what came out and replace like for like if possible (or fit a Bukh if changing engine from something else)
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Hi Misterben,

I have a Nanni 2.50HE 14hp which was fitted in the Trapper 500 I bought in 2005. It only has 300 hours on the meter but I have not had a moments problem with it.

The only drawback is that service agents may not be as plentiful as other more popular makes but to date, Peachments in Norwich have been very helpful.
 
I've just finished installing a 16hp Beta into a Tomahawk 25. As Cliff rightly points out the cost isn't just the engine, it's all the other little bits as well. There's little point in fittting a new engine and leaving tired parts fitted to the engine. The best deals are to be had at boat shows where significant savings may be achieved. Propeller, exhaust system,shaft, stern gland,engine bearers, fuel system all require to be checked out. They did with me and all ended up being renewed.
I'm not trying to put you off just trying to make you aware of the job you may be facing.
Good luck,
Harry.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've just finished installing a 16hp Beta into a Tomahawk 25. As Cliff rightly points out the cost isn't just the engine, it's all the other little bits as well. There's little point in fittting a new engine and leaving tired parts fitted to the engine. The best deals are to be had at boat shows where significant savings may be achieved. Propeller, exhaust system,shaft, stern gland,engine bearers, fuel system all require to be checked out. They did with me and all ended up being renewed.
I'm not trying to put you off just trying to make you aware of the job you may be facing.
Good luck,
Harry.

[/ QUOTE ]Its a fair point. When we did the deal at the boatshow for our Nanni it included a new prop and some other bits. A R Peachment were always very helpful.
 
I would install a Beta but as it's the same base Kubota engine they are very similar - see what sort of deal you can get. Check the engine mounts will fit on your bearers - Beta made up wider mounts for my boat for only £100 extra which saved me removing and totally rebuilding the bearers.
You will probably need a new shaft, prop, non-drip shaft gland, new sound proofing, new exhaust, fuel system. etc etc etc.!
My friend has a fairly old Nanni but can get spares easily via Peachmount in Norwich, usually within a couple of days if obscure items. He's pleased with it.
 
Hi
I've just replaced a bukh with a beta 13.5 in a sadler 26. Its a good fit and a very good match power wise for boat. Expect the nanni equivalent should work out equally well. One point that save me some cash was that selecting the 2.6:1 ratio gearbox from Beta meant I could reuse old 14x11 prop. I recently saw this 26 http://www.noblemarine.co.uk/boatsforsale/boat/13068/ for sale on web with a beta in it. scroll through pictures till you see engine. It will give you an idea as to how well a beta or nanni will fit in a 26. Expect beta will be cheaper. Invest in some new insullation foam. check if your boat has a spongy cockpit sole. Its a common problem with the 26. During an engine change is a good time to put in a sheet of epoxied ply underneath the sole. It also makes a good fixing for insullation.

hope this helps
Mike
 
hi
fitted two Nannis to our catamaran 3 yrs ago after looking at just about all engines avilable and all the rubbish from dealers at boat show & got avery good deal from supplier in essex
engines came with mod to fit our volvo legs only had to extend the front mount brackets on the bed had them both in & running over a weekend. control pannel good n clear wiring plug in. Engines run very quiet & economical very easy to get to all bits for service never had any problems. hope this helps your decision.
 
Thank you very much, folks, for the masses of info & opinions. Having followed up some of the leads that were offered, I'm pretty sure that I will be going the Nanni route despite (as some one said) the rubbish name and the one or two negative replies.

What a useful institution this forum is! Wish I had come across it years ago - I might be a little less poor.

Best wishes, Ben.
 
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