new diesel sought

[Guest]

I have a Sadler 34 with a much-loathed Volvo 2003 fitted. The engine - despite (boitched) NZ overhaul a couple of years ago still smokes badly. Since I am going offshore in a couple of years (Vancouver to Australia) I am thinking seriously about repowering.

Yanmars are an obvious choice but the shaft turns in the opposite direction to the Volvo and that isn't good news for my Autoprop. The very soft mounts in the Yanmar can also cause the shaft to vibrate in the shaft tunnel.

Isuzu have a good name here. But a (great) local mechanic suggests the Volvo MD 2030 - the replacement for the 2003. This is actually a built-in-Japan, Volvo marinised Perkins. Mechanic says that the Volvo marinising is better than Perkins - and that one of the water taxis that have 2030s fitted here have passed 14,000 hours with no problems.

The shaft turns the right way, there will be no reason to fit new engine beds...

On the other hand Volvos attitude to their customers really sucks - witness the whole sorry gearbox splines story on the 2003s.

So I would be REALLY interested in anyone's experience with the 2030...


Thanks

Andrew

 

[dickh]

I have a Perkins Perama M20 - taken over by VP as the 2010; 2020; 2030 & 2040. The base engine is good, and as you say is made in Japan. VP made the flywheel heavier and fitted their own electrics and mounts. I had to fit a new exhaust elbow as mine choked up - 650hrs - and in fact fitted a VP part as it was much cheaper than Perkins. In my experience it is the parts added in the marinising that need replacing ie alternator etc. - the basic engine is usually OK. VP have a good worldwide network of agents, and in a recent survey of cost of spare parts they came out very favourably compared to other makes.
However there has been a recent letter in PBO - I believe - where an engine failed due to possible "hydraulicing" on a new boat - result of warranty claim not yet known... If in your installation the height of the exhaust elbow is marginal in respect to your heeled waterline, fit an exhaust riser and this problem should not arise. If the installation is correct you should not have any problem.
See also the Volvo Penta User Group - this is a fairly new website for Volvo Penta Owners - www.volpen.org.uk There is a thread on there regarding this problem. As you say, the rotation and engines beds are the same then this would be a consideration. The other engines which are well recommended are BETA diesel and NANNI - both are marinised KUBOTA industrial engines which are excellent engines.
I also fitted a "SpeedSeal" for easy impellor changing - I can recommend this - you can change an impellor in about a minute - www.speedseal.com
Good Luck


dickh
I'd rather be sailing...

 

[Guest]

Thanks for this... According to a great mechanic here Volvo did a much better job of marinising the Japanese base engine than Perkins..

I already have a Speedseal - its great.

Thanks again

Andrew

 

[Guest]

I had a new Nanni diesel fitted in my boat by Marine maintenance excellent service very helpful people good price Engine is superb quiet efficient economical and reliable. What more do you need. Try contacting Jack Birchley on 01621860441