New engine needed: Beta 30 vs Volvo D1-30 vs Vetus M4.35???

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Allypumba

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I have a Westerly Renown 32' Ketch with a Watermota Sea Panther engine around 27hp. I'm looking to replace this engine. Unsurprisingly the Volvo suppliers say theirs is the best as do the Beta and Vetus suppliers. I would love to hear people views on which one they would choose and why. Any common problems in future? Availability of parts and prices of replacements etc? I'm based in the Firth of Clyde. If anyone has bought any of these recently, I'd be grateful to know what it cost them...you can pm me regarding this.

Many thanks,

Alasdair
 
You really cannot go wrong with any of them - Beta, Nanni, Volvo, Yanmar. Vetus are also OK but less popular in the UK and based on a Mitsubishi engine, whereas Beta/Nanni are Kubota, Volvo is Perkins and Yanmars their own engine - but similar to all the other Japanese base engines.

You will find satisfied users of all of them and choice is often down to price and ease of fitment, particularly if you are doing it yourself. If you are getting a dealer to do it then your confidence in him may be more important than the brand.

I have had good service out of Yanmar, Nanni and two Volvos (including my current D1 30). Much is to do with the quality of the installation and choice of ancilliaries - rarely any problems with the base engine as these are designed to run for far more hours than a typical yacht will ever do. They get an easy life in a boat, but make sure you run it hard from time to time and change the oil and filter every year and the engine will probably outlast you!.
 
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I would generally agree with Tranona. Thankfully things have advanced to the stage, rather as with cars, that there isn't really a bad choice these days.

Maybe more important is the comparison of accessibility of routine service items on each of the engines, with reference to the installation in your boat. How much room is there? Have they put any of the items in a place that, on your boat, is quite awkward to get to?

Convenience, speed, and ease of doing things (as well as cost of consumables) is a much bigger consideration I would say than anything else, because all other things are now almost equal.

Things on my list would be:-
Oil changes
Oil filter location & orientation
Drive belt(s). Changing / tensioning
Water pump
Impeller changes
Alternator
Oil cooler
Inlet strainer

Edit: Forgot to add, check and compare noise levels!
 
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Beta (I've bought and installed two) are probably the best for customised installations. They offer special feet (which can make the new engine just a drop-in), different alternators, high-rise exhaust bends and many others. Obviously this may be no advantage to you, but if it is...
Beta also has an excellent reputation for customer service, and most of their engines have service items located in sensible places.

Volvo are, of course, notorious for very high spares prices, but this will have little effect on a new engine which should require only regular consumables for some years.

Vetus, as written, are not well represented in the UK.
 
Trundlebug said:
Things on my list would be:-
Oil changes
Oil filter location & orientation
Drive belt(s). Changing / tensioning
Water pump
Impeller changes
Alternator
Oil cooler
Inlet strainer
Click to expand...

Some at least, and possibly all, of Beta's current engines have all the service components at the front end of the engine for easy access. All, I think, except the Beta 10 (and even there it's an option) have a built in hand pump to empty out the oil for oil changes.
 
A friend chose to repower with a Beta and is very happy with the red engine with specified chrome bits.

Also, as far as I understand Beta will warranty engine without having to find a branded dealer for servicing. Worth checking out.

Their final price was less than the rest too.

Garold
 
All are reliable good engines. If you are travelling the globe then Volvo may well have the better global reach for parts etc, but unlikely to be of great relevance to you or a subsequent purchaser.
Therefore it should come down to ease of servicing ( which side things are on ) and the overall grand total price once you take into account what else needs to change, prop shaft and prop being the obvious ones. Get an overall all-in quote from engineers who have carefully surveyed the boat.
 
Thank you for all the info, much appreciated! I was leaning towards the Beta 30. Like the idea the warranty would is still covered by DIY servicing. Also like that they will tailor footings to existing engine if possible. As for space, there's loads of it in the engine bay! I think also you don't have to remove coolant pipes etc to replace belts. Does anyone know how they compare noise-wise and also fuel economy?
 
Allypumba said:
Thank you for all the info, much appreciated! I was leaning towards the Beta 30. Like the idea the warranty would is still covered by DIY servicing. Also like that they will tailor footings to existing engine if possible. As for space, there's loads of it in the engine bay! I think also you don't have to remove coolant pipes etc to replace belts. Does anyone know how they compare noise-wise and also fuel economy?
Click to expand...

quiet & sip fuel
 
Allypumba said:
I think also you don't have to remove coolant pipes etc to replace belts. Does anyone know how they compare noise-wise and also fuel economy?
Click to expand...

The Beta (at least) comes as standard with a polyvee belt. They very rarely need replacing (or adjusting after initial bedding-in).
Fuel economy will be very similar with all your stated options, and depend as much on gearbox and prop spec as anything else.
 
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fuel consumption is the same just about on all as it is a direct function of the power demanded. Make sure your prop is sized so that you can achieve close to maximum rpm and max speed then cruise at around 2200-2400 depending on the engine (some are max 3200 and others 3600). you should consume somewhere between 1.5 and 2l an hour, probably near the lower end.

Noise depends as much on the installation, particularly the insulation and exhaust system.
 
I installed D!-30 and 130 saildrive this year, so far so good. Impressed by the power at lowish revs compared to the old 2003.
 
My new Beta 25 is really not much noisier with the companionway steps removed than the old (knackered) Volvo 2002 was with with everything closed up.
My fuel economy is much better, although much of this is may well be down to simultaneously also replacing the old, fixed, 2-blade prop with a 3 blade Brunton's Autoprop. I'll never get back the cost of the Autoprop in saved fuel costs, but having a fuel tank that appears to have nearly doubled in size as far as range is concerned is quite nice.
 
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