New engine, or a good secondhand/reconditioned one ?

Will he really do 200 hours engine use a year in a sailing boat? If you can afford it new makes the most sense I would say. If he is competent or knows someone who is rebuilding the existing engine properly would make sense but buying a "reconditioned" engine from a stranger is fraught with risk.
 
Currently have a simalar problem which started with a head gasket and water in engine.

Fully costed out a new 30hp engine, not bad but the real costs are as others say is fitting it which almost doubles the cost.

Looked at getting a so called reconditioned second hand engine but you are buying something you really don't know its history or how it was reconditioned.

So rightly or wrongly I decided to have my existing engine reconditioned professionaly, as I know whats being done, how its being done and I know it will fit on rebuild:)
 
To save money, it is best to recondition the existing engine; obviously, depending on the damage and the make. But it sounds that the existing engine may not be too bad. Do a rough costing for a new set of bearings, pistons, honing, injectors, cylinder head refurbishment, gasket set and allow for any other obvious component that may need replacement. Labour is expensive, unless you have the time and the know-how to do it yourself.

Some people here have purchased and installed diesel engines made by a Chinese company, apparently they are not bad at all and almost half the price.
 
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC said:
To save money, it is best to recondition the existing engine; obviously, depending on the damage and the make. But it sounds that the existing engine may not be too bad. Do a rough costing for a new set of bearings, pistons, honing, injectors, cylinder head refurbishment, gasket set and allow for any other obvious component that may need replacement. Labour is expensive, unless you have the time and the know-how to do it yourself.

Some people here have purchased and installed diesel engines made by a Chinese company, apparently they are not bad at all and almost half the price.
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Problem with that is the thing that kills most old seawater cooled engines is the cooling system. You are putting a whole load of expensive bits (if you can get them at all), most of which do not really wear out into a 30 or 40 year old block. To my mind a complete waste of money - and many posters here have told their stories about what a mistake it was to go down the reconditioning route.

The last statement is only true for larger hp engines, not the small ones most of us use where the difference in price is much smaller - and all the other costs are the same. They also have a chequered history of distribution and support in the UK. False economy.
 
Had a quote for reconditioning my perkins perama last year, if it can be done the cost would easily beat that of a new beta 30. My thinking was recon the engine and keep all the ancillary equipment, which can easily add £££££s to a refit.
 
The only question that I would ask is: "Does the reconditioned engine come with a guarantee that is similar to what one is given with a new one?" I might be wrong but I don't think so.
When I had a Centaur and the old MD6a (or 7a) started to give trouble, the cost of the parts alone was 1/3 of a new engine; adding labour would have brought the cost up to well over 1/2. Adding new parts at the then current prices onto a lump of cast iron that was twenty years old and that had survived a lot of use didn't make sense so I fitted a new one.
The engine that I have on my present boat is still the original Volvo MD2B, dating back to 1973. This engine has had little use, still runs well and came with a lot of spares. If I were younger and used the boat as much as I used to, I would seriously consider fitting a new engine; however, at seventy, I don't see myself sailing for much longer and I would be simply making a better boat for the next owner.
The 'right' decision really depends upon the plans of your friend.
 
PuffTheMagicDragon said:
The only question that I would ask is: "Does the reconditioned engine come with a guarantee that is similar to what one is given with a new one?" I might be wrong but I don't think so.
When I had a Centaur and the old MD6a (or 7a) started to give trouble, the cost of the parts alone was 1/3 of a new engine; adding labour would have brought the cost up to well over 1/2. Adding new parts at the then current prices onto a lump of cast iron that was twenty years old and that had survived a lot of use didn't make sense so I fitted a new one.
The engine that I have on my present boat is still the original Volvo MD2B, dating back to 1973. This engine has had little use, still runs well and came with a lot of spares. If I were younger and used the boat as much as I used to, I would seriously consider fitting a new engine; however, at seventy, I don't see myself sailing for much longer and I would be simply making a better boat for the next owner.
The 'right' decision really depends upon the plans of your friend.
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Difference is that Perkins spares can be got now at a reasonable price from www.parts4engines.com. Get a trusted man to do the overhaul and bobs yer wotsit!
Stu
 
THis has been an instructive thread , learning how people approach risk and money :) Thanks for all the comments.


My friend has decided to go for a new engine.
 
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