New versus Secondhand Engine

[oldmanofthehills]

The boat I'm buying has a 36yr old worn out old Bukh DV20, good enough for a bit but dodgy gearbox and not what I want for possible long trips, where extended use of up to 30hrs might be required if wind dies or turns on the nose.

I have the chance of a six year old Yanmar 3YM30 for £3k, and I have that and like it in my old boat, but the boayard want £2k to fit it. It saves a bit on a new engine, well about £2.5k. My old engineer of course says buy new and he fits it cheaper but the boat in Plymout will not be near him in the Bristol Channel anyway.

What is the collective wisdom of the forumites?

 

[doug748]

Don't think I would not consider the ald engine, on the figures you have given - unless you are on the edge financially and saving the cash is paramount. I would probably only do used if planning to sell, which you are not.

Perhaps sail it this year and take it to Bristol for the winter - or maybe get it out of the present yard and task a mobile fitter to put in a new engine, he will do it for a lot less than 2k.

 

[Kukri]

Agree with Doug. I confess that I am currently fitting a secondhand engine but that is simply because it is a twin, with far fewer hours of what came out, so its easy, and I want to use the boat for a bit before giving her a real refit. So keep the engine you have in her for now and fit a new one over the winter

 

[robmcg]

If it was me and I wanted to keep costs to a minimum, I would fit a secondhand Bukh DV 24 from Marine Enterprises down in Dorset. The rational being it is a drop in replacement for the existing engine so requires no new shift, prop or alterations to fuel or exhaust systems so should be a doddle to fit yourself or in the few £'s to get someone to do it. You could try to part ex your old engine with them to reduce costs a bit further. I believe they list the DV24 for about £2750 for a complete package sub 250 hours on the clock.

 

[Graham376]

If it was me and I wanted to keep costs to a minimum, I would fit a secondhand Bukh DV 24 from Marine Enterprises down in Dorset. The rational being it is a drop in replacement for the existing engine so requires no new shift, prop or alterations to fuel or exhaust systems so should be a doddle to fit yourself or in the few £'s to get someone to do it. You could try to part ex your old engine with them to reduce costs a bit further. I believe they list the DV24 for about £2750 for a complete package sub 250 hours on the clock.

+1

 

[PhillM]

Either fit a direct replacement so as to avoid changing everything else, or fit a new one.

For comparison I had to change amlosf the whole system from seacock to prop and that cost about the same as the engine itself. However, I now have a lovley new Beta and full confidence in every part of the system.

In my case I also changed the tank, but that was for different reasons.

I also guess it’s going to be based on how long you expect to keep the boat. In my case she is a keeper.

 

[neil_s]

Give the Bukh a chance - mine is 41 this year!

 

[bedouin]

Not against 2nd hand engines in general but that price for a 6yr old engine seems high unless you know something of its history.

I have also fitted the ex-Lifeboat Bukh from Marine Enterprises - the rational is that you get a nearly new engine and the Bukhs are proper marine engines not car engines that have been marinised. One of those at £2750 is in every way better than the Yanmar

 

[LittleSister]

The boat I'm buying has a 36yr old worn out old Bukh DV20, good enough for a bit but dodgy gearbox and not what I want for possible long trips, where extended use of up to 30hrs might be required if wind dies or turns on the nose.

Is there anything specifically worn out about the Bukh that leads you to doubt it would do 30 hours? There are many out there that age and older still giving reliable service. (I seem to recall someone on here motoring his Bukh all the way across a calm Biscay (and stopping halfway to give it its regular service!), though I don't know how old it was.)

Is the gearbox problem fixable? replaceable?

 

[Iliade]

I'd fix the old one or buy new; Used engines are invariably heartache - after all, why were they replaced in the first place?

If the Bukh's only issue is the gearbox, a used gearbox from a dead engine should be peanuts.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Is there anything specifically worn out about the Bukh that leads you to doubt it would do 30 hours? There are many out there that age and older still giving reliable service. (I seem to recall someone on here motoring his Bukh all the way across a calm Biscay (and stopping halfway to give it its regular service!), though I don't know how old it was.) Is the gearbox problem fixable? replaceable?

Its Scilly to Ushant and then down to Biscay thats my likely longest run and our last crossing was 32 hours motoring in fog and no wind. The Bukh clutch is slipping and engine starts badly despite "previous" owner having spent £2400 on rebuilding.

I had thought of ex ships lifeboat engine from Marine Services for £2800k as replacement as low hours, but all the fitters in Plymouth area where boat will be kept quote 1 weeks work and about £2000 to fit so price creeps up anyway.

 

[robertj]

If it was me and I wanted to keep costs to a minimum, I would fit a secondhand Bukh DV 24 from Marine Enterprises down in Dorset. The rational being it is a drop in replacement for the existing engine so requires no new shift, prop or alterations to fuel or exhaust systems so should be a doddle to fit yourself or in the few £'s to get someone to do it. You could try to part ex your old engine with them to reduce costs a bit further. I believe they list the DV24 for about £2750 for a complete package sub 250 hours on the clock.

I fitted one of their engines and it’s superb. The Bukh 24 I bought had 39hrs on the clock. So new really it runs like sewing machine.

 

[robmcg]

Its Scilly to Ushant and then down to Biscay thats my likely longest run and our last crossing was 32 hours motoring in fog and no wind. The Bukh clutch is slipping and engine starts badly despite "previous" owner having spent £2400 on rebuilding.

I had thought of ex ships lifeboat engine from Marine Services for £2800k as replacement as low hours, but all the fitters in Plymouth area where boat will be kept quote 1 weeks work and about £2000 to fit so price creeps up anyway.

The DV24 is a drop in replacement for the DV20. A week to do the job is comical. I would expect it to be a days work and no more than £5-600 at the most. Are these 'engineers' aware you are exchanging a like for like unit. I find it very hard to believe the exchange would cost the same as fitting a second hand Yanmar which will require a new exhaust and water inlet as they are different sizes to the Bukh, a new shift, new prop and I am suspecting some major alterations to the engine beds both width and height.

 

[robertj]

I did the change over on mine from the dv20- dv24.
I also changed the freshwater cooling heat exchanger etc etc., liftedbokd one out changed sundry kit and refitted in a week but I’m not an engineer.
Professionals would cut that in half easily.

 

[macd]

but I’m not an engineer.

Don't worry, Robert: neither are they, although some are fitter than others

 

[LittleSister]

engine starts badly despite "previous" owner having spent £2400 on rebuilding.

Can there be much left to sort, then?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Can there be much left to sort, then?

Could be host of problems. Who knows what neglect it has as "floating caravan" mover, it certainly wasnt used for voyaging as I understand it

 

[Yealm]

I changed my 40y Bukh dv20 for a new Beta 25 over winter. Done by Dan Lewis in Plymouth- he’s great.

The new engine’s fantastic - smoother, powerful and no smoky exhaust. Uses 1.3-1.6 litres/hour.

 

[robertj]

Could be host of problems. Who knows what neglect it has as "floating caravan" mover, it certainly wasnt used for voyaging as I understand it

The dv20 is notorious bad starter from cold. But as an engine it’s superb, like the 24 it’s an old fashioned heavily built motor which will motor all day flat out. You can but a cold start kit from Bukh which cures the starting problem completely. I had one on mine which never ever gave me problems starting.
if funds are available to replace with a beta engine would be best as these are not only a good motor but the beta company is without a doubt second to none with their help and back up. If anything happened to my Bukh I would replace with the beta without a shadow of a doubt.

 

[langstonelayabout]

The DV24 is a drop in replacement for the DV20. A week to do the job is comical. I would expect it to be a days work and no more than £5-600 at the most. Are these 'engineers' aware you are exchanging a like for like unit. I find it very hard to believe the exchange would cost the same as fitting a second hand Yanmar which will require a new exhaust and water inlet as they are different sizes to the Bukh, a new shift, new prop and I am suspecting some major alterations to the engine beds both width and height.

A day with crane hire would cost 5-600 GBP but remember you are looking at 'cost price', not 'selling price'. The engineer will want to make enough out of you to keep his Range rover running all through the winter and also contribute towards his wife's month-long Cunard cruise.

A well known company that fits Beta engines on the south coast wants GBP 600 just to align the engine and propshaft if you do everything else yourself...