Re-engine for Freeman 24 and Birchwood 25

Big John

Big John

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Hi,
My question is really aimed at owners of these boats who have swapped out their old petrol engine for new diesel engines such as Beta or Nanni.

Two friends, one has seized his engine, Ford Kent 1600 XFlow with "J" type gearbox on his Birchwood 25 and is now thinking rather than repair swap out for say a Beta 38 and the other has a fully working Ford Kent 1600 XFlow with Hurth gearbox in his Freeman 24 but due to scarcity of petrol on a long trip up river he is considering to change to diesel. There is also a safety factor getting away from petrol.

Their concerns are noise and vibration.

Hope you can help with any experience of such an exercise.
 
I seem to remember a forum member (Nickcred?) fitting a Nanni in a Birchwood 25 successfully.

I had a Birchwood 25 (Carli) which had a Watermota Sea Panther diesel... it was not bad on the noise and vibration front.
 
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I've been quite impressed how quiet those little Beta's are in small boats, although never as smooth as a petrol. But you can do amazing things with sound proofing and boxing the engine into a tighter space so that it doesn't turn the underfloor areas into a giant speaker.
I know those old Crossflows are simple things and can be kept going, but there is nothing like a new engine to transform a boat. With larger seagoing twin engine boats its a massive cost and rarely worth it unless you intend to keep the boat a long time, but with a small Freeman and the relatively low cost of the new engine it has to be a good move.
 
Hello Byron, Chris-d and Ramage,

I have tried to get in contact with Nickcred but he is not answering the email link. Do you know the name of the boat and I may be able to trace the new owner?

Yes I have seen a Nanni fitted in a Freeman 32 and you would not know it was a diesel running. It is was well sound insulated but it is a lot heavier boat all round.

Birchwood 25's and Freeman 24's are not as sturdy and the Freeman 24 has half the engine in the cabin.

There is Birchwood 25 in Norfolk but that is fitted with a 3 cylinder Beta. Really need some one more local to the Thames area.

But thanks for your feedback.
 
The boat was called Tristran or Tristram?

If you search posts by Nickcred you may find where he posts about the re-engine get process.
 
Found it but now I need to find the owner.
Tristan Built by Birchwood 25 in 1978 - Length : 7.6 metres ( 24 feet 11 inches ) - Beam : 2.8 metres ( 9 feet 2 inches )
Powered by an Inboard Diesel engine with a power of 39 HP. Registered with Environment Authority - Thames Region number 70014 as a Private Motor Boat. ( Last updated on Thursday 23rd May 2013 )
 
Have you called Sheridan Marine and picked their brains? They seem to be the fountain of knowledge on all things Freeman. Or try the owners club?
 
Actionmat said:
Have you called Sheridan Marine and picked their brains? They seem to be the fountain of knowledge on all things Freeman. Or try the owners club?
Click to expand...

The friend with the Freeman is doing just that but I think they have more experience with the older original diesel engines rather than new installations.
I think there is a Freeman owners club on Facebook and one other on the web.
 
I thought that Sheridon advertised a specific swap from the old Ford Anglia/ Cortina petrols to a modern diesel?!
Call them. No-one else knows more.
 
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