Replacing with Rebuild used marine engine

Nina Lucia

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About 25 years ago I replaced our Volvo Penta 2002 with a rebuilt one from “Marine Enterprise”. We are very happy, and the engine has never had any problems.
I also recommended Marine Enterprise to a couple of friends, and they had a good experience with them.
Now looks like they have disappeared.
Any recommendations for a similar company or dealer? We are now toying with the idea to replace VP2003T with D2-40 or D2-50 on our Najad 36 based on South Coast.

Thank you
 
About 25 years ago I replaced our Volvo Penta 2002 with a rebuilt one from “Marine Enterprise”. We are very happy, and the engine has never had any problems.
I also recommended Marine Enterprise to a couple of friends, and they had a good experience with them.
Now looks like they have disappeared.
Any recommendations for a similar company or dealer? We are now toying with the idea to replace VP2003T with D2-40 or D2-50 on our Najad 36 based on South Coast.

Thank you
I think you will find a Yanmar 3JH40 like this yanmar.com/marine/product/engines/3jh40/ a better replacement for your boat. A fellow club member with the same boat as yours went through this exercise last year and found Beta and Volvo being 4 cylinders are too big and need significant changes to the woodwork and engine box to fit. Very pleased with the outcome and way better than the old 2003T The only other 3 cylinder is the old Volvo 2040 which would have been a good alternative in its day but has been out of production for over 20 years. You will find prices new are much the same as Volvo I see Shaun lists the Yanmar at a 15% discount but you will probably get just as good a deal from your local Yanmar dealer particularly if they do the installation as well.
 
I think you will find a Yanmar 3JH40 like this yanmar.com/marine/product/engines/3jh40/ a better replacement for your boat. A fellow club member with the same boat as yours went through this exercise last year and found Beta and Volvo being 4 cylinders are too big and need significant changes to the woodwork and engine box to fit. Very pleased with the outcome and way better than the old 2003T The only other 3 cylinder is the old Volvo 2040 which would have been a good alternative in its day but has been out of production for over 20 years. You will find prices new are much the same as Volvo I see Shaun lists the Yanmar at a 15% discount but you will probably get just as good a deal from your local Yanmar dealer particularly if they do the installation as well.
Thank you, I'll definitely look into that option.
 
Be aware that some secondhand engines are sold as “refurbished” when all they have had done is a respray to make them look new. I’m not for one moment suggesting or hinting that company mentioned above does this, but be careful if you look at other suppliers.
 
Thank you, I heard a story like that, the problem is the cost of a brand new one, or another option is to keep the devil I know 😂
 
Thank you, I'll definitely look into that option.
Sorry I speed read your original - my friend's boat is a Malo not a Najad, although suspect the space problem will be the same. The 2003T was attractive at the time because of its small size for the HP. Good luck with your search - decent modern used engines are like hens teeth as I found out when I did the same thing recently and ended up with a new Beta. The incremental cost of new rather than used unless it is a direct replacement is much smaller than you think unless you do all the time consuming work of installation and modification yourself. You will find if you look closely at the Volvo D2 engines all the service points are reversed compared with the 2003 with the filters on the left hand side and electrics and exhaust on the right which might cause access problems. Lots to think about when re-engine with a different engine
 
Be aware that some secondhand engines are sold as “refurbished” when all they have had done is a respray to make them look new. I’m not for one moment suggesting or hinting that company mentioned above does this, but be careful if you look at other suppliers.
Very much this - I’d recommend the OP do a search on here. There was a post last year about a firm, selling ‘reconditioned’ engine that blew up after only a handful of running hours. The ‘recondition’ was a paint and check to see it started.
 
Sorry I speed read your original - my friend's boat is a Malo not a Najad, although suspect the space problem will be the same. The 2003T was attractive at the time because of its small size for the HP. Good luck with your search - decent modern used engines are like hens teeth as I found out when I did the same thing recently and ended up with a new Beta. The incremental cost of new rather than used unless it is a direct replacement is much smaller than you think unless you do all the time consuming work of installation and modification yourself. You will find if you look closely at the Volvo D2 engines all the service points are reversed compared with the 2003 with the filters on the left hand side and electrics and exhaust on the right which might cause access problems. Lots to think about when re-engine with a different engine
Thanks, Beta or Vetus were all ways on my my mind, Volvo Penta would be ideal because off the propeller, and we always had Volvo on board of various vessels, so I am familiar with them even they have some faults. Yanmar sounds good too.
 
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Be aware that some secondhand engines are sold as “refurbished” when all they have had done is a respray to make them look new. I’m not for one moment suggesting or hinting that company mentioned above does this, but be careful if you look at other suppliers.

Yes the new paint on both the pallet and the engine does raise suspicion!
 
Thanks, Beta or Vetus were all ways on my my mind, Volvo Penta would be ideal because off the propeller, and we always had Volvo on board of various vessels, so I am familiar with them even they have some faults. Yanmar sounds good too.
You will probably have to change the propeller or at least have it repitched if you fit a D2 40 and definitely if you change to a D2 50 (not a good idea anyway as you don't need the power) depending on which reduction ratio you specify.
 
I know its not OP's intention .. but here's my story !

Perkins 4-99 seized .... what to do ? Thought about sticking outboard on back of boat ... but yard then offered me a 'scrap' engine sitting on a pallet at back of shed .... Perkins 4-107. A straight drop in for the engine beds ...

It had sat there for years after being taken out of a Rustler .. owner didn't like the smoke it made ....

Yard said 250 quid ..... sight as is.

I spoke with Alan - resident Diesel guy ... and he reckoned it was a viable lump ... just a bit smoky ... he'd taken it out of the previous boat. He asked if I wanted it cleaned up ... painted / serviced etc ... I said no - just check that ir runs ... change the oil / filters and if it runs - we fit.

Engine in ... of I went to give it a harbour run ... Yep - she smoked .... so open up the throttle ... give it a real thrash ... smoke started to reduce ... but engine ran smooth as anything ... instant response ... just over 9kts in a 4 ton sailboat.

Over a number of outings - the engine stopped smoking .. except for the start up and for 5 minutes or so after. That engine has been pushing that boat along without a hint of trouble for about 20yrs ..... it looks like a lump of rust sitting there ... but who cares when it runs so well ??
 
The prop roataion question can be simply solved by choosing the right gearbox. A PRM 150, as I fitted in one of my boats, happily works in either direction. In that boat, a left hand prop was essential as the shaft tube, and P bracket were both slightly offset. This allowed the shaft to be drawn past the skeg and when powering ahead no corrective rudder was required.
 
You will probably have to change the propeller or at least have it repitched if you fit a D2 40 and definitely if you change to a D2 50 (not a good idea anyway as you don't need the power) depending on which reduction ratio you specify.
I guess the new propeller, as well
 
Someone suggested downsizing the engine from the Volvo Penta 2003T 43HP to Yanmar 3YM30AE 29HP. Will those be good options?
Thank you
 
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