Replacing Yanmar 3gm30?

[dgadee]

I intend to spend time away from the UK in a year or so and am just wondering about engine replacement before I go (current 3gm30 seems to have done 2600 hours but runs well just some whilte smoke and unburnt fuel at startup). What do people tend to replace these with? Another Yanmar of the same size, something bigger, something different? Boat is 37 foot and 5.5 tonnes.

Also, what relationship is there between the advertised price and the negotiated price for a new engine? Perusing the sites I see advice to wait until the LBS before buying. Is that worthwhile?

My tendency is just to keep the current engine until something fatal happens to it, but perhaps that's not the best route (though the most comforting to someone who is reasonably tight).

 

[bobupanddown]

If you are interested my 3gm30 has over 4300 hours on it with no problems(may have had a top end overhaul many years ago)

 

[charles_reed]

I intend to spend time away from the UK in a year or so and am just wondering about engine replacement before I go (current 3gm30 seems to have done 2600 hours but runs well just some whilte smoke and unburnt fuel at startup). What do people tend to replace these with? Another Yanmar of the same size, something bigger, something different? Boat is 37 foot and 5.5 tonnes.

Also, what relationship is there between the advertised price and the negotiated price for a new engine? Perusing the sites I see advice to wait until the LBS before buying. Is that worthwhile?


My tendency is just to keep the current engine until something fatal happens to it, but perhaps that's not the best route (though the most comforting to someone who is reasonably tight).

If your 3GM30 has only done 2600 hrs it's less than 1/3 through its natural life.
My 2GM20 was a reconditioned unit when fitted by the builder to the pre-production prototype - I replaced it with a 3YM20 when it had done another 8,833 hrs.

I paid £2218 for the 3YM20 - about 20% off the then current price - it was cheaper to buy it in the UK (using Boat Show discount) and ship it to be fitted in Malta than to purchase in Malta.
You'll probably be able to get a marinised Kubota or Mitsubishi more cheaply than a Yanmar, very sound basic units, but variably well marinised.

The weakness of all the Yanmar GM units was, apparently, the cylinder head joint - so it might be advantageous to do a top-end overhaul and (if it's indirect cooled) service the heat-exchanger.

 

[yachtorion]

Seems a waste of money to replace a good engine... might be worth spending some money on getting it lifted out and thoroughly inspected and serviced though?

 

[dgadee]

Now those hours are indeed comforting. Many thanks.