RLM 32 restoration

[Piscator]

Looking to restore a RLM, currently using twin AQD21 on 270 legs. The interior bits I think I can deal with, but I am much less certain about the power aspect of things. Can you still get parts for the AQD21s and the legs? Going by what people write here, parts are either impossible to get or extremely expensive, so I think I am looking at repowering the boat as soon as one of the engines fails. When that happens I would like to upgrade the power rating a little bit -- within sanity -- to about 100-150 hp per engine. Given these goals and the fact that new VP engines are worth way more than the boat, what are my options?

Looking at used engines, it seems that outside of rare offers there are some trade sellers like Marine Enterprises.. incidentally they have TMD40As available, but has anyone bought from them or have an opinion? Is it caveat emptor as everywhere else? Would going for VP engines allow me to save on any other parts?

Car/van/truck engine marinization seems like another option and Lancing Marine get frequent mentions, but it seems that the list of engines they have kits for is quite small and the engines themselves are quite old (FSD engines are from 1980-1999!). Am I reading that wrong? Where would you source an engine for marinization from? I see a few Cummins 6BTs on everyone's favourite auction site and LM have kits for them, would that be an option or an overkill? Lastly, I have never opened an engine myself, though I am reasonably technically literate; is marinization something that one would attempt as a DIY project on their own, with help from folks at your yacht club?

Independently of which option I would go for, which parts from the existing setup could I reuse after replacing the engines? Specifically, gearbox, outdrive?

 

[Dino]

Here's a thread with lots of RLM info... RLM Marine Ltd. Info/history help
Re-engining a boat, especially a twin outdrive boat, requires either a lot of technical knowledge or money or often both. Old 270 legs are likely to need a full rebuild and adapting suitable engines will take a lot of work and a decent amount of money. Some people re-engine a twin to a more modern single engine.
If you haven't bought the boat yet and are just looking, consider something like this Fjord 30 Cabin for sale UK, Fjord boats for sale, Fjord used boat sales, Fjord Motor Boats For Sale FJORD CABIN CRUISER - Apollo Duck.
The engines and drives have been replaced and the interior and exterior just needs to be freshened up. I know a lot of DIY minded people try to buy a cheaper boat and add value over a few years rather than starting with a bigger capital outlay but it is often a false economy and ends up sitting in a boatyard or marina in an unusable state gathering bills. There are a few Project 31's for sale on Apolloduck for 10-12K with the smaller 75hp VP Diesels. They may be an easier project than a re-engine job.

 

[Piscator]

Decently looking boats of that type look like £10k-£20k, which is a budget I am happy with especially if spread out over a year. As you say, I am looking and trying to see what sort of money might be required, not trying to save on the overall cost of the boat but rather to have it rebuilt the way I want it and have guarantee that it was done properly. How much would leg rebuild cost, or replacing with used legs?

Switching twin diesel to a single is another option given that £/hp seems to go down with size of the engine, though requiring replacing the transom.. which might have to happen anyways, you never know. To some extent that "you never know" is what I am a bit afraid of and would prefer to drop a little money on something that I can check and refurbish. There were some auctions where you see the real price of a project boat: about £1k, less -- almost zero -- if you need to take it from the current existing mooring. At least I do have access to a very inexpensive mooring, so gathering bills is not an issue.

I have read the thread you mentioned, as well as some others. People mention lots of engines, but I am not sure where they source them. The Fjord looks nice, though it is some distance away (I am around tidal Thames).