Should I replace engine

[viva]

My gaff cutter is 20 years old and has a Yanmar 2GM, sea-water cooled, which runs fine, though it looks tatty and rusty but, hopefully, this is just superficial. Yesterday I was walking past the boatyard shed and there was a brand new Yanmar engine on the hard waiting to be fitted. It was one of those car showroom moments. A shiny new engine - impeller cover more accessible, uprated alternator etc etc. If it had had tyres I would have kicked them. The yard owner could see I was drooling and said he had a special deal with Yanmar until Dec and he would take out my rusting lump and install the shiney version for 8000 Euros (I live in France). He would keep old engine.
I bought the boat last year and unfortunately the previous owner had died. There is some evidence of annual servicing when the engine has been winterised. In general the French are not in to boat maintenance. I have no idea how many hours the engine has run.
So what do you think. Is it a good deal and is it worth doing? If I did change it is it likely the gearbox would give up in a couple of years?

Cons: 8000 Euros

Advantages: peace of mind, boat more saleable if I sell

Your thoughts much appreciated

 

[Pladdatoo]

which runs fine,

A bit of a clue there don't you think?

 

[richardh10]

Just what I was thinking.
Maybe just buy a can of paint for 8 euros!!

 

[Tam Lin]

How rich are you?

 

[mtb]

you can get cheaper new engines complete with gearbox !

but anyway I agree with all the others
why fix some thing thats not broken

 

[salar]

An afternoon with a wire brush and a tin of Hammerite would make that engine loook just as sellable. There is almost nothing to go wrong with an old diesel engine, they go on forever. The new ones have emission controls and have black boxes full of electronics that even the engineers won't touch without a laptop.

 

[Spyro]

is the boat the same age as the engine. If so it's not old. keep your money until something does go wrong unless the engine is underpowered for the boat then in that case it might be worth considering. I wouldn't get persuaded by the price. It's not a great bargain that you have to jump on.

 

[Sailfree]

If it aint broke don't fix it.

Fitting new engine may cause problems - alignment of shaft etc

 

[Marley's_Slave]

My boat's (2stroke) engine is 36 years old and runs sweet as a nut so I won't be changing it until it gives me more trouble than I can handle with simple mantenance - I wouldn't change an engine just because it's become a bit ugly. Obviously different if it was a wife, girlfriend etc.

 

[sarabande]

"keep the old engine" - and get his copain in the garage to paint it and sell it on as reconditioned, sans doute !

 

[PabloPicasso]

If it aint broke don't fix it.

Fitting new engine may cause problems - alignment of shaft etc

How many things could go wrong fitting a new engine. The answer is lots, alignment, wiring, damage to boat, fuel lines and so on. Even if you have more money than sense it's still madness..All to replace an engine that works?

8k is a lot of money. What else could you spend that on that would give you enjoyment?
A holiday
Amazing home entertainment system
New sail ( it is a sailing boat right?) so why worry about an engine
A jennecker or cruising shoot, a snuffer, parasail, new tender outboard and davits
Give 8 k to a deserving clause?
Sponsor someone
I could do my research into Parkinson's disease with 8k of financial support

I mean £8000 is a significant sum that could enhance your life, or help a lot of people if spent wisely

Please don't get your lovely sailing boat hacked around for no good reason for a shiny engine!

 

[KellysEye]

I'd be inclined to keep the old engine and spruce it up. One thing to check is if the new engine is a different size then you will usually need new engine mounts, a new prop shaft and prop and the cost will rocket. That's what happened when the new owner of our boat replaced the engine with a bigger one.

 

[Pladdatoo]

So the consensus is clearly "buy a new engine"!! �� NOT !

Perhaps the OP will let us know what s/he decides and whether such an overwhelming consensus was sufficiently convincing?

 

[ghostlymoron]

8000eu is a lot of money and you don't say what engine it is. You also have to factor in a couple of grand for fitting probably. So, unless you have money to burn or are concerned about your existing lump, the answer has got to be NO.

 

[Mataji]

I agree with all that's been said. 2 years ago I sold a Centaur which had a raw water cooled Yanmar 2GM that had been fitted in 1989. The engine ran perfectly. My replacement boat has the original engine -a Bukh Dv24 built in 1975. I don't know how many hours it had on it but I have run it for over 300 hours in 2 years and not had any trouble. Over the years I have seen many boats that have been out of commission with engine problems, and found that new engines (and new boats) are affected just as much as old boats.
If the engine starts giving trouble regularly then consider renewing it but until then carry on and remember, it is a sailing boat.

 

[Mataji]

I agree with all that's been said. 2 years ago I sold a Centaur which had a raw water cooled Yanmar 2GM that had been fitted in 1989. The engine ran perfectly. My replacement boat has the original engine -a Bukh Dv24 built in 1975. I don't know how many hours it had on it but I have run it for over 300 hours in 2 years and not had any trouble. Over the years I have seen many boats that have been out of commission with engine problems, and found that new engines (and new boats) are affected just as much as old boats.
If the engine starts giving trouble regularly then consider renewing it but until then carry on and remember, it is a sailing boat.

 

[mtb]

How many things could go wrong fitting a new engine. The answer is lots, alignment, wiring, damage to boat, fuel lines and so on. Even if you have more money than sense it's still madness..All to replace an engine that works?

8k is a lot of money. What else could you spend that on that would give you enjoyment?
A holiday
Amazing home entertainment system
New sail ( it is a sailing boat right?) so why worry about an engine
A jennecker or cruising shoot, a snuffer, parasail, new tender outboard and davits
Give 8 k to a deserving clause?
Sponsor someone
I could do my research into Parkinson's disease with 8k of financial support

I mean £8000 is a significant sum that could enhance your life, or help a lot of people if spent wisely

Please don't get your lovely sailing boat hacked around for no good reason for a shiny engine!

agree with this he should give you the money instead and spend the rest of his life knowing he did his bit to help others

 

[30boat]

Take the engine out,wire brush it ,treat with rust converter and respray with hammerite or some other good paint. That'll be €800 for the advice,thanks...

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

My 41-yearold Centurion still has the original MD2b. I was tempted to replace it with a new Beta, offered for just over €5,000 and doing the installation myself. I could not justify the change because the Volvo (UGH!!!) still runs well apart from a slight oil leak from a silly labyrinth ring seal on the gearbox output. When the engine starts to give trouble then I shall re-consider.

OTOH my previous boat (1976 Centaur) had a little MD6 (or MD7?) that was giving trouble and was going to cost over £900 in spares alone...those that I could find, anyway. In that scenario I opted to change for a fresh-water cooled Lombardini and never regretted that decision.

Bottom line is always how much is the entire installation going to cost and how does it compare to the value of the boat. Only you can answer that one.

 

[Ruffles]

I think it comes down to peace of mind. You won't enjoy a week sailing if you're constantly worrying about the engine breaking down. But that's true of a brand new engine as well as an old one.

So here's an idea. Change the oil and go out and thrash the pants off it for at least four hours. If it doesn't blow up then it's good for a good few more years. If it does then the decision has been made!