Thoughts on engine re-powering

Nostrodamus

Nostrodamus

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We have a 20 year old volvo MD 22 PB (59hp) which we may want to change.

I have always felt that with 2 alternators, a raw water pump and sail drive the true horsepower delivered to the prop is far less making the boat under powered.

I have looked around at the various options including a 75hp (Volvo or Yanmar) or the 59hp Beta. All three engines are about 2.5l and I don't want turbo. I am also put off another volvo because of stratospheric aftersales parts and always felt they were a company who care more about profits than customers.

Although the added HP initially seemed the best way to go I am still attracted to the Beta 60 because it is low revving with lots of torque.

Someone also mentioned that having more HP is sometimes worse as you are often running the engine slower than you should do.

Our boat is 45 ft and approx 15 tonnes.

I would really appreciate any thoughts.
 
It may be underpowered, but nothing to do with the fact that it is a saildrive. A Beta 60 will be no more "powerful" if it is rated the same. However, the challenge you face is the fact that it is a saildrive. You may not be able to get an engine to mate up to your saildrive - nor is it a particularly good idea to mate a new engine to an old saildrive, particularly if you opt for more power. A replacement drive on its own is over £4k, close on 50% of the cost of a complete engine and drive. However you are stuck with a saildrive of some sort as converting to shaft drive is a major undertaking.

So the only realistic options are a Yanmar or a Volvo. A new Volvo package will be fairly straightforward swap, but a Yanmar will need a new mounting bed bonded in. If your current engine is in good running order you will probably be able to get a significant part exchange allowance against a new package from a Volvo dealer.
 
Tranona,
Just getting volvo to reply to a request for a price on their engines means I have heard nothing. Beta replied within 10 minutes including the fact that you can specify the engine mounting distances so it will fit. There also do a direct mounting kit (supplied with the engine) to mate with the volvo sail drive. The sail drive is only 5 years old as it was replaced and is a volvo 130 which is actually suited to a lower revving engine rather than the MD222. I did not know volvo will take your old engine in part exchange.. thanks for your reply and the information.
 
Nostrodamus said:
We have a 20 year old volvo MD 22 PB (59hp) which we may want to change.







Someone also mentioned that having more HP is sometimes worse as you are often running the engine slower than you should do.

Our boat is 45 ft and approx 15 tonnes.

I would really appreciate any thoughts.
Click to expand...

I recently read what seemed like an authoritative article on diesels which stated that as long as the engine was in gear and driving the prop you would have no problem with bore glazing or polishing. Out of gear or just charging the batteries was a different matter. I seldom run our VP 2002 above 2000 rpm and we've owned it for 13 out of its 29 years and it's fine - excellent compression and very little oil consumption.
 
The striking thing about this thread is the suggestion that Yanmar prices are cheaper than Volvo Penta. Not sure about Beta prices.

If you don't go to a VP main dealer, the VP prices are as reasonable/expensive as any as far as I can see. When I rebuilt our VP2040 I compared prices for pistons and bearings etc between VP (from Keypart or Volspec) and Perkins (the base engine) prices. They were within a few pence of each other.

The specialist items can be eye wateringly expensive though, but I wonder if that's true of all manufacturers/marinisers?
 
The advantage with Beta, Nanni and all the others that are based on a Kubota base engine is that (apart from the marinising bits) you can find most other parts from Kubota at 'agriculture' prices instead of 'marine'. My boat still has the original Volvo (MD2) that was installed 43 years ago; should I ever need to change it I would almost certainly choose Beta.
 
The beta engine specs are as follows.... I am still awaiting replies from volvo and Yanmar.

We offer our Beta 60 as follows: -

Beta 60 heat exchanger cooled bob tail engine.
Wet exhaust outlet.
12 volt electric start.
70 amp alternator.
No gearbox but with adaptor kit for existing Volvo 130S Saildrive.
Special feet to suit existing GRP base. (Attached drawing needs to be completed)
Panel with tachometer, abv and 3m loom.
Shallow sump.
Flexible mounts.
Sump drain pump.
5 Year warranty.
Tri-Wall packing.
Delivery in the UK.
 
Colvic Watson of this parish recently re-engined using a marinised JCB engine. His boat is only a bit chunkier than yours. Worth a PM to him to glean some info ?
 
Nostrodamus said:
Tranona,
Just getting volvo to reply to a request for a price on their engines means I have heard nothing. Beta replied within 10 minutes including the fact that you can specify the engine mounting distances so it will fit. There also do a direct mounting kit (supplied with the engine) to mate with the volvo sail drive. The sail drive is only 5 years old as it was replaced and is a volvo 130 which is actually suited to a lower revving engine rather than the MD222. I did not know volvo will take your old engine in part exchange.. thanks for your reply and the information.
Click to expand...

Volvo will not deal direct with you, but through a dealer. If you do go the Beta route then go bigger than 60hp. A HP is a HP - torque really has little to do with. The propeller only understands HP and shaft speed it receives. The Beta 60 is much the slightly bigger capacity than your current engine, but revs to only 2700- 3000 instead of 4000, so you will need a new propeller. Don't expect assuming both props are optimum that you will see any difference in speed.

If you go up a size, the Beta 80 is a much bigger engine, both capacity and physically, whereas the Volvo 75 is the same size as the 55 and similar in physical size to your current engine. Not sure I would want to put 80hp through the drive that you have - the larger Volvo has the beefed up 150S drive. It is also a slow revving engine unlike your current engine.

The current UK list price for a D2 75 with saildrive, but no prop is just over £10k retail incl VAT. No doubt discounts will be available and part exchange!
 
Nostrodamus said:
I also know someone else who replaced the same engine as mine with the beta 60 on a similar boat and is now cruising at a knot to a knot and a half faster and said it was a pretty easy fit... what I don't know if it is worth going for a bigger engine or is that just wasting money when the smaller one will do.
http://followtheboat.com/diesel-or-hybrid-engine-on-a-boat-repowering-considerations/
Click to expand...

However his boat is shaft drive and the engine was well past its sell by date.
 
My experience of Beta is very positive. I re-engine with a Beta 25 several years ago, replacing a BMC 1.5 on a shaft drive, Beta made special feet and the overall spec was superior to other comparable engines. Excellent service from Beta over the years and their spares prices are very reasonable compared with reports of VP spares prices.
 
It is one of the reasons I asked the question.. so as not to spend money for the sake of it. Currently the Beta 60 is the biggest engine they do that will fit my sail drive and as it (my sail drive leg) is only 5 years old it seems stupid buying another. The 130 leg is made with a gear ratio to work with the newer engines which are slower revving whereas my current engine is higher revving making it a bit like driving in a high gear. I do hear good reports of beta but buying spares for my current Volvo has put me off them. They are good engines, just the customer care and aftersales is rubbish.
 
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