Virgo voyager

[Tranona]

I had a virgo voyager for a short while with a 1GM10 which was plenty of grunt to get to hull speed without stressing it. A bigger engine would just be unnecessary weight to carry around. I'm 100% not in favour of outboards on the transom of sailing boats at sea. In a boat with a cockpit well it could be ok but even then I wonder about water sloshing around it if working on it at sea. Stick with an inboard diesel IMO

The 2GM is lighter than the Bukh that was fitted originally so not lugging around any significant extra weight. It does however have the big advantages over the 1GM of freshwater cooling and 2 cylinder smoothness. The additional power is not excessive.

 

[Adios]

The 2GM is lighter than the Bukh that was fitted originally so not lugging around any significant extra weight. It does however have the big advantages over the 1GM of freshwater cooling and 2 cylinder smoothness. The additional power is not excessive.

Extra 43kg. I don't know about fuel consumption but probably not much more if any at the same speed, presumably lower revs so queiter and yes should be smoother for being 2 cylinders but either way you have a diesel engine thumping away next to you its not going to be a night/day difference. The 1GM is more compact for working on but there is a decent amount of space and good access through the large cockpit sole cover so thats probably not a big issue. But then add extra parts and piping for a freshwater cooling system it won't feel as spacious as it did having a little 1GM sitting there. Either will do no doubt but just saying the 1GM was perfectly adequate and seemed well suited to the boat.

 

[Stemar]

If you're still concerned about having too much power or a second hand engine, I have a Snapdragon 24 of 1970 vintage. When I bought her, she had a very tired MD1 fitted. I managed to get it a little more energetic, but with the predictable consequences of making an tired, elderly person work harder than they're capable of. It was replaced with a 28 HP VP2003, for that best of reasons, it was free. The 2003, plus a dedicated starter battery is lighter than the mass of cast iron it replaced. It's now been in for around 17 years, still starts fine and the oil stays clean far longer than in any diesel car I've owned. Yes, you can get caught out, but a good second hand lump can work well.

Yes, it is way too powerful for the boat. I mostly cruise around 1900 rpm, which gives about 5 knots, and is very economical, but flat out she'll do 7, a full knot over hull speed, which is quite handy when you want to fight the tide into Portsmouth or Chichester harbours. I know I'm not working the engine hard enough, and so does the engine, which complains about the ill-treatment by smoking. I then give it a few minutes flat out, when it lays a smoke screen like a WW2 destroyer on the Murmansk run. The smoke clears, and everything's fine again for a few months. As long as too big an engine gets the Italian tune up from time to time, it'll be fine.