What is the best marine engine ever made

[hannahman]

Having experience of looking after a Mercedes OM636 I can say that they are also excellent engines. I know of one that is now 35 years old and has had nothing other than normal servicing. Not even the injectors have been out. Runs as smooth as the day it was made.

Similar story to a friend who had a 1968 11 ton Hillyard with an OM636, which he bought in 1972, and still owned right up until he passed away a couple of years ago. Other than having some hoses renewed at some stage, I don't recall the engine ever needed a spanner laid on it, and it still had its original paint and looked like new too!

Doug

 

[Capt Popeye]

Well seems to me that of the 'better' marine or marinised engines referred to in the comments above, reliability and servicing from a good specialist experienced Engineer or Engineering Company goes a long way towards a long satisfactory life. If the said engine was also supplied and fitted by these good Engineers, then so mush the better.

 

[seadog30]

+1 for the Dolphin

Its very compact, light, simple, very quiet and smooth.

Shame my current boat is to big for a Dolphin.

 

[Malo37]

Lightweight, smooth, fuel efficient, reliable - Yanmar

 

[johnalison]

+1 for the Dolphin

Its very compact, light, simple, very quiet and smooth.

Shame my current boat is to big for a Dolphin.

With added entertainment value as you cut the engine in harbour as you you approach another boat before engaging astern, although I think they may have added a gearbox in later versions.

 

[john_morris_uk]

The body of the starter motor is still the earth and its bolted to the block/gearbox. The block will still be earthed.

Not necessarily. It's possible to get insulated earth return starter motors.

 

[chrishelen]

Sabb for a proper marine engine designed for boat use, Perkins as a marinised industrial engine.

 

[ffiill]

Similar story to a friend who had a 1968 11 ton Hillyard with an OM636, which he bought in 1972, and still owned right up until he passed away a couple of years ago. Other than having some hoses renewed at some stage, I don't recall the engine ever needed a spanner laid on it, and it still had its original paint and looked like new too!

Doug

My OMC 636 will be 36 years old and still going strong.
Evolving from the WW2 German truck engine and fitted to both Unimogs and the first post WW2 merc .car through into the early 1960s
It has a long stroke with relatively low revs and designed high oil pressure.Mine still delivers about 80 psi and uses about a pint of oil every 100 hours!
It has an inline injector pump and wire plate oil filter.
Long may it live.

 

[hannahman]

My OMC 636 will be 36 years old and still going strong.
Evolving from the WW2 German truck engine and fitted to both Unimogs and the first post WW2 merc .car through into the early 1960s
It has a long stroke with relatively low revs and designed high oil pressure.Mine still delivers about 80 psi and uses about a pint of oil every 100 hours!
It has an inline injector pump and wire plate oil filter.
Long may it live.

Yes they saw a variety of uses. I've always fancied owning one of the 170/180D Ponton cars!

Doug

 

[KellysEye]

The Volvo MD series would be high if not top of the list. They were built like the proverbial brick outhouse and were not lifed in engine hours as modern engines are, they ran forever if properly maintained. I once asked Volvo how much it would cost to build an engine like the MD now compared to one costing 8,000 pounds and lifed at 8,000 hours. They said 15,000 pounds which is why they don't build MD the type of engines now they would be uncompetitive.

 

[basic]

Thorneycroft (BMC)

The one on my Moody was born in about 1975 and goes like a goodun.

Have fixed it (rarely) from Britain to Venezuela and parts between. Dogs danglys.

A+
another vote for BMC 1.5.
Mine is 40 years old. Starts first time and never falters. On its third Hurth gearbox but that's not the engines fault.

 

[NickRobinson]

Not too keen on the top line one which is a Doxford but the bottom engine is a B&W development of the old Harland and Woolf opposed piston 2 stroke. Lovely engines to run but all those extra bearings and eccentrics in the Crankcase could be pain. I once started one on Standby with an Indian Cleaner sitting on the piston, he was not amused. They were very well balanced you could get one moving and started using almost no starting air at all.

Happy Days

Brian

I attended the Doxford disposal auction on the Pallion shop floor, Sunderland. Florida based auctioneers and world wide buyers. Sad day-

 

[NickRobinson]

I suspect that you are guilty of a classic misuse of "disinterested ".

Another gramma skool boy, one of my pet hates too... (It'll be' apostro'p'h'es' next...)

 

[VO5]

The Volvo MD series would be high if not top of the list. They were built like the proverbial brick outhouse and were not lifed in engine hours as modern engines are, they ran forever if properly maintained. I once asked Volvo how much it would cost to build an engine like the MD now compared to one costing 8,000 pounds and lifed at 8,000 hours. They said 15,000 pounds which is why they don't build MD the type of engines now they would be uncompetitive.

+1

I have a Volvo MD17D, donk a donk it goes and never fails.