Who to call for reasonably priced engine fitting in Kent?

[DangerousPirate]

I am considering buying a new engine and fit it in a boat. Previous engine was a Yanmar 2GM20, whhich is out now but all the cabling, gearbox etc is still there and, But thinking about putting a Beta16 instead. Does anyone know how much to expect cost wise?

I have googled a bit, and anywhere I called no one picked up, and I didn't get a call back either. Emails also seem to go unanswered. (bit weird).

 

[[70521]]

I am considering buying a new engine and fit it in a boat. Previous engine was a Yanmar 2GM20, whhich is out now but all the cabling, gearbox etc is still there and, But thinking about putting a Beta16 instead. Does anyone know how much to expect cost wise?

I have googled a bit, and anywhere I called no one picked up, and I didn't get a call back either. Emails also seem to go unanswered. (bit weird).

You have chosen the busiest time of year to contact people. They will be working flat out as everybody will want their boat in the water in the next eight weeks.

 

[DangerousPirate]

You have chosen the busiest time of year to contact people. They will be working flat out as everybody will want their boat in the water in the next eight weeks.

That might be the reason. Didn't think of that. Still don't know how many Diamonds this'll gonna cost roughly. Many people DIY this, but I won't do that.

 

[pioneer]

I used Fowey Harbour Marine to replace my 1GM10 with a Beta 14. They travelled to the Medway to do the job, and did several other jobs on the one trip to the area and so their costs were reduced and this was reflected in the final invoice. Very happy with the final result. You can see a number of their projects on their website - mine is the MacWester one. Certainly worth a chat. No connection just a satisfied customer.

 

[Tranona]

That might be the reason. Didn't think of that. Still don't know how many Diamonds this'll gonna cost roughly. Many people DIY this, but I won't do that.

Too much - unless the boat is very valuable. roughly £6-7K. However a Beta 16 is not perhaps a good replacement for a 2GM unless the boat was overpowered in the first place. Most 2GMs are replaced by Beta 20s or similar, or even 25s because the original installation was underpowered. When the 2GM was popular there was limited competition and it was often put in boats that were too heavy as it was substantially cheaper than the proper 20hp engines from other suppliers.

As said you have picked the wrong time. I have just been through the same exercise (although bigger engine) and last December nobody could quote for work before April, partly the backlog of work from last year and partly a shortage of engines.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

Not to try and put a damper on your plans, but I enquired about a Beta 50 last week, and was told the they are taking orders for September and October 2020. This was back up by my local Beta agent, who said Beta's are almost impossible to get hold of. I'd check with Beta about the delivery time before, looking for a company to fit one.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Not to try and put a damper on your plans, but I enquired about a Beta 50 last week, and was told the they are taking orders for September and October 2020. This was back up by my local Beta agent, who said Beta's are almost impossible to get hold of. I'd check with Beta about the delivery time before, looking for a company to fit one.

I never bought a new engine before, so yeah. Seems like a lot of fun already. ha. I saw Beta Engine offers installation? I wrote them and asked for a quote, let's see what they tell me.

In worst case maybe score a used one in good condition and get it installed. But I still need to know how expensive that's gonna be roughly. That's the main issue here. 20% of the engine price? 50%? 500%? Some people tell me only a couple hundred quid to fit it, others tell me it was more than their new engine worth?

Clueless about the market really. Ugh. I think the actualfitting can wait a little (within reason.), it's under no time pressure. Price really is more important, I think.

 

[Tranona]

I never bought a new engine before, so yeah. Seems like a lot of fun already. ha. I saw Beta Engine offers installation? I wrote them and asked for a quote, let's see what they tell me.

In worst case maybe score a used one in good condition and get it installed. But I still need to know how expensive that's gonna be roughly. That's the main issue here. 20% of the engine price? 50%? 500%? Some people tell me only a couple hundred quid to fit it, others tell me it was more than their new engine worth?

Clueless about the market really. Ugh. I think the actualfitting can wait a little (within reason.), it's under no time pressure. Price really is more important, I think.

Yep! The market has changed dramatically in the last year. I started looking at my project last spring when we could begin moving around again. I expected if I managed to find a boat that was right it would need an engine upgrade. At that time engines were freely available - for example a choice of 6 used Volvo D1 30s at half the price of a new one and new Vetus engines at substantial discounts. By the time I bought my boat in November these had all disappeared and I was getting quotes as already suggested - long delivery on popular new engines, fitters booked up for months and no decent used engines anywhere. My current plan is having the existing engine refurbished as it is basically sound but scruffy and not well installed. Even for this relatively simple job, unlikely to be completed before May.

Be aware that changing engines is often far more complicated and expensive than it first appears (I have done it twice myself). Inevitably you find 40 year old bits that are worn or not compatible with the new engine and easy to see a grand disappearing in electrics, controls, shafts, props, exhaust, insulation and so on. Not necessarily all of them, although both times I bit the bullet and replaced just about everything on the basis that if you are spending £5k+ on an engine why rely on critical old parts. When looking at re-engined boats (like the one I have bought) I have been appalled at many of the installations - perfectly good engines but crap fuel systems, cobbled together electrics, inappropriate exhausts and so on. Engines are the major source of problems with sailing boats as any follower of this forum will find and almost always down to poor installation and maintenance.

 

[DownWest]

I recently changed a 2GM20 for a Beta 16. Had to re-drill the engine bearers and put 30mm spacers under the flex mountings. It was also further back and the cross over exhaust supplied to make it easier to use the existing water trap and output hose, resulted in needing a bulge in the rear housing in the stern cabin. For some reason the PCD of the flex coupling was slightly different to the shaft flange, so drilled new holes in the flange ( marked in the lathe, then drilled in the pillar drill) . Water inlet just required a slightly larger hose from the strainer.
It was done on the water, but no particular difficulties with that. Lifted them in and out with a hoist on the boom.
On power: The Yanmar is about 18hp, while the Beta is 16, so not so far off.

 

[Laysula]

I appreciate that you do not wish to do it yourself,you can do things like clean and paint the engine bay, fit new or better soundproofing etc before hand. And as Tranona said look at uprating or replacing ancillaries your self. You can often source them at a better price than the installer may charge you.

 

[ghostlymoron]

Not to try and put a damper on your plans, but I enquired about a Beta 50 last week, and was told the they are taking orders for September and October 2020. This was back up by my local Beta agent, who said Beta's are almost impossible to get hold of. I'd check with Beta about the delivery time before, looking for a company to fit one.

Have you got hour dates mixed up September 2020 was a year and a half ago
Sailing GBU ordered their Beta about a month ago and had it delivered to the Dominican Republic last week. Looking forward to video of fitting on YouTube.

 

[DangerousPirate]

So, I just got off a call with Beta Marine, they will soon give me the contacts of a Dealer near me, and they will do installations.. As a rough estimate I have been told that it's about 1-2k on top of the engine cost for all together, but I am waiting on confirmation for that.

That would be within in the given budget for me.

I appreciate that you do not wish to do it yourself,you can do things like clean and paint the engine bay, fit new or better soundproofing etc before hand. And as Tranona said look at uprating or replacing ancillaries your self. You can often source them at a better price than the installer may charge you.

I am not going to do it myself for a number of reasons. But mainly I have seen many butched up jobs on boats (electric, plumbing etc etc) and know that I might be able to do it, but I am not sure that I will be able to do it well. Don't wanna end up doing a job where people later shake their heads at. Thinking of my own boat here with the terrible engine bay where everything was fitted backwards and is barely accessible for maintenance and servicing. Not to mention the problems of potentially doing something wrong...

Rather pay a little more and don't have to worry about all that. (if it's within reason of course.)

 

[Aeolus]

So, I just got off a call with Beta Marine, they will soon give me the contacts of a Dealer near me, and they will do installations.. As a rough estimate I have been told that it's about 1-2k on top of the engine cost for all together, but I am waiting on confirmation for that.

That would be within in the given budget for me.

I hope you find that the quote is in line with Beta's estimate. Be prepared for it being much higher. When I had my MD7a replaced with a Beta 20 10 years ago by an authorised dealer, the installation plus ancillaries cost was approximately the same as the purchase cost.

 

[DangerousPirate]

I hope you find that the quote is in line with Beta's estimate. Be prepared for it being much higher. When I had my MD7a replaced with a Beta 20 10 years ago by an authorised dealer, the installation plus ancillaries cost was approximately the same as the purchase cost.

And here I thought I finally got an estimate, that I can work with. All so complicated, I wanna spend money, can't be that difficult to get someone to tell me how much

Edit: So, I opened the thread because I wasn't sure what ballpark to play in with this, and had a hard time getting calls back. But if anyone is finding this thread looking for themselves: The actual estimate I got, including the new Beta16 engine, would be about 7,5k. Can vary obviously.

 

[Tranona]

And here I thought I finally got an estimate, that I can work with. All so complicated, I wanna spend money, can't be that difficult to get someone to tell me how much

Until they see the boat they can't work out what they can retain and re-use and it is these things that cost as I outlined above. at least £1k for labour and you can easily get through twice that on extra (essential) components.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Until they see the boat they can't work out what they can retain and re-use and it is these things that cost as I outlined above. at least £1k for labour and you can easily get through twice that on extra (essential) components.

Hm, true, true. It might be less expensive to get a yanmar 2gm again, then most stuff can remain as just the old engine was fubar

 

[DownWest]

I still have the Yanmar I pulled out.... Fresh head, new injectors, rings and ss exhaust elbow...

 

[Pye_End]

Hm, true, true. It might be less expensive to get a yanmar 2gm again, then most stuff can remain as just the old engine was fubar

If you are going to spend significant money on your boat, then best to put in what you really want, even if it is not the cheapest option. Boats are not maintained for their economy but for love, else you wouldn't have one!

When I re-engineered, whilst the engine was out, the mild steel diesel tank got changed for a stainless. This was the biggest of the unexpected spends, but there were a couple of other smaller ones.

 

[Tranona]

Hm, true, true. It might be less expensive to get a yanmar 2gm again, then most stuff can remain as just the old engine was fubar

Unlikely you will find one. They have been out of production for over 20 years and used ones are rare - at least in good condition, although they can be refurbished economically if not too far gone.

Speak to Cellar Marine in Cornwall who are the experts on older Yanmars cornwallmarine.com/component/userprofile/258/view/marine-engineers-168/cellar-marine-ltd-581/index.html

You don't say whether it is a fresh water cooled version which is the better one, not what boat it is in. this would be helpful to give advice on alternatives.

 

[DangerousPirate]

Unlikely you will find one. They have been out of production for over 20 years and used ones are rare - at least in good condition, although they can be refurbished economically if not too far gone.

Speak to Cellar Marine in Cornwall who are the experts on older Yanmars cornwallmarine.com/component/userprofile/258/view/marine-engineers-168/cellar-marine-ltd-581/index.html

You don't say whether it is a fresh water cooled version which is the better one, not what boat it is in. this would be helpful to give advice on alternatives.

Sea water cooled for a P700.

But if I can't find a 2GM20 as a replacement I will push for the Beta16 instead, I like what I read about Betas. But it comes down to costs, too, and in the end it's a sailboat, and the engine is just to get in and out, and push if the wind is unfavourable. It's not overly esential, and whether there will be a Beta16 or not - if the engine works the captain will be happy.