Yanmar 6LPA-STZP 315hp engines / Bravo 3 drives

[stefan_r]

Anyone got any experience of these engines and drives?

Am on the verge of buying a Sunseeker Superhawk with this package and have had an engine / drive survey that is "okay".

Wondering if there is more anecdotal evidence of these engines being good/bad/ugly or anything I might need to keep an eye out for.

cheers
stef

 

[Whitelighter]

As far as I have heard, the Yanmars are solid strong engines. Only thing to the negative is they perhaps are a little more fuel hungry than say a VP D6-310. The BIII drive has a reputation for eating its annodes, then eating itself if not watch. Saying that, I had a boat with a single BIII leg and never had an issue - but the boat was away from the marina on a swinging mooring and there was no leccy hooked up.

 

[spannerman]

Probably the most reliable engines on the market in that class, we never had any problems with them compared to the Volvo's we also sold. Yanmar had a few minor problems with exhaust gaskets leaking but they were recalled and replaced.
They always start first time, but are a little smokey on idle, but on the whole a very solid, strong reliable motor.
Just make sure it has a service history that is up to date, and note the valves need checking every 1000hrs according to Yanmars service schedule.

 

[Chris_d]

Personnaly I would always have Yanmars in preferace to Volvos, unfortunately we don't get much choice as Volvo have such a monopoly. Sounds like that boat has been re-engined, I don't think the superhawk had Yanmars from the factory, would be worth having the installation checked by a surveyor.

 

[stefan_r]

Cheers, very encouraging.

Interestingly they are original. the boat was originally sold in the US and I think at that time (1999) the Volvo KAD44 fell foul of California emmission requirements.

Let's see where the inevitable price negotiations get me but sounds good (and beter than Volvo!!??) so far!

stef

 

[stefan_r]

[ QUOTE ]

Just make sure it has a service history that is up to date, and note the valves need checking every 1000hrs according to Yanmars service schedule.

[/ QUOTE ]


hmmmm, yes...that's where the problems start.

The boat is a repossession and comes with no paperwork as the owner is inside doing time for tax evasion and fraud on a rather grand scale.

In addition both hour meters are bust...but overall condition of the boat suggests normal use only since 1999.

The boat is also significantly below UK market price so there is some fat in there.

First jobs will be to do a 1,000 hour service and do valves, timing belt etc etc to get a baseline service history.

 

[rlw]

I thought the big issues with this package is that the Bravo drives could not cope with the power from the yanmar and tend to brake down more often than they normally would. I think current models have a beefed up clutch.

Rob

 

[Mister_Smee]

I have just sold a Monterey 250 which had a yanmar 240hp engine on a bravo drive used her for the last two and a half years wothout any problems very reliable engine.

Good luck with the purchase

 

[stefan_r]

I had heard something like this before from a dealer who said that as long as you accelerate gently then is isn't an issue.

seems logical but might be utter arse.

When you say "new models" do you mean newer versions of the B3 drive that have uprated parts that I can wap into my existing drives if they go tits up
OR
new B3 drives with no ability to interchange?

cheers
stef

 

[duncan]

BIII has continued to evolve to handle more powerfull diesels and corrosion issues since 1999.

Some parts are upgradable - many are not, or require a larger upgrade eg gimbal bearing changed.

However - if it's all run happily so far I wouldn't worry! If it was going to fail it would have happened by now. Spannerman can comment better on this as his experience is extensive over this period.

 

[AJW]

The Yanmar 300/Bravo 3 (& 3x) combo has a bit of a history in RIB applications. A number of largeish (8-11m) RIBS have had well reported failures after 100-200hrs. Pal o mine has a 9.5m Scorpion Rib and IIRC has gone through 3 Bravo 3 drives. I know of another Redbay 11m twin engined RIB which has had a couple of failures. Arguably in a RIB the combination will get more stresses than in a motor cruiser. I also know of RIBs that have had no bother.

I guess if the boat is a good enough price then it might be worth taking the risk on the basis that replacing a drive might be something to budget for in the future. Total drive replacement btw can be accomplished by a skilled practicioner in around an hour including lift out and dropping back in. (We did this at Kyle of Lochalsh in an hour!)

AJ

 

[KevB]

Don't know anything about them other than they are noisy compared to volvo's equiv. Well on the boat I've been on with them fitted they were noisy....

 

[spannerman]

There has been a series of problems with the Yanmar/Bravo combination, and have personally replaced several collapsed drives, its the upper gears which fail and it has to do with the boat type and weight and which drive you use.
The Bravo III XR is a completely redesigned drive with beefed up upper gears and bearings and clutch.
One problem we had was to do with cooling, a Botnia Targe blew drive after a few hours after being re-engined from Volvo to Yanmar. When I opened it up it was almost bone dry inside and everything was blue from overheating and the external black paint was charred and bubbled as if someone had used an acetylene torch on it. The problem was that the new installation weighed less so when it was on the plane the top of the drive was well above the waterline and the oil on Bravo drives doesen't circulate while underway and get cooled like a Volvo does, so the top section got hotter and hotter til it burnt the paint on the outside!
We fitted and new drive and a drive shower to spray seawater over the top section and the boat is still running 3 yrs on. Its not for nothing all those fancy high speed set ups in Florida have drive showers, when you consider their seawater temp can be 28-30C.
The latest from Yanmar now is that Bravo II's should only be used with heavy semi displacement boats, and Bravo III's with lighter boats, or ones that actually plane, as there is less stress than with semi-dispacement boats that are always trying to get over the 'hump' but never quite make it. Which ties in with Mercruisers own reccomendations.
Regarding the Sunseeker, if its lasted from '99 to now then I think it will continue to do so as these drive failures generally happen very early on if its going to happen.