Yanmar, Volvo or Beta ?

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Iain_H

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After all my best efforts, I have lost another season on my boat. I need a new engine.

/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I was going for a yanmar (14Hp). But I've just been trying to be sold on a beta.

Heavy investment. Your thoughts please?

Cheers
 
i installed a Nanni 4150 ( expensive/ over-priced version of the Beta 4150) you wont regret it.
the Kubota engine is in most building plant these days, for a reason, they work.
give it fresh oil + filter every season it will out last you.
i spoke with a "Plant Fitter" who said they have engines with 6000hrs on the clock & only ever changed oil + filters /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
i installed a Nanni 4150 ( expensive version of the Beta 4150) you wont regret it.
the Kubota engine is in most building plant these days, for a reason, they work.
give it fresh oil + filter every season it will out last you.
i spoke with a "Plant Fitter" who said they have engines with 6000hrs on the clock & only ever changed oil + filters /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

The engine that's gone on me is a Nanni.

Cooling system. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I've no idea how old it was. Told it had years to run. Was leaking since the day I got it.

Still, so far, trust you on the Beta guys.
 
No complaint with our Yanmar - it only has 200 hours on it though in 4 years. If you have a saildrive be aware that the Yanmar diaphragm seals are on a 2 year replacement officially (we did ours last winter) - £500 parts and the same labour. I think Volvo are rated longer. Used to have a Beta - totally reliable in a motor boat for quite high hours. Not much help there really /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
I replaced a Volvo with a Beta 20hp about seven years ago - brilliant. Needed to chnage the shaft and propeller though, but had worked superbly and the guy I sold the boat to is very content withe the engine.
 
interesting comments - we have had 2 volvos (both 2000 series) and not impressed with them such that if buying secondhand would try and avoid-not sure if newer designs much improved but volvo dealers and spares never very impressive for us, had 2 yanmars and so far - each superb, feedback on betas excellent but no personal experience (yet)
 
The smaller Nanni's and Betas are THE SAME ENGINE!

The only difference is the marinising and paint job that they get.

When we re-engined on a previous boat, the prices were within pence of each other and the Nanni had the nicer engine control/display.

Pay your money and take your choice, but I don't believe that there is much to choose between any of the modern diesels!
 
Beta and Nanni the same engine for smaller models. Yes the base engine is the same, (a Kubota) but there are differences. From my research, the beta is heavier cause it adds in some weight on the flywheel to help smooth the vibrations. Beta also have done a lot of work to make re-engining to a Beta as easy as possible, with attachment adaptors.
 
Whilst it is traditional to knock Volvos, mine has done over 6000 hours on it's second instrument panel, I have no idea it's true 'mileage'.

If I were re-engining, my primary concern would be cost (what's the best fit and greatest compatibility with what is left behind), because one thing is for sure, any new engine looked after properly is not going to be too much trouble despite irrational predjudice, or even your own past experience.

I've no idea what you have had fitted before, but few alternatives will be so much cheaper to buy the unit to make a re-jig of the engine compartment and / or engine beds worthwhile, so a direct replacement could make sense if available.

As witnessed on these forums, and contrary to the resounding positivity for cetrain brands on this thread, all engines can and will eventually develop faults.

I would suggest that as a function of quantity fitted and average age of installation, Volvo can't be all that bad. They surely outnumber any other, perhaps ALL other brands combined, and exist in large quantities aged 30 years old or more. I don't think some of the other brands mentioned so far have quite that historical presence.

Most of the predjudice against Volvo units seem to be from those who have suffered problems with an ancient Volvo unit, replaced it with a Ku/beta/mar which has been fantastic and hasn't broken down (yet). Hardly suprising they are going to deride the old and praise the new!

Edit: As I wrote this, Dulcibella illustates the point perfectly!

As is often posted here, they all have expensive replacement parts, that's a function of having to pay someone to produce something to sit on a shelf to be dusted down occasionally. But this brings me to my second consideration - availability of parts and expertise. All manufacturers have good and bad agents, but none have the extensive dealer network of Volvo Penta. On the basis that I would get pi55ed off if I had organised a sailing holiday, or indeed was away from my home port and found myself stuck for a minor fault requiring a part, I prefer to have an engine with a specialist and a parts store at the top of every marina ramp or close to every harbour wall.

There was a post here not so long ago in great praise of one manufacturer, totally ignoring the fact that the owner had to post here to find information about a most basic item, that ultimately had to come from East Anglia to the Solent, thus disrupting a cruise. I'm happy to pay a bit more for the potential of avoiding that kind of inconvenience.

Heavy investment, interesting thought process, keep us posted!
 
I have a Beta 1305 35hp engine. Both that and the Yanmar 18hp engine that I eventually put into my previous boat (to replace a troublesome Volvo) have been brilliant. I too go for the Japanese Kubota-based engines.
 
Sorry but I am one of many who knock Volvos as I had nothing but problems on NEW boats. Things sometimes do go wrong but their don't want to know after sales care"less" service convinced me to buy our 3rd new boat based on it must have NO volvo parts!

Yanmar Engine is no problem in 14 months and thats the thing with Volvos they train you to be estatic if it goes OK for a year with no problems!!
 
How can you blame Volvo Penta for your yacht vendors lack of customer service?

Volvo sell engine to boat builder, who fits it and sells the installed package to you. You contract is with the people who sold you the entire yacht, they have sole responsible for your customer satisfaction, nothing at all to do with Volvo unless your vendor disappears from the scene, in which case you have a VP guarantee which is addition to your statutory rights, but always a poor substitute for them.
 
Based on my recent experience I would avoid a Volvo at all costs. After 600 engine hours the gearbox on my Volvo D2-55 (fixed shaft) required £1,450 worth of repairs and I was stuck in a yard in Portugal for some four weeks while repairs were organised. A new forward clutch assembly and reverse bearings were required. As the engine had only done 600 hours over four years Volvo Portugal and Volvo Europe were approached regarding some financial assistance. Both declined. Volvo Portugal told the local Volvo agent that breakdowns of this nature on this engine/gearbox were "normal" after this sort of period of operation. Heaven help the hundreds of owners with D2-55s building up hours above 600. If Volvo Portugal is correct you are also in for an expensive time.
 
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