Yanmar YS8

[poggy]

Hi,

I am looking at a Mirage 26 (1979) fitted with a Yanmar YS8. Can anybody give me any info on this engine and if it is still possible to get a owners manual.

As it is the original engine is it likely to need replacing soon (looks well maintained) and should I look out for anything special.

Thanks

Poggy

 

[Gunfleet]

The one on my old boat vibrated like a British motorbike circa 1963. It will slowly unscrew every bloody nut on the boat. It will put out nothing like 8hp at the screw. Positives? It is low revving, incredibly heavy and robust in a way modern engines aren't. Almost unbreakable. Consumables are available. Parts (webs, con rods, the makings of a rebuild) are difficult but (bizarrely) often available from America via the internet.

 

[Wai_Tapu]

The YSE8 in my 1976 Trapper 500 has given me no problems in the eighteen months I have had her apart from requiring a routine water pump rebuild and a new fuel pump which cured an intermittent starting problem which the previous owner had tolerated for some years.
I have an original owner's manual and access to a copy of the workshop manual - if you would like a photocopy or scan of either, you would be very welcome.
THE Yanmar guru and stockist of spares is John Skewes of:
Cellar Marine, Porthallow, Helston, Cornwall
01326-280214
Having ordered my fuel pump from another source and waited 5 weeks for delivery from the only available supply in Canada, I was made aware of Mr Skewes existence and the fact that he had 2 of the aforementioned pumps sitting on the shelf!
I fully expect my engine to last another 27 years with some TLC. Its obviously not the most powerful engine in the world but pushes us along at a steady 5 knots through any but the roughest of water that I would venture out in

 

[Spyro]

I have PM you for some details
Have you seen trappers owners website http://www.trapper.8m.com/

 

[uforea]

I have had two Yachts with these Yanmars fitted from new and I cannot speak highly enough of them.The first Yacht was a Elizabethan 29 which I fitted out from a bare hull and had a new YSB 8 installed. This unit proved totally reliable for 20 years and at approx. half throttle would run for 17 hrs, yes 17hrs on a gallon of diesel. Part of this was no doubt due to the hull shape of the Lizzy. My present Yacht has a YSB 12 fitted and yes this suffered very badly with vibration but a new set of mountings cured this completely and it is now quite acceptable. I have never had any problems with spare parts and I should add that they have been very reasonably priced. So go for it , reliable and cheap to run.