Diesel engine recommendations (20-30 HP)

[alaskarog]

I'm about to begin building a 25' inboard diesel powered displacement cruiser. I'm starting to source materials and organize my shop in anticipation of starting construction over the next few months. I'm curious if anyone has any recommendations for a good diesel engine in the 20-30 HP range. Any thoughts or suggestions on possible engine/gear combinations will be greatly appreciated. This boat is driven with a simple straight shaft and should be a 7 or 8 knot boat. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[apex1]

I'm about to begin building a 25' inboard diesel powered displacement cruiser. I'm starting to source materials and organize my shop in anticipation of starting construction over the next few months. I'm curious if anyone has any recommendations for a good diesel engine in the 20-30 HP range. Any thoughts or suggestions on possible engine/gear combinations will be greatly appreciated. This boat is driven with a simple straight shaft and should be a 7 or 8 knot boat. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

A Yanmar 3YM30 29 hp... Vetus (Mitsubishi based) M3.28 27 hp...Volkswagen SDI 40-4 40 hp..
there are quite some very good on the market.

Regards
Richard

[drmiller100]

How about one of these.....
http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?UID=2009022312090176&catname=engines&keyword=NED1

[apex1]

How about one of these.....
http://www.surpluscenter.com/sort.asp?UID=2009022312090176&catname=engines&keyword=NED1

And here some more:

http://www.frenchmarine.com/ProductsM.aspx?CID=1&MID=12
http://www.barrus.co.uk/marine_division.php
just to collect the data

Regards
Richard

[alaskarog]

Thanks to all who have offered some engine suggestions. I'm checking them all out so please keep them coming! Thanks, Rog

[pasty63]

It seems there are a few commonalities across many in this range of marine Diesels. Most are three cylinder engines made by Mitsubishi, Kubota, or Isuzu. Sole and Vetus offer the marinized Mitsu's, Beta and Nanni offer up the Kubota's, while MER and Norpro provide Isuzu's engines. Bukh is an interesting line. These are very well thought out and dedicated to marine apps.

http://www.bukh.co.uk/bukhhome.htm

If you spec'd on the high side, you could afford to add some charging capacity to the longboat 21 and have a nice house bank. I'm anxious to follow along as you build that design.

[alaskarog]

It seems there are a few commonalities across many in this range of marine Diesels. Most are three cylinder engines made by Mitsubishi, Kubota, or Isuzu. Sole and Vetus offer the marinized Mitsu's, Beta and Nanni offer up the Kubota's, while MER and Norpro provide Isuzu's engines. Bukh is an interesting line. These are very well thought out and dedicated to marine apps.

http://www.bukh.co.uk/bukhhome.htm

If you spec'd on the high side, you could afford to add some charging capacity to the longboat 21 and have a nice house bank. I'm anxious to follow along as you build that design.

Pasty63, Thanks for the reply. I looked at the Bukh website and didn't see anything there that indicates they sell the engines here in the states. I might have missed it but there didn't even seem to be an email address shown to contact them, only a phone number. I guess I'll have to spring for a call to England. I've investigated a few of the engines that you mentioned and am trying to learn more. I'm also interested in seeing if I can find a suitable engine that I can set up with keel cooling and a dry exhaust. I think this type of cooling and exhaust system would ultimately be a more trouble free way to go. It would just feel good to not pump any silty salt water directly into the engine, exhaust, or cooling system. There might also be a few times a year up here when I would want to use the boat that there might be some ice in the harbor to deal with in order to get out to open water. That might lead to a plugged cooling system or excess wear on an impeller if chunks of ice make it into an open system. Additionally, the placement of the engine in this boat should readily allow a dry exhaust stack to be routed straight up just aft of the rear cabin bulkhead. Anybody care to comment on this? Many workboats and long range power cruising boats use this set up so I would think it would be a viable and desirable way to go.

[FAST FRED]

Keel cooling and dry exhaust are about the ONLY system that works where it freezes every night.

However an air cooled engine , that might provide free clothes drying as well as cabin heat could also do well. Lister?

FF

[apex1]

Pasty63, Thanks for the reply. I looked at the Bukh website and didn't see anything there that indicates they sell the engines here in the states. I might have missed it but there didn't even seem to be an email address shown to contact them,

Here we are:
http://www.bukh.dk/uk/mainframe.htm
goto contact, goto distributors. Or choose this:
http://www.alexanderryan.com/PropulsionTEST/PropSyst_BUKH_DV36ME.htm
that:
Crinmar
873 Apple Down Drive
Kingston, Ontario K7P 1C7
CANADA Tel: +1-613-634-8100
Fax: +1-613-634-8110
E-mail: crinmar@crinmar.com
Contact: Keith A Strutt
L.A. Maritime Services, Inc.
327 Lecouvreur Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90744
USA Tel: +1 562 951 1181
Fax: +1 562 951 1444
E-mail: info@la-maritime.com
Website: www.la-maritime.com
Contact: Sonia L Brown
North Jersey Marine
215 Trimble Ave.
Clifton, N.J. 07011
USA Tel: +1-973-546-6377
Fax: +1-973-546-0510
E-mail: rbainnjmdiesels@hotmail.com
Contact: Bob Bain
Waterway Diesel Center lnc.
P.O. Box 97
Deale, Maryland 20751-0097
USA Tel: +1-410-867-2182 / 261-5255
Fax: +1-410-867-3366
E-mail: wwaydc@toad.net
Contact: Davis H. Craven
Alexander/Ryan Marine & Safety Co
P O Box 9363
Houston, Texas 77261-9363
USA Tel: +1-713-923-1671
Fax: +1-713-923-1972
E-Mail: sales@alexanderryan.com
Website: www.alexanderryan.com
Contact:Lorna Barr

The engines are, no doubt, of outstanding quality and longevity. Very popular in the Baltic region. Very heavy and expensive too!
but they offer dry stack (keel cooling) on request only. The other manufacturers (I mentioned above) do offer this as a alternative.
Regards
Richard

[Geoh]

HEY ROG Take a look at this boat, might give you a few ideas... allweatherboat.com

[alaskarog]

Geoh, I've already looked at the allweather boat. A fellow just down the street from me has one that I was able to crawl around on while it was on the trailer in his driveway. There weren't very many made and the fellow that did make them made it sound to me that it's unlikely that he'll make any more. I do like many of the features of this boat.

[apex1]

Did you come closer to a decision of what to build?
Regards
Richard

[alaskarog]

Richard. I am definitely going to build the Bruce Roberts designed Longboat but will build it to 25' rather than the 21' of the original design. I've received only the study plans but am expecting the actual building plans to arrive any day. Take care, Roger

[apex1]

Keep us updated!
Richard

[Geoh]

I have the #8 Allweather , had it in San Diego this summer... i'm not sure if the double ender is a plus...4 people on the stern and a 2 scoop bait tank and you have water on the deck...the basic size, trailerable, and the m30 perkins engine, economy, are good. Keep us posted on your final design...Everyone says they want a boat like this but .......i find 7 knots plenty fast, esp if you are not really going anywhere, just crusin...old alaskan here 1965 till recently...

[peter radclyffe]

It seems there are a few commonalities across many in this range of marine Diesels. Most are three cylinder engines made by Mitsubishi, Kubota, or Isuzu. Sole and Vetus offer the marinized Mitsu's, Beta and Nanni offer up the Kubota's, while MER and Norpro provide Isuzu's engines. Bukh is an interesting line. These are very well thought out and dedicated to marine apps.

http://www.bukh.co.uk/bukhhome.htm

If you spec'd on the high side, you could afford to add some charging capacity to the longboat 21 and have a nice house bank. I'm anxious to follow along as you build that design.& volvo penta, sole, buhk,nanni

[FAST FRED]

IF you wish to get a low priced engine , the running diesel takeouts that power refrigerated trucks are a fanatastic source.

Usually $300 will buy a low time engine , that has a huge oil sump for 10 days of 24/7 operation.

They have SAE bellhousings so a used tranny is just a hunt away.

FF