Hi every one I’m a long time reader and have got lots of great information for your forum
My boat is a compass H28 from N.Z. lots has been done since I bought it almost a year ago and I’m basically doing a full refit.
I thought I’d share my experience of replacing my old bukh 20hp with a modern Beta 20 based on a Kubota d722.

The beta engine I found on gumtree it sounded too good to be true a 2008 model brand new never installed at a bargain price locally so I jumped on it that day .only 2 weeks before I was speaking to beta and nanni about prices for a new engine and it looked like I had a lot of saving to do.
The beta did need a new alternator/ starter motor an impeller new oil line filters/oils and a fresh coat of paint. I also found the thermostat to be stuck closed and replaced it.

So what was wrong with the bukh well it leaked oil everywhere it was always hard to start especially when cold and needed 2 fully charged battery’s to turn it over.
Most bukhs don’t have glow plugs they have manifold heaters which is essentially a small diesel fire in your manifold/air filter that the engine sucks when cranking I didn’t like the idea of that at all check this you tube clip out
.
I could only hand start when hot so if I flattened the battery’s overnight there was no way of starting it.
The fuel system needed attention the exhaust elbow was cracked and it steamed like a train as most bukhs do .
so it was probably time for a full rebuild at almost the cost of a brand new engine.

Now weight the bukh manual states it’s about 220kg but I suspect with transmission accessories and oil its well over 250kg maybe more .
I found 55kg of ballast that was in my anchor locker used to balance the boats waterline which has now been removed.
The beta weighs 110kg wet with transmission and accessories so that’s a saving of potentially 140kg + 55kg ballast 195kg total.
wow that’s 3x 105 a/h battery’s and 100 liters of water I can now add if I please without effecting my waterline.

Before I removed the bukh I had my local shipwrights at Mackenzie marine slip and remove my old stuffing box and stern tube they had it machined down to fit a wonderful Volvo dripless seal , I had to replace the shaft as it was badly pitted they also replaced 5 thru hulls/ball valves (raw water intake needed to be enlarged to 3/4" for the beta) a shaft anode was added to.
The grease point on the stuffing box is now used for water injection.
I'm very happy with their services and now have a dry bilge with no smelly grease.

So the install .
I had the bukh removed by barge and craned it was dropped directly in to the back of a trailer. the beta my brother and I simply carried it army stretcher style on to the boat and moved it into place by myself with block and tackle connected to the main halyard with the boom for outhaul

I cleaned the engine bay about 10 times it was filthy and stank I don’t think words could describe it. I then painted the engine bares and surrounding area with epoxy and lined the engine bay with sound insulation.

The bukhs exhaust was only 40mm the beta is 50mm so I had to design a completely new exhaust system to meet the requirements outlined by beta.
I needed a custom stainless steel high riser which I heat wrapped twice a new vetus waterlock with rotating ports , anti synthon valve, new hose and a new outlet.
I had to completely reroute the exhaust hose due to the extra thickness stopping it from going under the cockpit floor

I tapped into the back of the heat exchanger for the stern tube water injection feed with a 1/8bsp threaded barb as outlined in the beta manual.

cleaned the diesel water separator in kerosene and replaced the filter and seals .
I replaced all my fuel lines with the trident a1 barrier type used for permanent installations

I made a custom start/gauge panel using some of the original beta fittings, new vdo gauges and I ordered a recessed panel from moyer marine in the u.s (was very hard to find)

The rubber engine mounts from the bukh where reused as they were new. They were secured in place with coach bolts which I didn’t like instead I used stainless steel threaded wood inserts 48mm long and coated them with epoxy glue before screwing them in to the bearers these except m6 bolts that secures the rubber engine mounts.

I made custom engine feet out of 10mm steel to suit the dimensions of the engine bearers and bought a new shaft coupling to suit tcm40 transmission bolt pattern.
I cut lots of shims up and played around with the alignment until I got it perfect very time consuming with shims.

The engine controls simply fitted in place with no modifications

I hooked up the raw water filter with new hose and primed with water .

bleed the fuel system and checked for leaks there where none. (I ran the engine at home before install to check everything and bleed air out of the closed cooling system)

rewired the engine side of things. i'm rewiring the rest of the boat at the moment

Ready to start and test .
Well the new beta starts so easy it runs so much smother and quitter even with the engine bay open, with it closed I can barely hear anything.
You can’t compare the 2 engines the beta is so much more refined and fells more powerful.
Basically it has completely changed the boat I was always very apprehensive about starting and running the bukh and did not trust it.

My propeller now needs re pitching due to the difference transmission reduction and at the moment it won’t rev past 2000rpm in gear and its making 6knots s.o.g and 5knots at 1500rpm.
It seemed to have no trouble turning the prop though even into a strong head wind.
I have spoken to dhporter and they will look at re pitching or replacing it .
In contrast the bukh only ever managed 5knots flat out. so I I’m very impressed so far

I’ve added some before/after and in between photos for everyone to see and will try to do further updates on the boat in the future. I do apologies for any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Kurt

Kurt just wondered if you have check two things
1 . When you give the throttle handle full throttle in the cockpit have you checked where the throttle is at the injector pump

2 . have you calibrated the tacho on either of these motor 1500 rpm and 2000 dont seem right

Hi Kurt
Here a nice NZ h28 old vid but very nicely decked out

You done a nice job on her Kurt .
I know what your saying between the two reds one was grown on the north ridge the other on the south power to weight ratio does count no matter what your building and altering and its choices . thank god we are all individuals.
My boat is not nice it has untold unfinished projects Kurt and I seem to make the list get even bigger some times but my choice of the dv24 was a cheap up grade the dv20 I feel needs a minor rebuild and the dv24 was going to get one now but as it started in 3/4 of a revolution after sitting stationery for over 9 months I thought the money can be used else where and if it need attention later Ill do it .
To me the DV24 is a refinement from the older dv20 easier start smoother running and higher operating temp both my thermostats open at the correct temp range. The only other thing than fit a new water pump to the DV24 was clean out the years of crud inside the motors cooling system . As I work with caterpillar if I was replacing Id buy a cat engine. but the dv24 was a cheap alternative
Kakahi Ive watch many times its inspiring when you need some inspiration
Your prop seems its been a bad choice when first fitted years ago.
I do like your instrument panel I looked around every where for one could find one. I ended up making my own which is still unfinished perhaps its because the boat knew some thing else was needed first

Keep posting I enjoy your work

h28kurt said..
thanks hg I think your boat is coming along nicely I have seen some of the work you have done to it like the bowsprit windows kitchen kero oven interior engine room ect
your engine gauge panel inspired me to make mine so thanks .
boats in general brand new or 50years old are unfinished projects there is always something to ad fix or improve on when your done you will have a excellent boat much nicer than those tacky French/German boats
the dv24 will be a good improvement its was the dv20`s successor it sound like it starts easy too just drop her in .no point rebuilding if there are no know issues just check for any oil leaks and oil pressure and you good to go

Cheers Kurt
Ill order new engine mounts and a engine / gear box coupling rubber and next year start collecting a few rebuilding parts before the Government put the cost up with there charges in a couple of years

cisco said..

I am not going to say anything except you are both doing a great job.

yer right Cisco