It has been some time since I was active on the forum as my sailing has been very very limited for some time now. I still have the boat however and am holding out for the time my circumstances change enough for me to get out regularly once again.

I thought I would pose this question to the forum as an interesting discussion point. I have reached my decision so I'm not seeking suggestions but rather the general thoughts of those on the forum. I suspect the following is a place many of us come to as some point with our boats.

I have an ageing (30+ years) old yacht that still has the original engine in her. The engine has been quite reliable but is requiring more and more TLC to keep it chugging along (its a Volvo penta engine but I'm not even sure of the model because I can't read the plate with the model number written on it any more). Most recently it started leaking fuel from the fuel pump which will cost $1000 minimum to have repaired. It is also pumping less and less water through the cooling system as time passes. Some time back I did have my mechanic remove the raw water pump and associated bits to give them a good service and clean out which did make a difference bit we are back there again.

Given the age and value of the yacht it would probably cost me as much (if not more) than the boat is worth to repower with a new engine so I have decided to just keep the old one going for as long as possible. Hopefully by the time it completely dies I will have won lotto or something.

So what are peoples thoughts? Would you bite the bullet and repower and have the piece of mind knowing you had a new reliable engine or would you keep the old one on life support knowing it was going to cost you a fair amount of $ in much smaller chunks to keep it going? Are there other options you would consider such as a reconditioned/rebuilt engine?

I had the same issue last year,I do all my own work and have no problems tearing an engine down and rebuilding.when I went north I wanted a reliable engine and the old Volvo although still running ,was not in a trustworthy condition. I repowered with a beta 25 only because the critical parts for my Volvo are no longer made and if one of those parts failed I would be stuck . If all parts were available it would have been a rebuild.

Ive been asking the same question. My old Volvo 2003 goes well but its been doing that 25 years and I dont know whats happening inside it. It sounds good, produces its 28hp no problem, but something inside may be 1 hour away from breaking. Dont know.

I think the answer depends on how long you want to keep the boat. I want to keep mine so I will re-power it before long. If I sail it around for the next 15 years and it costs $15K to re-power it thats $20 per week and I think its worth that to know the motor wont die suddenly or refuse to start when I need it.

But if keeping the boat for only 1 year - probably not worth it. Thats $300 per week. Unless you're planning a trip where motor is critical.

Yep 2003s defy all logic, most should have been landfill years ago but keep going on.
Light, raw water cooled and the only real defect is the gearbox spline which would let go at almost exactly 1000 hours but the replacement was heavier and was never a problem.
and you need to remove and clean the mixer galleries regularly
Longer you kept them running the better.

I have heard that the Nanni diesels are quite competitive now. I suspect if you were paying someone to refurbish an old motor, it would be cheaper to replace it with a brand new blue Nanni.

Which makes me then think there is nothing to loose if you attempt a DYI refurb !

A

I have a MD21a penta, it's old but good apart from the oil cooler needs replacing. I cannot find one but told it can be changed. Anyone have an old one to sell or know how to convert to an external cooler.

Lots of money to repower. So if you do, then you should make sure you treat your new investment properly. Diesels engine do not like running unloaded. Running a diesel engine (in neutral) to charge your batteries is very very very bad for them. And doing it at high speed doesn't make any difference. Diesel engines require pressure above the piston head to help expand the piston sealing rings other wise they will not keep the bore clean. Glazing of the bore will occur, not good. But don't take my word for it, speak to an engine rebuilder.

It's a package deal. Buying a new engine (or rebuilding an old) is just part of the solution.