Diesel Inboards and Sterndrives. - Page 2

nik · 12 February 2013, 13:49

The thing that has always struck me about marine diesels is that they are soooo expensive.

An idea I fancied trying one day would be to use a secondhand automotive engine.

An engine I like is the VW V6 Tdi. Its a stonking engine, smooth, very torquey and its comparatively short being only 3 pistons long.

The biggest problem as I see it is separating the engine electronics from the car, immobiliser etc.

Things like heat exchangers needn't cost too much, I could never work out why the mercruiser one was £700

Also if you make an engine box, go from tube to tube to give yourself plenty of space to work on the engine.

Hope that helps

Dirk Diggler · 12 February 2013, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik

Things like heat exchangers needn't cost too much, I could never work out why the mercruiser one was £700

This is how it was explained to me. Mercury/Mercruiser buy it from a supplier, they sell it to merc export, who sell it to Marine Power in Belgium, they sell it to Barrus, who sell it to a dealer, who sells it to you!

Lots of hands in the cookie jar I'm afraid.

Landlockedpirate · 12 February 2013, 17:03

Its never going to stack up financially to stick an oil burner in the Rib, a newer 4 stroke, Opti or Etec would be a much better option.

If you do want to go ahead I would suggest you look for a used Volvo KAD32 and a DP leg. The 32 is 170hp, 4 pot, lightweight and supercharged. You can pick used ones up for 10k if you are very lucky. Coastal Rides are the guys to talk to for more info.

I wouldn't touch the Mercruiser 1.8Dti with a barge pole, its only 120hp and has loads of problems. There is a guy in Ireland who was on his 3rd or 4th Turbo.

falcon0310 · 12 February 2013, 18:47

if you look on boat mad there quite few guys running 320 cdi engines on mer leg, best to play get it right in the garage then take off engine

Erin · 12 February 2013, 21:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik

An engine I like is the VW V6 Tdi. Its a stonking engine, smooth, very torquey and its comparatively short being only 3 pistons long.

We've got one in our hard boat, getting 6.5t semi-displacement up to 20kts full chat. Fantastic bit of engineering (other than a recurrent oil leak) and so easy to service with all the maintenance items located at the front. Would be absolutely superb in a rib.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik

The biggest problem as I see it is separating the engine electronics from the car, immobiliser etc.

Have a look here. This bloke seems to be doing a good job of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Hyundai have a 170hp on the market - I think it marries up to the Bravo leg. It's a lightish motor at 261kg

Saw one of these in the flesh for the first time at the London Boatshow. Looked very similar to the VW. I would investigate further if I was in the market. Priority with all these things is service spares though. If you can go to your local car dealer, as with the VW, then all well and good (though strangely some service parts are cheaper through Barrus).

Troy · 12 February 2013, 23:08

I put a Steyr 260Hp inboard into my Zodiac Hurricane and have been very happy. 43Kts with a Volvo Duo Prop. It was cheaper and quieter than a outboard.
I have a stack of photos in my profile to have a look at if you want.

nik · 13 February 2013, 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Quote:Originally Posted by nik
The biggest problem as I see it is separating the engine electronics from the car, immobiliser etc.

Erin:
Have a look here. This bloke seems to be doing a good job of it.

Thanks for that, I have bookmarked it in case I ever get around to it.

I have looked at Steyr myself and have been quite impressed by them, but again pricey, £15K a few years ago.

Zippy · 13 February 2013, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Troy

I put a Steyr 260Hp inboard into my Zodiac Hurricane and have been very happy. 43Kts with a Volvo Duo Prop. It was cheaper and quieter than a outboard.
I have a stack of photos in my profile to have a look at if you want.

Steyr's are great engines but service and parts through the UK agents was VERY expensive.

Nasher · 13 February 2013, 22:43

Thanks again guys.

I rekon I could do this for @£7.5K, which would be a damm sight cheaper than a newer outboard.

Plenty to ponder I think.

Nasher

ALANT · 14 February 2013, 10:41

looking at old posts Pete7's Pac 22 with 200hp was running 1 litre per mile, with diesel more than petrol that must work out about the same. Yours is a heavy boat and will be more so with a great big lump in the stern.

£7500 buys a lot of fuel until you even break even, will you get more for you boat when you sell? perhaps not as it will be converted, wouldn't bother me but buyer are fickle. How many miles per year would you be doing could be many years just to break even.

Biffer what diesel have you in your searider?

Nasher · 14 February 2013, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by ALANT

looking at old posts Pete7's Pac 22 with 200hp was running 1 litre per mile

That's because @3/4 of that litre was being left as a slick on the surface behind the boat

Seriously, I don't think its a good comparison as it was an old tech engine that had been tuned from 120hp to 200hp mostly by winding up the pressure on the fuel pump.

I'd want to use something far more efficient and believe that under 1/2 l/mile is achievable at sensible speeds.

As mentioned, it may be a couple of years before I make a decision, might win the lottery in the mean time, or get to the point(again) where the boat goes up for sale to buy food for the kids.

Nasher.

Dirk Diggler · 14 February 2013, 11:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nasher

Thanks again guys.

I rekon I could do this for @£7.5K, which would be a damm sight cheaper than a newer outboard.

Plenty to ponder I think.

Nasher

I'd love to see a breakdown of your costings

butty · 14 February 2013, 12:41

I think it would make a great project...

I have the cummins QSD 2.0 lt married to an Alpha 1 leg. I don't know what I get per mile, but I love the engine, it not that noisy, there is no delay or turbo lag, I even wake board behind it...

It is in a coastline 7m and when you look at the outboard version with the splash tray bonded on the inside of the transom there is not much loss of space....

There is also a massive amount of dry storage either side of the engine as I have a full width engine box.

If you would like to have a look or even a test spin, feel free to get in contact.

I would watch the build thread with enthusiasm.....

Searider · 14 February 2013, 13:35

Like this one ;-)

http://www.rib.net/forum/f21/coastli...poa-39540.html

willk · 14 February 2013, 14:14

There were quite a few of them

DGR · 14 February 2013, 17:47

Mine got through an average of 16.69 litres per hour when I was doing 30 minute 'RIB rides' - which (usually) cosisted of 15 minutes of low speed/idling, and 30 minutes of being really quite enthusiastic

, typically at around 35kts.

By my maths, that would work out at just under 0.75 l/m.

And then I stopped operating commercially, and couldn't use red any more...

HUMBER P4VWL · 15 February 2013, 07:14

How many people have actually ever had their diesel tested for being red or not inside UK waters?

Daniel · 15 February 2013, 07:40

It's all the same stuff (red) just if you are using commercially you sign a deceleration and pay less (ie no duty)

Same applies to yotties who use some of it for heating, they can declare upto 40% as not used for propulsion, therefore only pay duty on 60%.

Worth fitting an eberspacher at the same time then nasher, er??

biffer · 15 February 2013, 07:49

The best thing about having a derv in your boat is you can heat your pasties on the engine, they run at 80c so it's just right