Hypothetical: best engines to look for.

[pianopraze]

I feel much more comfortable repairing/using an outboard. I can pick it up take it apart, and put it back together. You can swap dingy motor out in an emergency. Worst case it’s not a fortune to buy a new one. And not hard to take off boat and replace. Like I did on my Prout. Felt very safe with a new Honda when I was docking.

Weirdly, an inboard scares the crap out of me. I don’t work on cars. Just motorcycles and outboards.

What is best engines to look for if I have to get inboard?

Perkins? Yanmar? Not sure I would trust a Volvo. Everyone with a Volvo car I’ve known ended up replacing car when engine went out. Perkins sounds good but questionable getting parts? Yanmar sounds good as you can get parts…

Going to buy another Catamaran (hopefully 2000 or newer), just starting the search. If I can get dual Yamahas out boards I will, but if they have to be inboards what is the best?

[SailingHarmonie]

Any of the brands, well cared for, will last a very long time. Most recreational diesels are very poorly cared for, so they die an early death. In short, the previous owners of the motor have FAR more to do with your experieicne with it than the name on the block.

I have a 27 year old Volvo TMD22 that sometime this season will turn 10,000 hours. It's a Perkins block with Volvo marinizing. Parts are readily available from Volvo dealers, or Perkins dealers.

If you are getting a catamaran with saildrives, I would worry far more about those fragile beasts that the engine that drives them.

[Bruce K]

Be careful! If you have owned a boat with a Gardner you will never recover.

[Kijit]

I agree with SailingHarmonie that any of the brands are fine if well cared for. We have a 30 year old Volvo MD2040B in our sailboat and have had very few issues, but parts are expensive. I re-powered a museum vessel several years ago with a Beta. I chose the Beta over a Yanmar because the Beta does not have an electronic control system on it, which is one less expensive thing that can fail and leave you stuck.

[Island Time O25]

I'd go with Beta. Its a marinized Kubota so parts and service available worldwide. Very reliable and its systems more user/mechanic friendly than the others. Also many parts can be obtained cheaper through Kubota tractor dealers, you just need to do some research to cross reference Beta vs Kubota tractor parts numbers.

[hpeer]

Are there any production cats (circa 2000) with Beta or Kubuto engines?

[MicHughV]

I've owned two Volvo's and swore never again. Could bore you to tears explaining why.

I think the thing to be aware off, is to get an engine, that parts, service, etc, are world wide.

In that respect, Yanmar and Beta ( Kubota) are probably my picks.

The earlier Perkins, Westerbeke and others were good engines in their day, but quite dated today.

Having said all of the above, providing regular service on any engine is key to longevity.

While we can be proud to have a " sailboat", the diesel is the heart of any boat, and most sailors motor far more than they'll admit, so it becomes paramount to to cast a loving hand over the beast.

[pianopraze]

Agree will avoid saildrives if possible.

That is biggest bain to Prout owners who haven’t repowered to outboards. If I can get dual Yamaha outboards like PDQ, Seawind or TomCat have would be my preference. Love redundancy.

Looking at smaller cats for sale right now, most have yanmars or outboards. Not seen any Beta/Kubota.

I never got in stronger than 40knots and 2 meter waves on my Prout with my outboard. Was not a problem. Would large seas breaking over the back swamp an outboard? I wonder looking at PDQs/TomCats/Seawind with Yamahas on them if that might be a problem?

Examples:

[NorthCoastJoe]

I put a Beta 50 in my 44 boat this last year, replaced a Perkins 4108, I am very happy.
Perkins for all their lovers is old. I have Perkins in one of my tractors, it is an old PITA to work on, but it still runs after 60 years.

My Pearson has a Yanmar, again happy. I would go with new and simple, Beta.

[more]

Originally Posted by pianopraze

Perkins? Yanmar? Not sure I would trust a Volvo. Everyone with a Volvo car I’ve known ended up replacing car when engine went out. Perkins sounds good but questionable getting parts? Yanmar sounds good as you can get parts…

Going to buy another Catamaran (hopefully 2000 or newer), just starting the search. If I can get dual Yamahas out boards I will, but if they have to be inboards what is the best?

volvo penta 30+75 hp engine is perkins engine,today CAT.
how old you if you buy new engine why you thinking parts next 25-30 year yu need oil and filter and evry 5-6 year exhausts elbow only.

[meirriba]

Originally Posted by Kijit

I agree with SailingHarmonie that any of the brands are fine if well cared for. We have a 30 year old Volvo MD2040B in our sailboat and have had very few issues, but parts are expensive. I re-powered a museum vessel several years ago with a Beta. I chose the Beta over a Yanmar because the Beta does not have an electronic control system on it, which is one less expensive thing that can fail and leave you stuck.

Our Yanmar 3JH5E of 2011 has no electronic control.
I don't know about current models.

[lestersails]

Think hard about gasoline vs. diesel. I appreciate the pros of the outboards, but you really, really have to be careful with gasoline. Yes, I know, the power boaters do it all the time, but diesel gives a margin of safety that is hard to ignore. I have a small outboard on my own boat, but don't love having even the 3.1 gallon tank aboard. I am more comfortable when I bareboat with dozens of gallons of diesel aboard and the gasoline sequestered on the dingy.

[Capt Clark]

I’ve had the greatest success with Yanmars and Yamahas. YMMV

[sailingharry]

Originally Posted by hpeer

Are there any production cats (circa 2000) with Beta or Kubuto engines?

For whatever reason (maybe related to EPA regulations?) I don't think Beta/Kubota have ever been installed OEM. But I may be wrong, it's just a suspicion.

[stormalong]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

I'd go with Beta. Its a marinized Kubota so parts and service available worldwide. Very reliable and its systems more user/mechanic friendly than the others. Also many parts can be obtained cheaper through Kubota tractor dealers, you just need to do some research to cross reference Beta vs Kubota tractor parts numbers.

Originally Posted by NorthCoastJoe

I put a Beta 50 in my 44 boat this last year, replaced a Perkins 4108, I am very happy.
Perkins for all their lovers is old. I have Perkins in one of my tractors, it is an old PITA to work on, but it still runs after 60 years.

My Pearson has a Yanmar, again happy. I would go with new and simple, Beta.

I put a Beta 50 in my '44 in 2003. It replaced a Perkins 4-108 which was a bit under powered for my boat. The Kubota is a much better than the Perkins. Still have the boat and still happy with the choice after about 5,000 hours on it.

Beta allows for owner installation and maintenance without voiding the warranty. Kubota engine parts are available everywhere at reasonable prices. Beta phone support has been excellent. Better if you call England but the North Carolina support is good too.

From what I have read Yanmar requires factory authorized professional installation and maintenance, even down to oil changes or your warranty is void. To me that is a deal killer.

Yanmar, Volvo and other "marine" engine builders go a long way to hide the OEM part numbers for replacements and mark the prices up dramatically. I had that experience with Westerbeke a few decades ago. Never again.