Looking for 2nd hand Engine

[Gamink]

I have a 1980 Cav 32 with a 23 hp Volvo Penta engine. It takes quite a bit of time to turn over and the mechanic tells me it is due to loss of compression in one cylinder. He is concerned, but can do it, with doing a rebuild give the scarcity of parts and the fact that the engine is old and may be ripe for additional issues at any time down the road. Given scarcity of used volvo engines, He has also suggested considering a new engine. He has suggested we look at a Vitus 30 hp. Any thoughts on doing a rebuild verses getting anew or refurbished engine? Or should I just leave it alone =until complete death?

[Compass790]

It depends, is the answer to that. where in the world are you? with a Cav 32 I'm guessing NZ or Aus.
Since you mention a mechanic I'm guessing you wont be doing a possible recon yr self.
Given the horrendous price of "genuine" volvo parts & the mechanics labour it's probably not worth rebuilding.If you can do the rebuild yourself it may be.

I supply a few yanmar parts to a rebuilder down the South Island who has a couple of rebuilt volvos & he says no-one wants them. I can give you his email if you PM me, don't know what hp they are. AFAIK he does a good job rebuilding

Cant comment on the Vetus the mechanic proposes, hopefully someone with experience will chime in or you could start another thread asking about that specific model.

Kubota based Betas seem to be popular here but have heard of some issues with rapid anode eating & heat exchanger. The engine parts are much cheaper than the likes of Volvo & Yanmar tho buying new you would expect only maintenance parts for 15 years or so in recreational use tho the modern engines seem to be faster wearing in some cases.
Hope that helps

[skipperpete]

There’s a good looking 3QM 30 advertised on Gumtree in Brisbane. Might be a bit too bulky/heavy for your boat though.
If you decide to repower, consider a Betamarine and compare the price with the Vetus. A top overhaul might resolve the loss of compression but if this is an old 2003 Penta I wouldn’t rebuild it further than just that.

[TrentePieds]

Volvo parts are dear, and the Volvos are, in consequence, falling out of favour. Given that your boat is a 32 footer, access to the engine, in situ, is going to problematic for the kinda work that needs doing, and removing the engine from a Cav32 (which I know only from drawings) will also require some fairly sophisticated hoisting.

All in all you may find that replacing the antique Volvo with a spanking new BETA 25 HP will be an equal cost option, but in terms of utility and resale value of the boat, far superior.

The BETA people supply adaptor mounts that permit the BETA to be dropped straight onto them after they have been placed on the bearers where to old Volvo mounts were.

The BETA is a 'marinized" Kubota industrial engine. In consequence parts are really cheap, should you ever need any, and they are available all over the world. I doubt that you would ever need parts for the rest of your boating life :-)!

The total cost of swapping the Volvo for a BETA would be about Can$20K equating to about Aus$21.5K

TrentePieds

[Gamink]

Originally Posted by Compass790

It depends, is the answer to that. where in the world are you? with a Cav 32 I'm guessing NZ or Aus.
Since you mention a mechanic I'm guessing you wont be doing a possible recon yr self.
Given the horrendous price of "genuine" volvo parts & the mechanics labour it's probably not worth rebuilding.If you can do the rebuild yourself it may be.

I supply a few yanmar parts to a rebuilder down the South Island who has a couple of rebuilt volvos & he says no-one wants them. I can give you his email if you PM me, don't know what hp they are. AFAIK he does a good job rebuilding

Cant comment on the Vetus the mechanic proposes, hopefully someone with experience will chime in or you could start another thread asking about that specific model.

Kubota based Betas seem to be popular here but have heard of some issues with rapid anode eating & heat exchanger. The engine parts are much cheaper than the likes of Volvo & Yanmar tho buying new you would expect only maintenance parts for 15 years or so in recreational use tho the modern engines seem to be faster wearing in some cases.
Hope that helps

Thanks for the reply. I am in Melbourne and would appreciate the email of your guy on the South Island. I will contact him for rebuilds.

[Gamink]

Originally Posted by skipperpete

There’s a good looking 3QM 30 advertised on Gumtree in Brisbane. Might be a bit too bulky/heavy for your boat though.
If you decide to repower, consider a Betamarine and compare the price with the Vetus. A top overhaul might resolve the loss of compression but if this is an old 2003 Penta I wouldn’t rebuild it further than just that.

Thanks - Its older. 1980, last rebuild about 8 years ago.

[Gamink]

Thanks - it is older, a 1980 with regbuild about 8 years ago

[Compass790]

Originally Posted by Gamink

Thanks for the reply. I am in Melbourne and would appreciate the email of your guy on the South Island. I will contact him for rebuilds.

Can't see it being worth while with shipping but will PM you with his email anyway. He's in trucking & could have done shipping easy within NZ but anyway good luck & please post back with what you end up doing.