Engine replacement costs

[pipemma]

Dear all
As you may have read from my post a couple of weeks ago https://bavariayacht.org/forum/index.php/topic,3818.0.html, we are on the look-out for our next (and forever) boat; ideally an Ocean 38 if anyone knows of one, but also considering other Bavaria models.

The boat we offered on (offer so far rejected) might - if we ever get as far as a survey - need some engine work or replacement. We're also looking at ads for Bavaria 36s from the early 2000s, but I know from my instructing days that they are horribly underpowered at 19hp, and even 29hp seems a bit miserly and at the right price of boat, we'd consider putting in a new engine.

I'm having no success googling, so I was wondering if you kind people here could give me a very rough idea of the sort of figure we would be looking at to replace an engine in these sort of models (i.e. around the 50-60hp mark)?

Many thanks in advance
Pipemma

[symphony2]

You are right - the 19hp is underpowered for the early 36s - but few were actually built with that, particularly for private buyers. The 29hp is fine - absolutely no need for any more as you simply can't use the extra power. With the 29 the boat easily exceeds hull speed and cruises in the correct range of 2200-2600 (with the 2030). I had a 37 from new in 2001 and it did over 3500 hours, mainly as a charter boat and never felt it was underpowered. The key figure is displacement. Up to 4500kgs a 19 will achieve hull speed. From there up to 6500kgs a 29 is fine. Above that (like the 38 Ocean at 7500kgs) a bigger engine is needed - they had a 50hp. Clearly at the margins there is often an option of the 2 sizes - so many cruisers in the 38-41' range with displacements in the 6-7000kgs had 40hp engines.

So, if you find a 36 with the smaller engine that otherwise fits the bill, it is easy to fit a modern D1 30 as a replacement. Cost is around £10-11k which gets you a complete new drive package. Do not be tempted to fit the latest engine to an existing saildrive. If you plan long term cruising well worth considering fitting a feathering propeller such as a Featherstream as that will improve all round motoring performance as well as reducing drag under sail.

With both my 37 and a newer (2015) 33, both with 29 hp and displacement of 5400kgs I used a Flexofold 2 blade folder which was excellent, but if had planned extensive cruising in a wider range of conditions and with greater payloads, I would have fitted a Featherstream.

Hope this helps.

[pipemma]

Thanks for the reassurance about the 29 hp. We had a Brunton Autoprop on the boat we're selling, and it transformed the handling and performance, so you're preaching to the choir about a feathering prop It's on the upgrades list for any new-to-us boat that doesn't already have one.

Should we reckon on 10-11k for engine (and saildrive) replacement generally then?
The boat we offered on has some rust on the engine block, which we suspect might be just superficial as the original steel holding tank is directly above it (and we've spoken to other owners who say the steel tank is a problem and should be replaced with a plastic holding tank).

[symphony2]

The smaller (under 40hp) engines are largely interchangeable. Pre 2005 they are 20X0 types and post D1/D2. Obviously the greater the hp the higher the price, about £1k more for a 29 over a 19. The 50hp engine in the Oceans is a very different thing as pre 2004 it was the BL/Perkins based MD22. While these can be replaced with the later D2 50 they are still easy and economical to rebuild if the marinisation parts are still OK. All these engines are potentially long lived and it is usually neglect, particularly of the cooling and exhaust that kills them.

[Yngmar]

I asked Beta marine for a quote on engine replacement for our MD22 back in 2015 and they quoted me a 60HP engine (too big, 50 HP is plenty for the 40 Ocean) including their saildrive for £8'800, not including labour or anything else, so adjusting for inflation, 10-11k is probably on the low side unless you're doing it all yourself (and even then you'll have costs for haulout, crane, propeller, etc.)

This was based on seeing a bit of scary looking rust on the first viewing, which was caused by lack of maintenance from a leaky impeller pump, which turned out to be an easy fix and the rust superficial. Our MD22 has proven to be very reliable and made relatively few problems (exhaust elbow connector is a regular item, although now have a stainless one instead and once the PCV valve seized up). Heat exchanger looks good and I feed it genuine Volvo coolant with all the right additives to protect the precious cast aluminium, which seems to keep it happy.

[symphony2]

The current UK retail for a D1 30 with drive is just under £9k, but you can get 15% off with trade in of the old engine. A D2 50 is £10300 - again less 15%. Labour would be around £1500. If changing like for like (so a D1 30 for a 2030) you can normally use the same propeller as the difference in reduction ratio between the 120 and 130 means the shaft speed stays the same.

Personally, much as I like Beta, having just bought one, I would not buy one with a saildrive as they have had all sorts of issues with the drives they have used. The Volvo is bullet proof by comparison and the 130 drive has a bigger 2 piece anode plus you can fit a rope cutter and have a wider choice of propellers. Also, Beta are no longer cheaper than Volvo as I found out when shopping for my latest re-engine project. However, what can make sense is mating a Beta 30 to an existing 120 drive in place of a 2030 as this is more than £3k saving over a D1 30 with a new drive. The risk of course is keeping a drive at least 20 years old which if it does fail replacement new is around £5k and if you can get one used at around £2k.

[Twhitt]

We have just had a D1-30 fitted into out 38 Holiday, year 2000. Cost was 8100 euro for engine plus 800 euro for fitting.

Used it for six weeks end of summer, averaged less than 2ltr per hour on diesel @ 2400 rpm 5+ knots.

Top speed 7.5 @ 3500 rpm, same saildrive (S130) and prop as we already had on MD2030.

[pipemma]

We have just had a D1-30 fitted into out 38 Holiday, year 2000. Cost was 8100 euro for engine plus 800 euro for fitting.

Used it for six weeks end of summer, averaged less than 2ltr per hour on diesel @ 2400 rpm 5+ knots.

Top speed 7.5 @ 3500 rpm, same saildrive (S130) and prop as we already had on MD2030.

That's useful to hear. Where was the work done and the engine supplied?