Replacement engines

[gottatanfl]

Anyone have any opinion on Perkins T6354 ??
Looking to replace our DD 671 in a 38' Hatteras DC/FB.

Yes I know I will go at a trawlers pace, but I found the engine VERY reasonable and they will be a bit easier to get in the boat.

DD have been fully broke down and only the blocks remain, so will take out thru the windows and was looking to replace with the perkins which will fit right back in. No need to cut into flybridge.

Hoping to save a little money in repowering this vessel.

My other option is a pair of DD pancake 671 but they cost a bit more and will require installation thru the flybridge.

 

[bobk]

I had the Perkins in a 1979 Mainship and it was a fine engine. The water pump was hard to reach in that application, but otherwise no complaints.

American Diesel in Kilmarnick, VA is now a stocking dealer and should have all parts and engines as well as loads of free professional advice should something go wrong. The only dumb thing on the 1979 version was the exhaust manifold was cast aluminum and contained the heat exchanger as well. The potential for corrosion with salt water in that thing always bothered me. Also I recall they were a PITA to bleed if you get air in the fuel line.

Perkins ceased to support the older engines after perhaps 15 years and getting some parts became difficult but there are still lots of them in use.

John Deer has a similar sized engine with a good reputation too, but I have no feel for price.

Bob

 

[Boatsb]

You may also want to consider the yanmars. I know of a bunch in the 30-40 foot boats that the owners love. My dad has a pair of 175 HP 4's in his 31 tiarra with a bridge, hardtop and a genny and it does 30 MPH plus cruises at 24 at about 13 GPH.

 

[gottatanfl]

We have looked at the yanmars and a few others.

The Perkins I can get the pair with trannys for less than the yanmars without.

This boat was purchased by us after her prior owner let her take on water.
Both engines and trannys are junk.

Most of her electrical has been replaced as well as heads, and everything new in the galley.

Needless to say funds dont last long when replacing EVERYTHING.

 

[Will]

I'd avoid Perkins. The engines themselves are not too bad but the marine conversion parts like heat exchangers and manifolds are a PTA to maintain, will still fail after a few years and are outrageously expensive to replace. Yanmar and Luggers have good reps. However, for ruggedness and longevity, nothing compares with industrial quality DD, CATs or Cummins. (Not the souped up, high powered, yachtie ones - the industrial quality models.)
Will

 

[REBrueckner]

I'd get specified fuel consumption per HP to compare with a more modern engine. Depending on your hours of annual use, you could conceivably save enough fuel money to pay for a more expensive, but more economical engine. Also consider parts and service availability where you regularly boat.

Generally I've heard only good things about traditional Perkins, yet now that you ask I have not seen any in new boats....perhaps there's a good reason, perhaps not.

 

[q240z]

gottatanfl, I am in the process of repowering and refitting a 1967 Chris Craft Roamer 46 that originally came with 427 gassers but had been repowered with twin turbo and intercooled 534ci Fords (back in the days of 50 cent gas, presumably). These boats also originally came with 320hp 8v71s. My current boat has 671s, which I love, but I wanted to consider all options and keep in mind that I rarely travel faster than 10kts. After much consideration of what's out there now and what's been out there over the last couple of decades, including putting together a "bang for the buck" spreadsheet, I decided on a set of main engines that has the purist crowd with their "a planing hull must be able to plane" attitude in knots:

120hp Ford Lehmans

I got the set with Twin Disk 502 gears for $4500. They needed $1500 or so to get them ready for another couple of decades on the water.

I'm sure the Perkins will work out fine for you, though I have heard that parts are sometimes made from a substance called unobtainium. Unless you're a commercial captain doing thousands of hours per year, you'll probably never regret going with old, bulletproof power.

Just my $0.02

 

[Mike36c]

I had a 240hp T6354 in a Strike years ago, the base engine is great but the marine conversion wasn't the best. The exhaust "Multi-cooler" is several thousand to replace and the limey parts are hard to come by plus $$$. If you want to go slow you may consider the 210hp 6BT Cummins, no raw-water aftercooler, de-rated, and dirt simple. IMHO the best choice (for speed) would be the Cummins 6C series remans.

 

[Boss Lady]

I would second the cummins. With the dollar in the toilet, buying anything from the UK is automatically almost 40% higher today than just a few months ago. I would see if you can find the failure parts easily before buying the engines. Even if they were free it might not be a good deal. Just like engine motor mounts for the old DDs, the cheapest I could find new motor mounts for my old 8v71s were $900 each x 4=$3600 per engine, and made it an easier decision to spend the money for a repower. $7200 just for new mounts.

 

[bdewar]

Cummins Cummins Cummins

 

[krush]

john deer? What about mitsuibishi or something similar?

 

[gottatanfl]

We went with the Perkin T6354 (185HP)

They are being shipped from CA to us here in FL. we are hoping to get them installed and be ready to cruise by July 4th...

Still alot of work to do, but we are hopeful.

 

[gottatanfl]

Well we didnt get the engines in this July like we had hoped.

But she goes on the Hard in two weeks for the installation.
We had the Perkins checked out and they run great, less than 2000 hours on both.
They did a little work to them and they are ready to go in. The DD are ready to pull.

I am looking for motor mounts if anyone has any ideas and trying to decide on props. We have gotten different opinion on keeping the same props the Detroits had or changing out to a different size and pitch. Ideas??

 

[drburke]

Gottanfl, I pretty sure you are aware of it, but the diameter for your application is mostly fixed, so I would use the calculator at http://boatdiesel.com/ and find the recommended pitch for your preferred cruise.

There are a few experts on this site and elsewhere that I might trust a little more (Tony Athens for example), but I wouldn't listen to casual advice. Use the calculator!

DAN

 

[gottatanfl]

Thanks I dont know why I didnt go there first.