repower 41C

[markawilson]

I have recently been advised I have a cracked block on the port engine on my 1990 41C - I have 3208 TA 425hp engines and am thinking of replacing both engines. Any suggestions on what has worked out well for others?
What about moving to the 3126b is it? I would like to be able to move to an engine with the least amount of engine room rework and it would be great if the gears and all that could be reused.
What about yanmar or cummins?
Would like to be able to use factory reconditioned engines for cost reasons with some factory warranty. Have had a few issues since I've owned the boat with these engines, and have been losing a month or more out of each of the past 3 summers, would like to try to get over this hump.

Thoughts? What have you heard that has worked out well and what general kind of dollars are we talking about?

Thanks!

 

[REBrueckner]

While you wait, search REPOWER on this forum for lots of discussions,
here's one on "remans":
http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15457&highlight=repower

From what's been posted here previously, the 3208's are great engines but not boosted to your high HP....

and here's a general discussion of possible interest:
http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=333&highlight=repower

 

[Boatsb]

The question is will a straight 6 fit without a down angle transmission and will the angle be outside the parameters of the engine when running. Both Yanmar and cummins make great engines for repowers and the cummins remans are a great deal( I know I am a dealer) but the best fit may require some new trannys and running gear.

 

[saltshaker]

The question is will a straight 6 fit without a down angle transmission and will the angle be outside the parameters of the engine when running. Both Yanmar and cummins make great engines for repowers and the cummins remans are a great deal( I know I am a dealer) but the best fit may require some new trannys and running gear.

The QSM11's should be a good fit. 671TIs are common in the 41C. Not sure if your gears are big enough to handle the extra HP. Most likely would require an increase in shaft size as well. The remaned Cummins C series would be a less expensive route but won't give you much performance in that boat. If you are happy with how she performed with the Cats, then they should be a good fit. I would stay away from the 26 series Cats. Many won't touch a boat with them and someday you may want to sell her.

 

[rsmith]

Having been through a repower on our 34 when I was a kid (we put in the 3160 cats) unless you like working on the boat rather than using it the down time may not be worth it.We lost a season and a half that we could have been using the boat. As my dad and I look back at it now even though the repower worked out great we should have sold the 34 and got a 36 with the 3160's already in it.with the cost of the repower which cost way more than we origonaly estimated, and the time factor(everyone always is overly optimistic) It wouldnt have cost that much more to move into a 36.

 

[captddis]

kpbeil on this forum has a 1987 repowered 41 with Cummins 450C series.

Cruises about 16 kts and tops out about 21kts. Not the fastest but a real economical boat. less than 30 GPH at cruise and you could have a square dance in the engine room with all the space around the engines.

 

[86Hat41]

That boat needs a MINIMUM of 550HP engines to make it run right. I own the same model and it is a mongrel design. The only ones that run correctly were the ones built w/692's. The only thing that's gonna make it run right is horse power. If you're gonna spend the money on a repower, put the Cummins in it, do it once, do it right and then when you go to sell it one day, someone will actually buy it. Yanmars are too light, great motors but not for this application, they will throw the balance off. You'd have to keep full fuel and water at all times. Good Luck.

 

[Boatsb]

What was the performance like with the 3208"s?

Series 1 41C's seem to need a lot less power if all the other posts are right. I cruise at16 and to out at 20.5 with 8V53's at 280 HP each.

 

[markawilson]

Wow, what great information - thanks to you all. Much to think about and research. I got a rough number on some unused Cummins 450hp engines, mechanical, new but sold as unused (probably 450C's). I understand they fit.

The 3208TA's with a clean bottom and half load and recently reworked props with an inch less pitch, in Bayou Lafourche, ran at 22 knot wides open and 2700-2800 rpms, and cruised at 17 knots at 2400. Loaded down, as we always load her down with people, gear, ice chests, compressor, tanks, etc etc. we are happy to get +/- 15knots at 2400 rpms burning some 40-45 gph. So we mostly travel in the gulf at 1400 rpms giving 8-9knots and go 50-80miles each way.

I hear you about needing horsepower - 550?? Wonder what cummins engine will give that? The problem is price, do not want to get too much dollars invested as I can not get my money out in time, so I will need to go the rebuilt route. Sounded like the rebuilt 450C might be economical to buy and run.

 

[jim rosenthal]

For that much power (as Scott will tell you) you have a choice of a C series Cummins working pretty hard, or an M11 which isn't working much at all. A pair of M11s in the "reman" category (how they are able to do this I have no idea but it is a great program) with gears would run you about 60K$, I think, plus putting them in. (Scott, please correct if I am wrong on this). With those engines, the boat would be very quick- M11s come in ratings up to 700hp, the reman version is 660 I think. More than enough, plus they would be a bit lighter than the 3208s, and better service access.

If you love the boat and have no intent to sell it, go for it if you can afford to. But the days of repowering any old boat and making anything on it are long over, so plan on running her for a long time. You'll have a lot of fun, and go fast, and at the end, someone will want her and want to be the next owner.

 

[rsmith]

Wow, what great information - thanks to you all. Much to think about and research. I got a rough number on some unused Cummins 450hp engines, mechanical, new but sold as unused (probably 450C's). I understand they fit.

The 3208TA's with a clean bottom and half load and recently reworked props with an inch less pitch, in Bayou Lafourche, ran at 22 knot wides open and 2700-2800 rpms, and cruised at 17 knots at 2400. Loaded down, as we always load her down with people, gear, ice chests, compressor, tanks, etc etc. we are happy to get +/- 15knots at 2400 rpms burning some 40-45 gph. So we mostly travel in the gulf at 1400 rpms giving 8-9knots and go 50-80miles each way.

I hear you about needing horsepower - 550?? Wonder what cummins engine will give that? The problem is price, do not want to get too much dollars invested as I can not get my money out in time, so I will need to go the rebuilt route. Sounded like the rebuilt 450C might be economical to buy and run.

40-45gph @ 15kts? is that right? I run 18.5 kts 42gph@2100rpm in my 60,000lb 50c with 12/n DDA's I thought these new engines were supposed to be MORE efficient than my 43year old antiques.

 

[TopGun1]

The 1986 to 1990 41c Series II is a great boat.

I repowered to Cummins 480 CEs (480 metric horspower/ 465 SAE)
Transmission is a 1.72 to 1 ZF 286A
26 x 28 four blade Props

full tuna tower
Lift rails

Performance is

1850 rpms doing 18 knots at 24 gph
2100 rpms doing 21 knots
2650 doing 30 knots at 50 gph

 

[rtrafford]

I read and didn't understand some numbers posted.

We did a 1969 41c with twin C Series Cummins at 450hp with those ZF gears at 1.72, no tower, hardtop, and she easy-cruises at 24, firm cruises at 26, and WOT at 32.

Affordable and economical.....