 |
 |
 |
| |
 |
 |
 |
| |
| Repower Articles |
| Nido Del Mar - Repowering a 48 foot Offshore Yachtfisher |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
Deciding
What Engines - First we went to our regular mechanic. We told him
we wanted to go at least 15 kts and asked what he thought would be best.
He suggested Yanmar diesels, as he was a Yanmar dealer. Not wanting to be
stuck with just one choice we also called CAT, Detroit and Cummins.
The bid process was very technical and time consuming.
Engine dealers and their rep’s coming to the boat and measuring, checking
shaft sizes, worrying about exhaust pressure. Everyone telling us their
engine was best and their people were experts. We spent days and even weeks
on the phone collecting and then comparing information. After hearing all
the testimony and very careful consideration we decided that Cummins was
best suited to our needs. The Cummins 370HP B Diamond series diesels to
be precise. |
Finding the
right guy to install our engines - The next step was deciding who would put them in. We
talked and listened to many mechanics and we checked with our local boat
yard. It turned out that finding the right guy was more difficult
then we had anticipated. There are not many guys around with the expertise
and willingness to tackle a project of our size.
We eventually contacted a "Repower Specialist"
who did all the work except props in house. There are not many of these
guys around. The alternative is a mechanic who subs out all or most of the
fabrication work to other shops. We liked the idea of most of the work being
done under the same roof by the same guy. In addition to coming across as
very knowledgeable he was highly recommended by both Cummins and the transmission
manufactures. On the downside this mechanic was located 100 miles away but
based on the recommendations and what we had seen we felt he was worth the
trip. |
The actual installation is the fun part. Virtually
everything that attaches the engines to the boat is CUSTOM MADE . Our boat
was an especially tough installation. Our engines are located inside the
salon, under the floor. The access hatches are in the middle of the salon.
That meant that the engines needed to be brought inside the boat. They were
then lowered into the center of the engine room and moved outward, back
under the salon floor, onto the stringers. Each engine took a full day just
to get them into place. Because our boat was so far away we could not get
there except on weekends.
We called our mechanic everyday for an update and just
to talk about the work and boat. Our mechanic was as patient and helpful.
This is important with a job where you are spending so much money. The last
thing you need is a mechanic that's doesn't want to take the time to talk
to his customer. Frankly we bugged the hell out of our guy and he never
once complained or made us feel like he was too busy. He always had time
to talk to us about the job. He even spent two full Sundays (his only day
off) with us to discuss the work and see other projects he had completed. |
Re-powers
take a long time - At this point I need to mention how much time had passed
since we started the project. By the time we had selected the engines and
the mechanic four months had passed. That was before the actual installation
even began. Very few things go fast when looking into a re-power. Days on
the phone getting rough numbers. Everyone needs to "get back to you".
Mechanics are backed up and can't get to your boat for 2 weeks to do
a bid, then its two more weeks to get all the numbers together. Then you
decide you need to look at another engine manufacture and the whole process
starts over.
Once we got the boat into the boat yard the installation took another 2
months. That put the total job from start to finish at half a year. The
bottom line is be prepared to be working on repower for 6 months. If its
less then that be happy. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
Nido
Del Mar - 48' Offshore Yachtfisher |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
