Engines

[Gbinterim]

My son is looking at a few boats powered by Perkins or Yanmar engines. Looking for comments as to good, bad or so so as far as engines go.
Thx

[kapnd]

Parts and service availability in your area should be a major criteria in your selection.
Don't know if price is a driving factor in your search, but Perkins, Volvo and Yanmar have ridiculously high prices on parts.
I favor Cummins because their sales volume is huge by comparison, as well as their parts and service network.

[Lepke]

Some depends on how fast he wants to go and how often he wants to overhaul. Engines (in general) with a turbo produce higher exhaust gas temperatures. EGTs at near full throttle will wear the cylinder parts and valves about twice as fast as a non turbo engine. With a very careful skipper maybe only 30% faster wear.
I've run many of both types. If I have a choice, and I'm paying for the overhaul, I always pick natural aspirated engines. The real point of a turbo is to get a smaller engine in a given space. And the engine may not have originally been designed for a turbo. No matter how much cooling you have, EGTs that are too high will wear the engine faster.

[DavidM]

Be specific about boat and how you plan to use it as well as model of Perkins or Yanmar you are considering.

You can't really answer the question without that info.

David

[BandB]

It really only matters if you find two identical boats. Otherwise you find the boat you like and neither of those brands are going to run you away.

[bglad]

If he is looking at planing hulls then the higher the top speed the better. Not because he would be going fast but that he can run the engine much slower and still maintain good speed.

Turbo engines in displacement type hulls may offer better economy since generally the turbo will only be used in circumstances where extra power is needed. The rest of the time you will realize the benefits of a smaller displacement engine.

My view in general is that Perkins are better when intermittent high power is needed. Yanmars do not seem to mind being run at higher speeds. Both will be better if their ratings match the particular application and prop matching is done properly.

Originally Posted by Gbinterim

My son is looking at a few boats powered by Perkins or Yanmar engines. Looking for comments as to good, bad or so so as far as engines go.
Thx

[Baker]

Originally Posted by BandB

It really only matters if you find two identical boats. Otherwise you find the boat you like and neither of those brands are going to run you away.

BINGO!! Perfect answer to the question!

[CaptSteve53]

Both are sound engines and replies will be varied (probably fairly equally)
how ever in sales world wide and new vessels Yanmar out weigh's Perkins,

The older Perkins are well proven reliable engines that with a little care will run for thousands of hours with no issue, saying that you should try to stay away from the Perkins Prima models (as they have rubber timing belts) and if not changed (even before recommended time) it will let you down and as these engines are an (interference engine) when the belt goes normally your engine is destroyed.

Not to many known short comings with any of the Yanmar models, as with all these engines replacing the exhaust riser on a regular basis is key to a long life,

Cheers Steve

[North Baltic sea]

both reliable machines IF YOU ARE maintenace for with love and according to the manufacturer's instructions. ask the vendor to give an explanation of the maintenance. On some models, Yanmar has 6 pencils that are for some owners expensive and may be neglected. as well as cooling liquid exchange, some do not know that they should be replaced and may have internal sore corrosion


ie, the equivalent, just credible maintenance history and general look of the engine room and a successful sea trip. the mark does not have such a great value for Yanmar, perkins, cummins or volvo

[Irish Rambler]

Perkins, apart from the Prima which was a car/taxi engine are industrial engines marinised. Parts should not be expensive if you think out of the box. The 4 and 6 cylinders are found in Massey Ferguson agricultural machinery, forklift truck, gen sets etc.
I can also give a website for OE overhaul kits (including shipping) which are much cheaper than marine distributors.
Be very careful when servicing Yanmar, if you do it wrong she'll be Smokey and no amount of cleaning intercooler and turbo's will cure it.

[sunchaser]

Originally Posted by Lepke

. If I have a choice, and I'm paying for the overhaul, I always pick natural aspirated engines. .

In newer engines +100 HP there is no choice. Turbos account for probably 95% of diesel sales and in gas engines the numbers are quickly rising.