Gas to Diesel

[Marlinmike]

You might find repowering with long block gas 350's to be a nice solution, at least an option to price out. If you go slow, 7 knots, you can save quite a bit of fuel.

Fuel for thought! ;-)

[captn H]

You said that well psneeld, "Most of my knowledge has come from reading and trial and error"...... trial and error gets very expensive for more than not. Most people I know don't have time or money to spend on trial and error of repowering. I guess for some that have lots of time and or money for error that's great but most people I see that go that direction have their boats sitting on the hard or sitting in their slip a long time instead of out using it. That's great you can do your own work as I can but most cannot or go broke trying: )

[jleonard]

Originally Posted by Marlinmike

You might find repowering with long block gas 350's to be a nice solution, at least an option to price out. If you go slow, 7 knots, you can save quite a bit of fuel.

Fuel for thought! ;-)

Good point. And no engineering or mods required most likely.

[Northern Spy]

If you think you can do it; you probably can. If you don't think you can do it; you probably shouldn't.

[psneeld]

Originally Posted by Northern Spy

If you think you can do it; you probably can. If you don't think you can do it; you probably shouldn't.

Good philosophy.....

Plus....I'm not sure why people think others work in a vacuum without assistance whether totally voluntary or paying for it as you need it....most projects I've ever tackled in a boatyard....I have to turn people away most of the time for various reasons .

[rwidman]

Originally Posted by jleonard

Sorry, you are not correct. My ex marina neighbor who is a carpenter, did a gas to diesel swap on a SeaRay several years ago. It was a very professional looking job and everything worked perfectly. He did not change out his fuel tanks, he used what was in the boat.
I also did a repower on my "ex", diesel to diesel, but it was a big power increase so lots had to be changed. Really not all that bad to do if taken step by step after some research.
It's more bull work than anything really.

I suspect you aren't really sorry. Anything like this is a matter of opinion and of course each boat, each engine, and each owner or mechanic is different.

If you like working on boats, go ahead. If you would rather go boating, a mechanic and a helper could replace the engines with the same but rebuilt in a week or so and you can put it in the water and do what boats are for, go boating.

I've seen more than one abandoned half finished boat rotting away in the back lot of a boatyard or marina.

[psneeld]

Try and get prompt work on boats in many areas (I would think Canada especially with the short season) in the Spring...especially a repower...good luck.

Anyway the original premis of people saying do it yourself if you can was all about the money...not whether the OP was capable, cared to do it, could get it done...etc...etc....

[Edelweiss]

Originally Posted by rayman62

Thanks for the info. The original owner said his top speed was 26mph with the mercruisers. I will have to reconsider the 85 perkins. I also have a chance to get two 240hp turbo charged perkins with the trannys . The price is 10k and they run well but would I have to change the 1 1/4 shafts and the props or could I use the existing ones?

Sounds like you are talking 6.354's?? If they're not horizontal engines, I doubt that they're going to fit in you engine room. It's a tall engine and weighs around 1700 lbs each with transmissions. Chances are your current Velvet drives won't button up to a diesel. Much less shafts, struts, props, fuel tanks, etc. etc.

Bad idea. . . go with a gas rebuild. . . much cheaper in the long run.

[LaBomba]

Originally Posted by psneeld

Try and get prompt work on boats in many areas (I would think Canada especially with the short season) in the Spring...especially a repower...good luck.

.

Your right on that. April before you can even think of working on a boat up here and everyone wants there boat in by May 24th long weekend. Marinas, mechanics, canvas makers, etc. are all run mad in the spring. Repower is likely best left till haul out in the fall and you still need to get it under cover some how.