Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 07-17-2015, 02:06 PM   #1
Veteran Member
 
henrymei's Avatar
 
City: Baltimore
Vessel Name: Moondance
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 49
can you change Cat 3208 to Yanmar 8LV-370?

My 24 year old port engine is toast after about 5000 hours (Cat 3208 TA 375HP). Planning to rebuild starboard and go with long block for port. Someone suggested the Yanmar as a "drop in" replacement. Anybody have experience with this?
I am replacing risers and have to run new wires to flying bridge. Just got new shafts so I would be willing to shorten them but not get longer ones.
Starboard engine is solid except low turbo boost. Waiting for prices etc.
Cutting new and bigger door in salon to get engines out.
Thanks for your comments.
henrymei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2015, 05:01 PM   #2
Guru
 
Portuguese's Avatar
 
City: Salvador - BA
Vessel Name: Rainha Jannota
Vessel Model: Curruira 46
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 667
Replacing the CAT with an equal rebuild one is not an option?

My question comes because 3208s are V8. Are Yanmar V8? Do you want to change both CATs?

I punched CAT 3208 in google and a bunch of photos from rebuild for sale engines come up from all over USA


Sorry for the ignorance
__________________
Now retired and cruising in calm waters
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rainha_jannota/
Portuguese is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2015, 05:28 PM   #3
Veteran Member
 
henrymei's Avatar
 
City: Baltimore
Vessel Name: Moondance
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 49
The Yammers are V8's. By the time I start getting into equalizing the starboard engine to a rebuilt port one (turbo, hoses, possibly heat exchanger, etc ) a rebuild is not much more. I want the engines to be as equal as possible for future sale. If I can sell the starboard engine (which to date has been very reliable) the cost to modernize the power train becomes more reasonable IF I don't have to get into major engine mount changes etc. If I go with Cat I know I am paying a premium but I will be confident I am not getting a spray paint rebuild.
henrymei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2015, 05:48 PM   #4
Guru
 
psneeld's Avatar
 
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,149
I couldn't imaging not just dropping in a rebuilt 3208 from a trusted rebuild shop.


Now a total repower is not out of the question...but I am assuming money IS an object.
psneeld is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2015, 05:57 PM   #5
Technical Guru
 
Ski in NC's Avatar
 
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
The Yanmar V8 is a new marinization of a Toyota car engine. Common rail electronic injection, I imagine half the controls are Toyota, half are Yanmar. Never like it when responsibility is shared between two companies.

I would consider it an unproven machine with regards to the US market. something goes wrong with it, most mechanics will stand there scratching their heads.

Any mech can fix a 3208. Go with a reman on your blown one, get the other one freshened up. Seals, rings, bearings, etc.
Ski in NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2015, 08:14 PM   #6
Guru
 
BruceK's Avatar
 
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,329
Stay with "Plan A". Think of all the modifications and changes you won`t have to make.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
BruceK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2015, 08:56 PM   #7
Guru
 
Xsbank's Avatar
 
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
If you go Yanmar, despite it being Toyota, which is a pretty good engine, it will be electronic and require a geek with a computer to tune it. The 3208s are like Lehmans (although V8s are a bugger to work on compared to 6 cyl. IMHO) you can do most repairs with a crescent wrench and a hammer. Cats and Cummins are horribly expensive if you have to do anything with a dealer, stay away and you will be much happier with the Cat.

Watch the mechanic, don't let him screw you. A boat dollar or two is easy to hide with a repower...
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
Xsbank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-17-2015, 10:27 PM   #8
Guru
 
River Cruiser's Avatar
 
City: UMR MM283
Vessel Name: Northern Lights II
Vessel Model: Bayliner 3870
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,357
Factory rebuilt 3208s used to be $5,000.00 for the 210 hp units and had a caterpillar warranty. I would stick with the cats because of the abundance of parts available, dependability and the mechanics who are familiar with them, the other may end up being a orphan.


Sent from my iPad using Trawler Forum
__________________
Ron on Northern Lights II
I don't like making plans for the day because the word "premeditated" gets thrown around in the courtroom.
River Cruiser is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2015, 12:06 AM   #9
Guru
 
Xsbank's Avatar
 
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
You can go into most logging camps on our coast and there will be a couple of guys who can work on a Cat, probably even have parts. The Yanmar, no.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
Xsbank is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2015, 12:16 AM   #10
Valued Technical Contributor
 
DavidM's Avatar
 
City: Litchfield, Ct
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 6,785
Tony Athens gave you a terse answer to your question over on boatdiesel- go with a remanned Cat. The underlying reasons are what Ski said above- unproven engine, marinization of recent Yanmar conversions have been poor, electronic engine, high rev power. Need I go on.


Stick with the Cat.


David
DavidM is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2015, 12:57 AM   #11
Guru
 
City: Hotel, CA
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 8,323
Quote:
Originally Posted by henrymei View Post
Someone suggested the Yanmar as a "drop in" replacement. Anybody have experience with this?

I do.

That "Someone" is better known as the good idea fairy. He seems to show up every time what should otherwise be a dirt simple choice needs to be made. The good idea fairy's mission in life seems to be to over complicate every situation he is allowed into. I cannot stand that sorry sap and am glad to hear he's running in your circles now and hopefully stays out of mine.

Stick with the CAT's, unless you have more money than brains. If that's the case go with the Yanmars and make some lucky mechanics year a lot brighter.
__________________
Craig

It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they've been fooled - Mark Twain
CPseudonym is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2015, 05:58 AM   #12
FF
Guru
 
FF's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
Cat 3208 TA 375HP\

If you dont spend much time at flank, and do not need 375 hp, installing a factory rebuilt non turbo might make sense in terms of cost , longevity and fuel burn.

May not tow water skiers tho.
FF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-18-2015, 12:01 PM   #13
Guru
 
C lectric's Avatar
 
City: Gibsons, B.C., Canada
Vessel Name: Island Pride
Vessel Model: Palmer 32'
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,414
Was the Toy/Yan designed as a "drop in 3208 replacement"? No,?
Then for someone to say it is a drop in replacement means they are likely talking through their hat.

You will be into a full on repower meaning the engines will be about half the cost, maybe less. At this point there is little/no history of this engine in marine service.

The 3208 parts are still available. As suggested re-mans are still available.
If you really want two fresh engines then that would truly be a drop in replacement with a good history and future good sevice availability.
C lectric is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2015, 06:33 AM   #14
Veteran Member
 
henrymei's Avatar
 
City: Baltimore
Vessel Name: Moondance
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 49
An update

The engine saga continues at a snail's pace. After sending a large deposit in to the local CAT dealer I was told there is no delivery date for a remanufactured long block. The price ballooned to $34,000 an engine with a one year parts warranty. An additional 3 grand for overhaul protection coverage. Alban CAT seemed happy to return the deposit and ship the engines to T&S Marine in Crisfield, MD for rebuilds at less than half the price. T&S has been suggested by several knowledgable resources. The Alban techs, who seem quite competent, will do the engine reinstall. The local watermen use T&S and swear by them.
henrymei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2015, 08:05 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Jetstream's Avatar
 
City: Tasmania
Vessel Model: Old Town Loon
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 218
Quote:
Originally Posted by henrymei View Post
The price ballooned to $34,000 an engine with a one year parts warranty. An additional 3 grand for overhaul protection coverage.
I had a similar experience with Cat. I bought a boat with twin 310hp 3208's and seeing they where tired thought I'd get them overhauled before we started using her. A friend of a friend from the local Cat dealership came out and quoted me no more then $15,000 each worst case and probably less. We shook hands on it (first big mistake) and he took the engines away. I rang a couple of weeks later to see how they were going and he wouldn't say how far along they were but wonted to have me come in and sign a quote (which I thought foolishly we had already agreed on).

Long story short they wanted $27,000 each so I told them to keep the engine and shove the quote. I ended up getting them back for the cost of stripping from the dealer and got another company to do them for $17,000 each including what I paid the dealer.

I've never trusted Cat since then and have tried to stay away from them.

Sorry for the rant. I'd get a rebuild from a quality shop to replace you old one. Repowering with a different brand is always problematic and expensive.
Jetstream is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-22-2015, 05:30 PM   #16
Guru
 
TDunn's Avatar
 
City: Maine Coast
Vessel Name: Tortuga
Vessel Model: Nunes Brothers Raised Deck Cruiser
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 889
If you could put in a Yanmar, you would have some serious considerations to look into. Not the least is that the Yanmar is about 800 lbs lighter than the cat. So going with one cat and one yanmar would require adding hundreds of pounds of trim ballast. Also the 370 hp yanmar is a 3,800 rpm engine while the cat is a 2,800 rpm engine. So you would have to run two different props (available gear ratios are also likely different) at different engine speeds. It would be a royal pain to get the power output from the two engines the same.

If you want to change to Yanmar, do both engines.
TDunn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2015, 08:39 AM   #17
Veteran Member
 
henrymei's Avatar
 
City: Baltimore
Vessel Name: Moondance
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 49
Update

The engines were rebuilt by T&S in Crisfield, MD. A little over $28,000 including freight for both. The MG 507's were remanufactured by Great Lakes Power, the Twin Disc distributor for just over 12,000. So for $40,000 I have rebuilt engines and transmissions. Had new risers fabricated also. Painted engine room, replaced insulation. Things are looking good. Now hoping everything runs as good as it looks.
henrymei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2015, 09:00 AM   #18
Guru
 
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
Henry: How were the cylinders done? Over size bore?
bayview is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2015, 11:21 AM   #19
Veteran Member
 
henrymei's Avatar
 
City: Baltimore
Vessel Name: Moondance
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 49
All cylinders were bored and sleeved. All new pistons. Aside from the one cylinder that broke all were in pretty good shape. criss cross scoring to promote lubrication was visible on the cylinder walls.
henrymei is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-27-2015, 11:44 AM   #20
Technical Guru
 
Ski in NC's Avatar
 
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
Got a few T and S 3208's running around here. They are all doing well.

Henry, good conclusion.
Ski in NC is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Trawler Port Captains
Port Captains are TF volunteers who can serve as local guides or assist with local arrangements and information. Search below to locate Port Captains near your destination. To learn more about this program read here: TF Port Captain Program





All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:22 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2006 - 2012