Diesel conversions

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 1:35 pm

Doug, Now that`s just not fair to the rest of us, is it? It`s obsene how cheaply you dock your boat.Me, I`m starting to play the lottery. I`m going to buy a marina when I win.Then I`m going to kick everyone out and just let my friends stay cheap. Frank Price

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 2:10 pm

Frank, I keep telling you and Al to join PCYC. If you think you'll still have a boat in 12-15 years then there's still time to become a member. I'm serious. If you're in your 40's now and you think you'll be boating into your late 50's and beyond then it makes perfect sense to join. Think about how much of your potential retirement income you'll be saving. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

lobsta1 · Post by **lobsta1** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 3:48 pm

Doug, I guess there is no hope for me then. I'm already 56, so I'll be pushing 70 by the time I get in. Al 1978 33 FBC NITES OFF

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:01 pm

Doug, I`ve been thinking about it, really. How about if I pay 12 yrs dues up front? Can I go to the front of the line? That would equal one season at the marina.... Frank Price

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 4:33 pm

Frank, Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Al, It would still give you a convenient place to haul out. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 4:03 am

Doug, Maintaing diesels isn't much harder than Gas. I ran a dive boat for about 10 yrs with 8-71N Detroits in it. I majored the engines twice and the engines were 10,000+ hrs. both times. We ran this thing 2 trips a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. Naturally it had some high $ breakdowns along the way, but for the most part it didn't go down much. Actually we would do the overhauls in 24 hrs a side on a days it was to rough to go out. The basic maintance program we used was oil & filters every 100 hrs. transmissions every 200 hrs. Double Racor filters. Clean fuel is mandatory. Chip rust and repaint every winter when it was blowing. Oh yeah..you need bigger tools and yes parts are more expensive, but big things can usually be recored, sandblasted, boiled out and reused. E.W. Dugan

Razzmatazz · Post by **Razzmatazz** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 10:51 am

To take a 33 gas and install 2 brand new diesels cummins,yanmars,cats, it will cost you 80,000 to 90,000 total including generator....if a person likes to fish over 50 miles offshore and troll all day,the gas 33 doesnt have the range...believe me i have had both....1979 33 w/ 454 and now I have 1983 with cats(3208).. the fuel economy is just about double and it will cruise all day long at 20 knots..if you like a take a cruise say 20 to 30 miles, then stay with the gas engines....before i would put in brand new diesels i would look for one that is done all ready.... thats my 2 cents...... Bill

Post by **dougl33** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:07 pm

FYI: I got some info from a 37 owner from a different site. He's got the 450hp 6-92's and his buddy has the 375hp cats. Here is what he said: "Doug: It's hard to say what the fuel flow is exactly since I lack flow measuring equipment, but the Bertram owners manual says that at 1900 rpm I should be burning 41 gph. I don't think I'm burning that much, though. My numbers look more like 35 to 36 gph, at around 22 knots. I had the wheels cut down from 25" X 28" to 25" X 26" because we travel heavy when running to the Bahamas, which brought the wide-open rpm to where it should be, but we droppped a knot or two in cruise speed. Maybe they burn slightly less since they're not under as heavy a load, I don't know." he also went on to add: "The 450's will push the 37 27 knots with the higher pitched props at 2100 rpm with a very light load. All manufacturers like to prop their boats on the high end when doing speed trials so the numbers look great. They just don't hold up in the real world. My boat wouldn't turn 2350 rpm, recommended WOT rpm, with the 28" pitch wheels, when loaded like we use it day-to-day. I've always believed you should prop a boat to turn up to its rated rpm when loaded like you really use it. I cruise at 1900 to 1950 rpm. If I push it up to 2100, I can cruise at 24-25 knots. I just like running them a little easier. It's true, however, that they DO like diesel fuel. Repowering with a pair of 450C Cummins would cut my fuel bill down substantially, but the repower would cost $100K plus, so what would I save?" and finally: "On the 37 with Cats, he's cruising at 20 knots at 2350 rpm and burning 28 to 30 gph." So the bottom line is that the 37's are at least as expensive to run as a gas 33 and possibly more so depending on engines. I'll still be thinking of picking one up in 4 or 5 years. Regards, Doug L. 1986 33 Bertram FBC Queen Elizabeth

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:28 pm

Yah but just think how cheap a 33 with diesels is to run...Sounds like fourfootitus to me. Just kidding, sort of Doug. The 37`s are really nice but if I go bigger I think I`d find a solid 42 footer and redo the interior and live on it during the summers. Might as well jump in with both feet. I`ll probably stay with this one.She`s a sweety. Frank Price

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:33 pm

Bill, How do you like your cats? You must have a pretty good feel for these boats. Do you smell the diesel smoke under way? How about at idle after they`re warmed up? Any worse than other engines? Here`s the big question, if you have a wife or girlfriend, is she OK with the smell and the smoke(If there is any)? Frank Price

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:48 pm

Frank, I sure hope you get your question about the ambience of diesels answered soon..... Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Wed Nov 17, 2004 3:59 pm

I know, I`m sure everyone is tired of hearing it....

Razzmatazz · Post by **Razzmatazz** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 2:22 am

Frank: yes I love the cats,270 hp,so far since april only had basic maintence done,and 1 injector had to be replaced...they smoke some on start up but after you get going they are basically smoke free....the diesel smell doesnt bother me or my wife, but there is some on all diesel boats to some extent....i guess someone that is prone to seasickness this will push you over the edge....i can 60 miles offshore and troll 8 hours and burn 150 to 160 gallons of fuel, which to me i think is great for a boat as heavy as the 33 is....the only thing that i wish was different is the run home,which i wish i could have a higher cruise than 20 knots....which makes for a long run from 60 or so miles....but most of the time in Texas it is too rough to run faster anyway,but 24,25 knots would be nice,and too do that you need 350hp per side...37's are great also, real fast with the 6v92's but the motors dont last, only say 2000 or so hours the rebuild time at a price of 14,000 each....the ones with cats are nice if you can put up with the slow cruise of say 22-23 knots but they will last 6000 or so hours if take care of, anyway come on down to texas and lets go for a ride....... Bill

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:14 am

quote:Originally posted by franklyprice Since I`ve had my boat I have to admit I`ve been lusting for the economy(such as it is)and the cruising speed of diesel engines. I know that some guys here are happy with gas engines in general and would be happier if they had the new breed of big blocks with the supposed gas mileage increases they offer and of course the added power. I cannot tell you the heated discussions we`ve had at my shop , about the negatives of diesels and how dis-appointed I`ll be with the smell and noise of them. Of course the nay sayers aren`t looking at the reports of everybody with yanmars and the like, cruising at 24 knots while burning 18 gallons an hour. I am especially interested in seeing what the new smog regs are going to do to the new engines for the noise and smoke that are almost always part of the diesel package. I`m assuming that the engines will be like they are in any new diesel pick-up truck, really clean burning. The question I have is, how are the diesels out there doing? There have to be several of you guys with diesels out there reading this. How good is it?Do your wives hate the smell, or is it not a problem? Have the yanmar engines lived up to the promises? Or are they smoking more and making more noise as they age? Some of this is inevitable, I know. Also, what kind of fuel burn do you really get? With real numbers from flow-scans, not just cruising most of a day and using X amount of fuel. I`m intereted in hearing any stories about repowers of B33`s and the long term pluses and minuses , gas or diesel. I`m not too interested in other types of boats because it confuses the subject. I also know that this subject has been talked about endlessly here before but what doesn`t seem to be discussed are the social aspects of different types of power, the smell, noise and vibration especially. Frankly, it`s going to be hard to talk me out of diesel engines when I can afford it but I`m all ears. Frank Price `87 SF "JEANNE CLAIRE' Rowley Ma.

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:24 am

I repowered my 33 SF two years ago with Yanmar 315 LY series. I ran the boat two years with the old 454's. The diesel performance is unbelieveable. The boat handles better around the dock plus the high end is 24 kts ( 25.5 kts when the boat is light on fuel)., cruise 21 kts at low cruise, 23 kts at high cruise. I take he boat to the canyon often. It truely is great sea boat. I am burning 18 gal per hr at 21 kts. I own a boat yard in Rhode Island, so I did a complete refit, generator, bridge encloser, & enterior. If you need info let me know. Richard "Anawan" 33 SF