Conversion.

[genesis08]

Thanks a million Blue Runner,I have seen Skools on the site before,I will try and send him mail.Brian............

[THEFERMANATOR]

First I would reccomend crunching the numbers for your fuel savings VS the cost of the repower. A V-20 is gonna need a LIGHT diesel which limits your options down to a few of the modern diesels with alot of aluminum in them. The only one that is priced even remotely reasoneable that would push a V-20 is the CUMMINS 120HP with the ALPHA 1 outdrive, and it's track record has not been the best from what I have read on it. Maybe one of the VW engines they have out now would work as well as the D3 VOLVOS, but the cost on those is UP there. Unfortunately the weight of CUMMINS 3.9L or the GM 6.5L would both be too much for a V-20 to take when at rest and would result in VERY poor balance. Also remember that diesels make ALOT more torque than there gas counterparts so the ALPHA(or your current outdrive) will not be up to the task, so you'll also have to figure in the cost of that. For the money I would keep the 165 6 as it isn't that bad on fuel for a gasser, or repower with one of the new 3.0L at 135HP as they are said to be about 20% better on fuel than the 6.

For a V-20 the best option if you want cheap diesel power would be to go with a jack shafted 6.5L or a small PERKINS or something IMHO. You would also have to go with BRAVO 1 or a VOLVO outdrive to handle the torque, but the jackshaft option would even out your balance in the boat.

[genesis08]

Thanks alot Ferm for the advice.Is there any way that I can use my existing outdrive with a Diesel? I was considering going for an Isuzu Diesel,140 HP.Is there anyone on the site that is using a Diesel engine that you know of?

Regards Brian............

[Seacrets]

$5.00 a gallon? My marina gas is $3.05, and that's probably higher than some.

[garagenc]

You will need to add ballast to offset the weight of the diesel. I helped a local here who replaced his gas inbd with a diesel and I had to add about 700lbs in ballast if I remember right. Also we had to beef up his flooring in the bow to be able to handle the sand bags (ballast). We put in double flooring so his sand bags were not laying on the walking deck.

He ended up spending so much money he could have bought another boat with a diesel, he also could have bought another engine with fuel injection (increased hp and fuel mileage).

You may look into adding electronic ignition and fuel injection as a increase in hp & fuel economy in lieu of trading out to a diesel.

[genesis08]

Just a Slight correction!Thats 5 Euros a gallon Which is about $7.50 - to $8.00 a GALLON.Thats why I need to get a Diesel !!! The Gas is Killing me.I can buy Agri Diesel For about $4.00 a Gallon its a no brainer...

Brian

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by garagenc

You will need to add ballast to offset the weight of the diesel. I helped a local here who replaced his gas inbd with a diesel and I had to add about 700lbs in ballast if I remember right. Also we had to beef up his flooring in the bow to be able to handle the sand bags (ballast). We put in double flooring so his sand bags were not laying on the walking deck.

This why jackshafting would be the best option. The added ballast would make the V ride so low that it would handle like a sinking submarine. The ALPHA drive is OK, but isn't up to the task of handling diesel torque. Also shifting would be slightly tricky as an ALPHA outdrive almost requires the momentary kill of the engine to shift out of gear(you can do it without, but it's a pain and hard on the gears in the lower). Diesels really need an outdrive with cone clutches to hold up and shift. A small ISUZU would work, but I know over here we don't have many small diesel options and marinizing can get REAL expensive REAL quick.

[spareparts]

Cummins Mercruiser does all their testing and r&d here in Charleston, SC( I had a job offer from them right up till their budget got hacked) . They have a couple of 26 Bertrams running Merc Diesels. One is using the 1.6l Isuzu diesel(twin set up) with an Alpha drive, it does OK, but it needs a little more power, the weight and size of the 1.6 is comparable to the 3.0 gas engine. The other boat is using mercruisers marinization of the VM diesel rated at 150 hp, it performs better, but the size of the VM(and their track record) doesn't make it a good choice. I have never liked the VM, they are big(bigger than a small block), use odd ball electronics, and generally don't perform well. I recently saw the Yanmar test Bertram 20 with a single BMW(used in the euro X5) in front of Yanmars own drive, it was a nice set up, but I think its too much for an Alpha. If you plan on keeping your existing drive set up, you will need to go to an alpha lower unit at the minumum. You will probably have better availability of engine choices in Europe than we have here in the States. If you have the money, a Volvo D4 Sx combo would be nice. Also, check with Styer Diesels, they have a light weight Merc replacement. If you are bound to use your existing set up, you could probably marinize an Izusu engine, but parts are going to be high

[genesis08]

Thanks Spareparts,and all other contributors,

Just to clarify,are you saying that I could use my existing drive unit with an Isuzu engine?there is like a 140 hp diesel out there which I think BOWMAN in the Uk might be able to supply a heat exchanger/manifold!!

In fareness you guys in the states know alot more about these things than we do so sorry for all the questions,but I really appreciate the help!

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by genesis08

In fareness you guys in the states know alot more about these things than we do so sorry for all the questions,but I really appreciate the help!

I highly doubt that. Diesel's have been the black sheep over here since GM came out with the 5.7L back in the late 70's. It wasn't a bad engine, but people didn't understand them and ran them like a gasser and many of them suffered early deaths. Since then the diesel market has been trying hard to overcome a bad black eye. Engines like the VW TDI and the DURAMAX helped alot in changing peoples perceptions of diesels over here, but diesel technology has only been getting pursued for less than 10 years hence why most of our small diesels are euro imports.