A few years back, I repowered my little Aquarius Pilot Cutter with a Beta 16 HP BZ602. Great little engine which is now being used by someone else as I sold the boat 3 years ago.
Now, I have the most-cool 42' LOD Alden Schooner "Prudence." She is currently powered with a keel-cooled/dry stacked, 60 HP Isuzu C-240 with a Hurth 2.75:1 gear and a four-blade fixed prop. Prudence is 34' at the waterline, draws 7 feet, 10.5' beam, and weighs 38,000 lbs.
Though the Isuzu is a great engine, runs real clean and powers the boat well, she's leaking a bit of oil and fuel, something of a 'rust-bucket, and though the keel-cooler sounds like a great idea, I don't like it much for reasons I won't bother everyone with.
So, the big question....which Beta to use for repower. The 50, 60, or 75? Bear in mind also that we are soon upgrading to a Darglow feathering prop to replace the current 4-blade. Something about these English products I like...LOL!
Hello and thanks for the photo. Good looking boats are always a pleasure and according to your numbers, an easily driven hull as well. The Beta 60 will be just right for you. The 75 will work also but this engine is physically much larger than the 60 and must be fitted with an hydraulic transmission.
We can supply the Beta 60 with TMC260 mechanical transmission (or ZF30M which is the new version of the Hurth HBW250) and this allows you to put the shifter in reverse to lock the shaft when sailing.
I would speak to Richard Hares (Darglow Engineering) and get his take on what ratio will work best for your boat. He knows his propellers better than anyone else.
Have fun, Stanley
-- Edited by Stanley on Tuesday 3rd of July 2012 06:02:45 PM
Thanks for the response. This AM I spoke with Larry of NW Sailor here in Gig Harbor, WA who is one of your dealers. He recommended the 50 HP after 'crunching' some numbers and said that the 60 HP engine would only net me about a .2 knot advantage thus not making it worth the extra cost and weight.
I like the idea of having the extra power to punch through a head sea, but not at a superfluous weight/cost.
Here I would err in favour of the Beta 60. There is very little differance in cost and you will appreciate the extra torque in heavy conditions. The Beta 50 and 60 have the same physical dimensions and the weight differance is small.
Those were my thoughts, too, (60 vs 50). Should I decide to keep the present keel-cooling system of my Isuzu C-240, is a 60 available without the heat exchange system? Is there significant cost-savings getting a 60 without the heat exhanger and staying with my keel-cooler?
Keel cooling is available and is no problem. The saving is not significant. It is equivelant to the upgrade for the 100 amp alternator with the polyvee (flat belt) drive system.
