I'm on San Francisco bay and I have a 42 foot 17 ton Piver Victress.
I removed and donated a reliable yet completely underpowered and rare 2 cylinder 40 horsepower Isuzu diesel.
There is a 40 foot Victress on the bay running an 85 horsepower Perkins. Is the Beta90 similar in size to the Perkins?
Also, I have a Yanmar and a Volvo shop that want to drop, hi rev, turbo charged 75 hp diesels in my newly painted engine compartment. I was about to go with Volvo when a bumped into a sailor, at a holiday party, that ran a Volvo to the South Pacific. He's the one that praised Kubota. My yahoo search directed me to your website.
My reduction gear went with the Isuzu. I'm assuming I'll need a new prop. I'm just wondering if the Beta90 is in the same ball park in dimension as the Perkins 85. Will the Beta90 handle many hours of low, 1800ish, RPM cruising.
The Beta 75 and 90 are almost identical in size to the old Perkins 4.236. The 75 will give you all the power that the 4.236 did when it was new and the 90 will give you more. These are smooth running, low RPM, high torque and quiet diesels that are ideally suited to a displacement hull.
These engines will run all day at low RPM without issue and there are quite a few in use on commercial fishing boats with lots of hours, still giving reliable service. These Kubota diesels are the best small diesels available in the world today. They are long lived and parts are reasonably priced compared to the competition.
You will definately need a new prop and I doubt that the reduction transmission that was behind the old Isuzu would be able to handle the torque of these engines.
These is a Beta Marine distributor in Sausalito. Speak to Ethan or Ben at Hirschfeld Yacht contracting on 415 332 3507. Here is the link to their website http://www.enginerite.com/
I spoke with Ethan the day before yesterday. He was very helpful. I have a question that might seem a little off the wall. This boat is a trimaran with 15 or so little bilges, all with sensors and pumps. The main hull has 9 bilges. The forward 8 are under foot in the main cabin and foksal. The 9th bilge is the engine compartment, under the pilot house, and stern castle. The last bilge is separated from the forward bilges by a wall that is 5 feet from the bottom of the engine compartment.
This would put two feet of water above the top of the motor before it started rolling into the main cabin.
How far away is the Beta 90 from being adapted to a snorkel??
I would be pleased and surprised if there was a kit available like they have for the HUMVEE.
The Beta 90 should be an easy engine to use a snorkel with. The air inlet to the inlet manifold is right on the top of the engine and it should be easy to connect an appropriately sized adapter or hose to create a snorkle.
