Engine Replacement

[Capt Happy]

Good Day All,

Has anyone re powered a 320 Voyager ?

We have the 350 Crusader XL's with a little over 1100hrs on each. Started to burn some oil towards the end of last season and maybe this is related to a simpler issue that does not require for them to build rebuilt. We will have to look further into this. It is only the st'bd one that we are having trouble with currently, just thinking about be proactive and if we have to haul one, we might as well do both. I'm basically just the driver and leave the mechanics for someone else.

My question, is there another smaller engine setup that will match with the engine mounts and transmission ?
We don't run the engine's that hard and therefore if there is a more efficient power option out there, we might be inclined to explore that option.

Hope everyone is having a great day and would like to thank all in advance for any replies.

Cheers Capt Happy

[bud37]

Yup get that checked out first.....compression test em both to get a baseline and go from there.

The thing that ya always have to remember, one day you will want to sell that boat and how it is repowered will affect the sale.

Good luck with it, hope it is something easy.

[waybomb]

It still takes x amount of horsepower to move the boat.
Like bud37 says, one day you'll sell the boat. Nobody wants a butchered boat.

[Capt Happy]

I agree with both of the above comments, was just throwing darts out there to see where they would land. If it was a viable option , we may have looked into.

We have had the boat quite a few years and intend to keep a few more.

Is 1100hrs alot on a gas engine ? To rebuild both engines is probably going to take the shine off of 15-18k. We have no issues with this, but are the members out there thinking that this might be too early for replacement ?

[waybomb]

If you took care of them, I'd guess 2000 hours would mean replacement time.
Viper will chime in on real world experience.
But before of all this worst case scenario, do a leak down test. Do you see blue smoke, or is it more of a losing oil somewhere, somehow thing?

[Capt Happy]

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Yes, we are starting to see blue smoke and a very light oil sheen at idle while dockside.

[waybomb]

Not a good sign.
I'd be doing a leakdown test.

[Capt Happy]

Thank you Capt,

We will keep the community advised as to where things go from here.

Cheers

[waybomb]

Does that engine have an open crankcase or did it have a pcv system?

[Capt Happy]

Hi Fred,

They have positive crankcase ventilation.

I keep the bilges as clean as possible and do not see any residual oil laying below the engine's anywhere.

I can't speak exactly as to how the previous owner kept the engines up, but based on the condition of the rest of the vessel, he would have been on top of things for sure.