Repowering 1977 CD 30 ketch

[spaquin87]

I'm considering repowering my 30ft ketch and was looking for any tips on motor selection and fitment. It currently has a Yanmar YSB12 motor with a Walter v-drive. I'm moored in a tidal river and feel the 12....more like 10hp I'm getting is a bit under powered. Any help or suggestions would be very appreciated.

[Keith]

I think that many CD30 owners have gone with the Beta Marine 16HP. Wait and see what other responses you get. My MD7A has 13 HP (probably lost a pony or 2 over 40 yrs) and push her along pretty well about 5-5.5 Kts at 2500 rpms but it does drop down to around 4-4.5 kts in a strong current or chop. They make a 14HP and 20 HP as well. They are Kubota diesels so parts are readily available everywhere and much less expensive than marine parts.

Good luck and let us know what you install.

Keith

[Maine_Buzzard]

I installed a 14 HP Beta with a ZF V drive transmission, wedge bed adapters, and the whole ball of wax.

Drove the boat happliy at 5 kts and 2200 rpm. A 16 HP would be ideal, a 20 is a bit big unless you want a high amp alternator or cold plate fridge.

Every single component will need replacement. Muffler, shifter, anything near the engine will cost more than you expect.

Is a 1977 ketch worth all that? Your decision. If you have swapped the engine in a car and done fiberglass work, you can do this mostly on your own.

[sgbernd]

This is a difficult decision because on the one hand, the cost of the engine and installation will be more than the value of the boat. And you won't get it back when you sell. On the other hand, you will be very happy and feel like you have a new boat at a fraction of the cost of an actual new one.

I did the MD7 to Beta 16 swap on my CD28 in 2016 and could not be happier. It now shows 425 trouble free hours on the clock. I realise I will never come close to recovering the cost. But the struggle to keep the old one running was getting more challenging (frustrating!) and time consuming as well. My only regret now is that I didn't jump on it about 3 years earlier and save a lot of work at the end.

My argument is that if you intend to use the boat for several more years, or use it hard, it will prove money well spent. For example, if you are planning a long cruise where being stranded waiting for repairs doesn't seem like a good idea, replace it now. However, if you are nearing the end of owning the boat, or just use it lightly as a day sailor, where cost of failure is low, avoid the expense and keep the MD7 running as long as you can.

The only question remaining is how many years to keep it will justify the expense? My number was 5 years but this will be different for everybody.

Steve

[moctrams]

I ordered my 20hp Beta from Ben Thomas. Ben has a CD 30C like mine and provided the engine, transmission, SS engine beds and dimensions for the engine placement. Ben is also a CD organization member.