CD 27 engine upgrade

[cbmike]

I am considering buying either a CD27 or CD28 and have a question that hopefully a member could address.

I think I’d prefer the CD27 but am concerned about the std Yanmar engine having only 7 hp. At 7500 lbs displacement, this seems to be half of what is typically required (and probably why the CD28 came with a 15hp engine). Does anyone have experience replacing the CD27 with an engine with more hp?

Any details/ opinions/ help would be appreciated. I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and have owned a Bristol 26, a Lightning, and a Niagara 35.

Thanks.


Mike Fisher
Wilmington, DE

[tjr818]

Are you looking at cruising or day sailing? For ten years I sailed a 27 with the Yanmar YSM8 on the Mississippi River. We never had a problem, however we only motored out of the harbor and then upstream for 20 minutes or so to warm up the engine, after that the engine was off and we sailed. If the river was running fast, as during the Spring floods, that little YSM8 could still get us in and out of the harbor, but we never have gone very far upstream. When we had the boat surveyed before buying Peter Kronich, the surveyor, said " I have good news and bad news; the good news is that that engine will run forever, the bad news is . . . that engine will run forever". I never faulted it always started even though it does not use glow plugs. Throttled down to an idle, it sounds like the African Queen chugging along. If you don't intend to motor very far it would be a great engine. We usually would go through a gallon or two of diesel each season, that little engine barely sips fuel.

[Walter Hobbs]

Only have had my 27 for one season but am impressed with it's YSB-8 Had heard that it would be under powered and very noisy. However found that hull speed (5.5 to 6 knots) was easy to obtain and it is not any more noisy than newer diesels. Starts easily, sips fuel and basic parts are still available.

On an eleven hour mostly windless trip from Block Island to East Providence RI, ran flawlessly for eight hours.

Previous owner had replaced the fuel tank. I like that because little diesels like clean fuel.

I suppose if you had to claw off a less shore in a gale you might want more power.

I have seen other 27s with Westerbekes and Betas. Keep looking until you find what you want.

[Steve I]

I had a CD27 for a few years. Loved it ! The old yanmar always ran, ( almost always
) but many times I was at a basic stand still at inlets and the ICW against a strong current. More than once it created dangerous situations. Better planning on my part might have helped but that is not always how weather and tides work. Consider the age, salt water cooled, I would always want a newer more powerful motor. If you only sailed where it was far less important then run it until it dies. My experience was in Florida & Bahamas.
Just my two cents.

[sgbernd]

I would second Tim's thoughts. It really depends on what you intend to do with the boat.

If you daysail, the old engines are suitable for a very long time and even the occasional repair or leak does not greatly impact your enjoyment.

If you intend to cruise, and the thought of being stuck in some strange harbor while you wait for spares or try to find a competent mechanic doesn't seem like fun, a fresher engine is desirable.

Also to consider is the perils in case of failure. A coastal day sail where the engine won't start to bring you home may result in you being late for dinner as you ghost your way into the harbor. Heading into nasty conditions/currents/traffic hazards where you need it, the engine needs to start and run without any limitation.

Steve

[fmueller]

I replaced my YSM 8 with a Beta 14 three seasons ago, but only because the Yanmar had become unreliable. The Beta is stronger, but the Yanmar was strong enough to get past 5 knots, and the "wall" is 6 knots, so there's not a big difference in how fast you can actually go thru the water. It's into wind where the extra push really shows up, but then again it's not like you'd be at a standstill with the Yanmar.

The Beta is quite a bit smoother, yes, but only somewhat quieter, and frankly, I had hoped it would be a little quieter than it turned out to be.

So if you have a good running YSM or YSB that you trust, it will basically push a 27 adequately in the way that Tim says above - and all day motoring aren't what the smaller Cape Dorys are about anyway. If you want to make 75 miles a day motoring because there is no wind - and you gotta be in Maine in three days - this is not the boat to do that in no mater what motor is in the boat.

[gonesail]

friend of mine installed a beta 16 in his catalina 30. I thought the same thing about the engine noise but he is happy with it. i will put a beta in my CD30 when the time comes .. hopefully not too soon.

[cbmike]

Thanks to all for the replies, and I may reply separately to some of you. They give me an idea of both options and pricing ($3-6k just for equipment) if I want to upgrade the engine of the boat I'm considering. To address some of the points: I would only be replacing the engine - if needed - for reliability and/or more power heading into a headwind and current while in the Chesapeake. While it didn't happen often, I did have issues at times with my 35 ft boat (14k lbs dry displacement), and it had a 29 hp diesel.

Mike

[Steve Laume]

While I would love to have a brand new Beta engine in Raven this is not to be. I did have the Universal out of her a few years back and installed new engine mounts and complete sound dampening in the engine compartment before it went back in. This made a tremendous difference in the amount of noise it produced in the boat.

If noise is an issue, sound dampening will make more difference than which engine is creating it, Steve.

[Walter Hobbs]

Steve,

Could you detail your sound deadening? Is the engine room enclosed on a 28? What material did you use. I'm considering it for my 27 with original YSM but Fred M. Sound proofed his 27 when he upgraded his engine a felt it didn't make much difference.

The 27 is open to the transom. Maybe add sound proofing to the lazarette covers and engine covers or build a bulkhead aft of the engine.

This won't be till next year.

[Steve Laume]

I did the sides and the engine cover. You are right in that it would make a big difference to further enclose the the engine compartment. Then there is also excess heat to consider if you were to do that. What would help the most on a CD-30 would be isolating the sink cabinet from the engine compartment. Still the sound dampening did help and it also added thermal insulation between the engine and the ice box.

This is the stuff I used along with the silver seam tape, it did a neat and tidy job of it, Steve.

https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1&id=3018150

[Neil Gordon]

The more noise your engine makes, the quieter it will seem when you turn it off.

[Walter Hobbs]

Thanks Steve, and...uh Neil.

[raylaracuente]

My cd27 has a yanmar 2gm20f w/ 540 hrs on it. It can push her out to the bay at hull speed (about 1.5 miles out to the Chesapeake) At about 2400 rpm although I usually will have the sails up sooner.
. The prop is the original 2 bladed 13" Michigan sailor. Reverse is still a crap shoot though whatever engine you have!

[cbmike]

Looks like the 2GM20F has 18 hp! No wonder you move along.