Repowering

[SEA3PO]

I own a 22' Seahorse tug that looks much like the Ranger 21 tug...My boat is heavy fiberglass and built in 1980 originally powered by a Yanmar 2 cylinder diesel (16hp)... I then repowered it with a Yanmar 3QM30 (27hp) but that cracked the block last winter when I missed draining the lower block drain.... so now I needed to replace the old 3 cylinder diesel...my 3QM30 was a 1969 model and weighed a wooping 575 pounds.....

What I bought was a new Universal (Kubota) M3-20B....(22hp)...but the exciting part of it is that it only weighs 240 pounds.... what an amazing weight difference... the old Yanmar did not use much fuel, but the new Kubota being smaller and much newer should use much less... I don't run fast (hull speed is about 8k) so it does not take much to get me up to speed.... I am thrilled..

I get the new motor complete with 2.03 transmission early next week and hopefully have it on it's bed later next week...
I am anxious to see how the lighter weight will affect the waterline and the handling...it is also fresh water cooled so I will not need to worry about freezing the block again....I think the power should be fine... I am using a 17X9 prop...

Hopefully I can give you some performance reports in two weeks...

Joel
SEA3PO 22' C-Dory
Kea 22' Seahorse tug

 

[SEA3PO]

This is not nearly as easy as I had thought....We did get the engine set....and aligned ...but there is so much more to do...I knew the exhaust was on the wrong side...but had no idea how hard that was going to be to hook up....still working on that... had to change the shaft coupler...plus I did not want to install a new diesel without cleaning the fuel tanks...but they did not have clean outs.....so I drilled 4 and a quarter holes in the top of each tank...and installed 6" cover plates...darn that stainless steel is hard... after 38 years the tanks were filthy ....lacquer thinner did the trick and they are just like new....I had to do some creative plumbing but it looks great...

Joel
SEA3PO C-Dory
Kea 21 Seahorse tug

 

[knotflying]

A labor of love.