| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| gowzel |
Posted - 08 Jul 2012 : 00:43:47
My Norman 22 is stuck on the Macclesfield canal. The engine is non repairable, so I am looking for a reasonably priced replacement - or the loan (or purchase) of a suitable trailer to bring it back home to Burnley. It is close to a slipway at present, and would most probably be craned off this end.
From what I can gather without the additional expense of modding bearers, gearboxes etc then only another BMC 1.5 will drop straight in.
Thanks,
John |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| df |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 07:47:44
How about fitting an auxilary outboard bracket and borrowing an outboard for the time being?
Sounds like you should have no problem with a home rebuild, so much easier if the boat is local to you, I did most of my conversion in a shed on a wooden mockup of engine bearers/transom with old enfield sternplate attached.
Mock up is still in my garden if any one wants it, transom is set at 12 degrees.
NBAS--The communal colostomy bag of the boating community.
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| gowzel |
Posted - 12 Jul 2012 : 00:50:43
Thanks for all the replies, I should be able to rebuild an engine, done it before on cars 3 times, and I am a marine electrician so no probs on that side of things. The description of the engine dying was a little tongue in cheek - it looks as if the chain did break.
My problem - apart from expense is time, it is an expensive static caravan sat in a marina, with the marina fees, license fees and insurance. This wonderful summer we are having  will soon be over, so a quick fix to get a few trips in, or a loan of a trailer to fetch her home, where it costs nothing to keep and I can go and "meddle" at my leisure are the options I am looking at.
The damage isn't as bad as feared, and I have sourced a cylinder head, marinisation kit and a correct sized piston for £200, so debating whether to take a gamble and buy them, a new head gasket and timing chain, spend a couple of long days on the boat fitting them and hoping that injectors are ok and that the head fits the lump without leaking.
As others have mentioned the original fit of the engine was Heath Robinson to say the least with 2 fans keeping the radiator cool, but it had been like that at least 27 years to my knowledge, and I have seen 2 more Normans this week with a similar fit, and an ugly car silencer bolted to the transom. |
| df |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 17:10:19
If I had the time I would want the labour rate too, it's the knowledge and experience you pay for.
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| stratford4528 |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 16:54:19
With all the comments it sounds that if someone has the time they could help other boat owners by setting up to repair these old engines with out having to pay the high labour charges big company's charge. I have the expertise but not the time. |
| df |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 07:45:09
Without wanting to belittle the OP's technical skills I'm guessing descriptions like quote:
It appears the chain broke, and various pieces of metal decided to bang into one another at speed, resulting in allsorts of bent and cracked metal
indicate a home rebuild isn't that straight forward a job, major engine work done by the wrong people can end up costing more than it would to hand to a workshop in the first place.
My conversion originally cost me less than £2500 for 2 engines sourced, overhauled, marinised, engine bearers rebuilt to suit, fitted (albeit with a few mods since), bet a fix up job by a professional half way through would have cost an extra £10k if I'd cocked it up.(would have cost that anyway if I factored my labour into it)
It's all too easy to automatically assume others have the same level of experience and knowledge Clive.
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| cliveshep |
Posted - 11 Jul 2012 : 06:15:33
Why not look around for a used marine lump and re-build it yourself? For example - and I do not know where you are, Chertsey Meads Marine have no end of old lumps lying around and so did the big Marina up at Huntingdon, old Perkins, BMC's etc. Very often a strip and maybe new ends and a crank grind and re-bore and pistons are all they needed and the car Haynes manual for a vehicle that used the car version of the engine is all you need to strip and rebuild. Can be a messy but cheap option.
The cost of boating is insignificant compared to costs of a young wife and two teenage kids! |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 21:25:12
I have just bought 2 kabuta 25 HP engines one brand new which is going in my 32 which cost me £1000 and one second hand which cost me £350 so it pays to shop around and you will find an engine suitable to replace the BMC |
| newcommer |
Posted - 10 Jul 2012 : 05:22:51
Hi gowzel
There are many advantages to havening an inboard engine e.g: heating, large battery charge rate increase security, lower running cost and able to get fuel at marinas. Only one disadvantage harder to repaired change /repair. I am sure that you have checked this out looking 4 a boat. Good hunting .
Pete
|
| adi-n-chez |
Posted - 09 Jul 2012 : 21:18:48
Not a good pic to show the work , but our transom conversion has been great !
The well was fairly easy to construct.
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
| adi-n-chez |
Posted - 09 Jul 2012 : 21:13:17
quote:
Originally posted by stratford4528
I would never go down the out board route. the cost of running petrol versus diesel and the problems fitting an outboard. Find another BMC and get help with fitting correctly not like the hash up someone did fitting the one in there now. Sounds like the timing chain broke that's what has done all the damage IE pistons hitting valves. It must have rattling quite a lot before it broke. A good mechanic might be able to repair.
With the price of Red hitting silly levels , a good 4 stroke outboard will be just as economical IMHO. Buying a Used BMC will work out cheaper than the cost of a good used four stroke ob plus conversion (Even if you do it yourself) but again the BMC should be overhauled before fitting.
Scary prices from Calcutt to rebuild yr 1550 (close to 1.5K!)
you could look for a tatty boat with a good motor as Ian says & swap out.
Adi
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
| stratford4528 |
Posted - 09 Jul 2012 : 19:24:17
I would never go down the out board route. the cost of running petrol versus diesel and the problems fitting an outboard. Find another BMC and get help with fitting correctly not like the hash up someone did fitting the one in there now. Sounds like the timing chain broke that's what has done all the damage IE pistons hitting valves. It must have rattling quite a lot before it broke. A good mechanic might be able to repair. |
| adi-n-chez |
Posted - 09 Jul 2012 : 19:01:57
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5-BMC-DIESEL-INBOARD-BOAT-ENGINE-GEARBOX-/200789408824?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_Boat_Engines_EngineParts_SM&hash=item2ebffb3c38
Would give such units a thorough checkover before fitting.
Sewer Tubes ? I'd rather have a D**ncr*ft (Only Kidding) |
| df |
Posted - 09 Jul 2012 : 07:39:22
If a fully re-engine job I would go outboard but the well needs to be built in properly before any use or it will just cause more problems later on with water getting in, the hole left by the leg would need to be done well or you'd be clamping an outboard over a weak spot.
There must be marinised 1.5 bmc's kicking around somewhere with a good search, the radiator setup sounds like a right lash up.
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| gowzel |
Posted - 08 Jul 2012 : 23:30:57
It appears the chain broke, and various pieces of metal decided to bang into one another at speed, resulting in allsorts of bent and cracked metal 
I presume the yanmar will not fit straight on to the BMC mounts and I also presume modifications will be required to enable the engine to connect to the z drive.
The BMC was not marinised, a radiator was cooled with a couple of electric fans. I am guessing the cheapest an quickest option would be to find a marinised BMC which would couple straight to the drive, reconnect electrics and fuel, pull the boat onto a slip and put a hole in the bottom, for a raw water intake, align the engine and away I go !!!
OR cut a big hole in the transom, glass some wood in, up onto the slip, off with the leg, glass up the hole left, sell leg (do not know what they are worth though ??) buy an outboard with the proceeds, buy and fit remotes and off I go, whilst enjoying the boat over summer, spend some time with ply and resin and construct a well around outboard.
OR am I just dreaming |
| df |
Posted - 08 Jul 2012 : 23:18:49
Not repairable and not economically repairable are not the same thing.
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