eng. swap. Gas to diesel

[nyiftos]

What would be the best/easiest diesel eng to fit into a Pearson 30?
Trying to get a CE certification for Europe/Greece and a gas eng is a no-no!!

[joe_db]

Go here - they will set you up.

http://www.betamarinenc.com/

Wait - are you sailing to Greece from the USA or are you already there?

http://betamarine.co.uk/

[nyiftos]

I am already in Greece. I thank you for the info and I will get in touch.

[joe_db]

Keep in mind the direct-drive A4 is running around 20-25 HP at MOST and the small prop is not that efficient. You do not need a 30 HP diesel to equal the thrust you have now. You can go to the 18hp-22hp range and do well with the light and easily driver Pearson 30. I would talk to the North Carolina outfit first. They know A4s and Pearson 30s and the UK people likely have heard of neither one. They should be able to suggest a good engine and mount combo and then take that to the UK distributor. The A4 width mounts may be a USA thing the UK people might not be aware of.
BTW - I had one and we never sailed that far offshore. Did you sail her to Greece yourself or buy the boat there?
Here is our old girl:

Only boat we ever bought brand new and the A4 was flawless for as long as we owned her ($16,500 with a spinnaker in 1973)
Hey - didn't I mail a regulator to Greece one time? Was that you?

[nyiftos]

Hi Joe,
sorry I did not answer sooner.
Yes, this is me that you have sent the reg. to. I still owe you one...
The boat was shipped to Toulon, France and from there we sailed to the island of Crete in Greece. It has been a truly good old boat and the A-4 has never said no, but I have to register in Greece and the paperwork is a big pain.
When you mention the North Carolina outfit first, what exactly do you mean?
Thanks

[joe_db]

This one:

http://www.betamarinenc.com/

BTW, did the regulator work? I was reminded of that yesterday, I found a 50 amp alternator with no regulator in my shed and was wondering where it went.

[nyiftos]

Yes, the reg did work exact and is still working with the alt. I thank you again for that and for the info on the eng. swap. (Gas-Diesel). I will update although it will take some time to start-finish this whole process.

[sastanley]

nyiftos,
Too bad on the Greece regulations. I sailed on a Tartan 3000 for MANY years with a Universal M-15 diesel (11HP). It was adequate, but not what I'd call sufficient, no reserve HP when you need it. The Tartan 3000 weighs about 8,000 lbs. A Pearson 30 is about 8,300 lbs.

So, maybe 18 HP diesel would be good, but I second the Beta Marine group for your retrofit. I've talked with them before and they seem like a good group. If I recall most of their blocks are based on a Kubota tractor engine diesel. Can you get Kubota parts in Greece? ?

[joe_db]

Beta Marine is a UK outfit, so I am sure you can get parts in the EU.

nyiftos,
Too bad on the Greece regulations. I sailed on a Tartan 3000 for MANY years with a Universal M-15 diesel (11HP). It was adequate, but not what I'd call sufficient, no reserve HP when you need it. The Tartan 3000 weighs about 8,000 lbs. A Pearson 30 is about 8,300 lbs.

So, maybe 18 HP diesel would be good, but I second the Beta Marine group for your retrofit. I've talked with them before and they seem like a good group. If I recall most of their blocks are based on a Kubota tractor engine diesel. Can you get Kubota parts in Greece? ?