Universal M25 Westerbeke Parts or Service? What might YOU do in this situation? Catalin

[Norwester]

Recently, I secured an M25 Universal with 900+ hours recently, and I'd like to ask the group your opinion:

Why? As you may know, I've been seeking the "critical upgrade alternator bracket," which was sold as #256891 retrofit/conversion kit for making upgrade on my own M25 with 1900+hours in our E32-3. The kit cost $100.00 a decade ago...and is now $600.00. So, I rationalized securing an entire "extra" engine just to get the rusty old piece of metal. Now you know.

What should I do??
Now that I have an "extra" Universal M25, should I...
1. Rebuild as project motor to learn more about diesel engines and service auxiliary parts, such as the alternator, heat exchanger, raw water pump, etc. and, then, resell whole working engine with Catalina panel?

or

2. Remove the auxiliary parts, such as the alternator, heat exchanger, raw water pump, Cat panel etc. and sell them as parts? ....and keep&service the ones I want to have as future replacements for my M25?

Currently, I don't immediately have access to workshop space, although I have storage for removing the used parts for resale. However, I suspect some diesel engine heads here in Seattle might have engine workshop room, enjoy rebuilding engine and benefit socially from group activity and financially from resale of entire engine.

or

3. Just keep new-to-me Universal M25 stored somewhere dry so that "just in case" I need a part/block for my existing M25, I have a used one available?

or

4.... your out-of-the-box idea?

What's your thoughts? Shatter my diesel engine dreams, if you must

NOTE: (If you wish to know... Universal replaced an Atomic in Catalina 30; then, Universal was recently removed for installation of electric motor...I don't have details...not my boat)

Pics attached of "extra engine" and hyperlink to more history of my search info and pic of my engine:

M25 alternator mount cracks gear case cover

I have the alternator adjustment all the way out, and the belt is still not tensioned properly. Try a slightly smaller size (length) belt? The M18 engine has the same original bracket as the M25 bracket that we keep hearing about breaking. The thing is, I have only heard of the M25 bracket...

ericsonyachts.org

 

[gabriel]

keep it to sell back because I predict that this next coming generation of sailors will want to switch out electrical setups back to diesel.

 

[Norwester]

keep it to sell back because I predict that this next coming generation of sailors will want to switch out electrical setups back to diesel.

Thanks @gabriel for a vote and reason to back it up! Love it.
Now,...here's my rant ... & rave:
I wonder who will train the diesel mechanics to make the swap back to diesel, when so many of our local marine shops are closing (like, Ballard Marine, which closed this month!)? Meredith Anderson (aka Madame Diesel) a regional diesel mechanic, diesel engine course instructor and author of 48-North articles (worthy of reading) could be a model for modern engine (inboard or outboard) regional mechanics. She made her argument for her $230/hour services on her FB page.
Any other votes out there??

 

[Loren Beach]

Meredith Anderson (aka Madame Diesel) a regional diesel mechanic, diesel engine course instructor and author <snip>

Yup. She has sometimes done diesel work on Portland area sailboats, also, and has some real fans here. We have lost, thru age/retirement, one of the best independent diesel mechanics in the region. It's just one more "trade" that is begging for help, and offers great wages as well. Huge backlog of desperate customers, also,

The Facebook link is of little help tho. First it allowed me to look at some of her postings, and then locked me out unless I become a member. I am unwilling to share personal information or surrender all rights to my postings to FB.

 

[Prairie Schooner]

Recently, I secured an M25 Universal with 900+ hours recently, and I'd like to ask the group your opinion:

Why? As you may know, I've been seeking the "critical upgrade alternator bracket," which was sold as #256891 retrofit/conversion kit for making upgrade on my own M25 with 1900+hours in our E32-3. The kit cost $100.00 a decade ago...and is now $600.00. So, I rationalized securing an entire "extra" engine just to get the rusty old piece of metal. Now you know.

What should I do??
Now that I have an "extra" Universal M25, should I...
1. Rebuild as project motor to learn more about diesel engines and service auxiliary parts, such as the alternator, heat exchanger, raw water pump, etc. and, then, resell whole working engine with Catalina panel?

or

2. Remove the auxiliary parts, such as the alternator, heat exchanger, raw water pump, Cat panel etc. and sell them as parts? ....and keep&service the ones I want to have as future replacements for my M25?

Currently, I don't immediately have access to workshop space, although I have storage for removing the used parts for resale. However, I suspect some diesel engine heads here in Seattle might have engine workshop room, enjoy rebuilding engine and benefit socially from group activity and financially from resale of entire engine.

or

3. Just keep new-to-me Universal M25 stored somewhere dry so that "just in case" I need a part/block for my existing M25, I have a used one available?

or

4.... your out-of-the-box idea?

What's your thoughts? Shatter my diesel engine dreams, if you must

NOTE: (If you wish to know... Universal replaced an Atomic in Catalina 30; then, Universal was recently removed for installation of electric motor...I don't have details...not my boat)

Pics attached of "extra engine" and hyperlink to more history of my search info and pic of my engine:

M25 alternator mount cracks gear case cover

I have the alternator adjustment all the way out, and the belt is still not tensioned properly. Try a slightly smaller size (length) belt? The M18 engine has the same original bracket as the M25 bracket that we keep hearing about breaking. The thing is, I have only heard of the M25 bracket...

ericsonyachts.org

It's a fun question. Any kind of really helpful answer would depend on the answers to a bunch of questions, many personal. Is the rest of the boat all up to snuff? Do you have the leisure to peck away at the extra motor? Do you like doing that? How good are you at follow-through? Is it likely to end up as a box of parts? Are you young enough that you have plenty of runway for this kind of project? Do you need the money from selling the extra parts? Do you have the space to store a dormant spare engine?

A strong case could be made for swapping out engines. The 'new' one has half as many hours. I'd be tempted to do that, even though my answers to the above questions directly contradict that course. How are your current engine mounts? Or transmission, shaft seal, or something else that would require removing the engine? If you're going to do that anyway, it might make sense to exchange engines, sell some of the parts, and take the block to a scrap dealer.

Just spit ballin'. Good luck!
Jeff

 

[Norwester]

Is the rest of the boat all up to snuff? Do you have the leisure to peck away at the extra motor? Do you like doing that? How good are you at follow-through? Is it likely to end up as a box of parts? Are you young enough that you have plenty of runway for this kind of project? Do you need the money from selling the extra parts? Do you have the space to store a dormant spare engine?

Awesome entry and questions, @Prairie Schooner ! And, @Loren Beach, I've posted her words for you to read here.

If ____, then____.
Leisure: If one has/doesn't have, then_______
Enjoyment: If one likes/doesn't like, then______
Finishing: If one finishes/doesn't finish projects, then______
Time/age: If one has/doesn't have time, then_____
Finances: If one needs/doesn't need $$, then______
Space: If one has/doesn't have storage space, then_______

After I pushed "post thread" the first time, I silently regretted my posting too early; since I had a different idea: Pose the question without engine history/etc. Rather....

If an engine, (which happened to match your personal power plant), appeared in cost-free and accessible storage area outside your fictious "back door," what might YOU do in your CURRENT situation?
Your insights as owners of sailboats which far surpasses my ownership logged time, may influence my choice making...and maybe others. I honor your contributions.