Unless you are getting a super, super deal on the W64 I would go new. So much of the cost of a repower is in the time and labor it makes sense to me to go ahead and spend a few boat bucks more for a new engine.

Also, I’m pretty fed up with Westerbeke. Their parts are grossly overpriced and for older engines getting hard to find. I finally figured out a W58 is the same engine as the Perkins 4.154 and found the exact same parts for a fraction of the cost. Example, Westerbeke water pump $280. Identical pump from Perkins (except painted blue instead of red) $90.

If at all possible do with a Beta marine engine.

Hi Mark,

I would recommend a Beta 50 or 60. Pete Dubler repowered his 424 with a Beta 50 and posted an excellent report about the decision making process and the repower project on his web site here. http://www.dublerfamily.com/Regina_oceani/Articles/Engine%20Installation.pdf

By the way. If I recall correctly, Beta Marine is a UK company so you should be able to contact them locally to get information and pricing. If shipping the engine out of the EU maybe even get it VAT free.

My emails are failing to post here at present. (Ewan is working on that.) Here is one I just sent, but don’t expect to arrive here:

Mark,

Allow me to weigh in on the question of whether “age and value of the yacht warrants buying a new engine.” If you intend to use the boat much, and/or for many years, and if you’re not a master mechanic by trade, then you’re facing the same decision I did when I bought my boat 9+ years ago. She had an original, supposedly low-hours, strong-running but poorly maintained Westerbeke in her. Actually, I made my decision before I even bought the boat and subtracted the price of a new Yanmar, installed, from my offer to the seller. It took him a while, but he accepted, albeit with much grumbling. Within a month or so of closing I repowered the boat. (Incidentally, I was able to sell the old Westerbeke even before it was removed.) Ever since, especially when I’m cruising in the more remote places, every time I turn the key and that big, beautiful, well-maintained Yanmar fires up in a nanosecond and purrs until I shut it down, I bless my wise foresight.

Life, especially our cruising life, is simply too short to spent it fighting an obsolete, worn out, cantankerous engine. IMHO.

Have fun,

Tor
———————-
Silverheels, P-424 #17
http://www.silverheels.us
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What engine to choose and the costs involved I think would be determined by how you use the boat. If just to get from dock to channel and no long distance motoring ever planned then maybe going for the less expensive option would be justified. But in that case, how bad is the W58? If the compression is good then why not do a little maintenance and keep the W58.

For me, part of the decision making process is the thought that if I’m going through the huge hassle of replacing the engine I want one that will be 100% reliable and easy to repair and maintain. Lighter and quieter is nice as well. All that comes with the Beta.

So how bad is your W58?