Pearson 30 motor questions

[Pearsonistic]

I just bought a Pearson 30 (1976) with a broken atomic four. I am planning on replacing the motor with a rebuilt atomic four from Moyer Marine. I'd like advise.
I was considering mounting a motor mount on the transom for an outboard to get me underway until the motor can be replaced. Then I'll buy a used outboard which I can keep as a backup. Is this a dumb I idea? Should I just wait for the new engine? Is it a bad plan to drill holes in the transom for a motor mount I might not use much?

Diesel: reliable, stinky, noisy, efficient, $11K or more installed, good for long cruises, good resale value, (do I need a new prop if I switch to diesel?)
Gasoline: quiet, familiar, $6K installed, not planning on motoring much anyhow (but who knows, it's my first boat).
Any thoughts?

[souljour2000]

If I had the dough for a boat that size..I'd go deisel all the way...too many articles about boat fires from gas engine fumes to make me ever want a gas engine for a sailboat but thats one man's opinion....

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by Pearsonistic

I just bought a Pearson 30 (1976) with a broken atomic four. I am planning on replacing the motor with a rebuilt atomic four from Moyer Marine. I'd like advise.
I was considering mounting a motor mount on the transom for an outboard to get me underway until the motor can be replaced. Then I'll buy a used outboard which I can keep as a backup. Is this a dumb I idea? Should I just wait for the new engine? Is it a bad plan to drill holes in the transom for a motor mount I might not use much?

Diesel: reliable, stinky, noisy, efficient, $11K or more installed, good for long cruises, good resale value, (do I need a new prop if I switch to diesel?)
Gasoline: quiet, familiar, $6K installed, not planning on motoring much anyhow (but who knows, it's my first boat).
Any thoughts?

I personally would wait and not mount he outboard. 11K for a diesel conversion is a VERY good deal! If you can do it for that jump on it before they come to their senses..

If you are handy you could do a diesel your self for about 6.5 to 8k.

Atomic fours are good engines but 6k seems quite expensive..

[cardiacpaul]

"too many articles about boat fires from gas engine fumes to make me ever want a gas engine for a sailboat but thats one man's opinion...."

Alas, another one.
Please point me to the article that sites a fire was caused by gas fumes from a gas engine on a SAILBOAT.

the VAST majority of fires from fumes are on powerboats.
the VAST majority of THOSE and not due to unsafe design, or improper equipment.

Plainly put...
THE VAST MAJORITY OF FIRES FOM GAS FUMES ARE DUE TO UNSAFE OPERATION AND/OR OPERATOR ERROR.

I know theres a HUGE "oh no, not a gas engine under there" bias, its something I encounter weekly. Usually from people that have no clue.

There were over 40,000 A-4's installed. There is NO diesel Mfr that comes close to that number of installs... (in class)
That number of boats simply can't be "wrong".

Lets take a look at some "costs"..s gas vs diesel.
repower gas about 6k installed, ( I was under the impression that a rebuilt was about 4k, I suppose with freight, core and install it could get to 6k.)diesel, almost twice that. (not installed)
You've also got to take a look at new mounts, tanks, filters, lines, electronics, oh man, not pretty.

IF the OP didn't have to go with exchange engine, a typical rebuild parts kit is less than 2k. Try that number on for size with any diesel.

parts prices. full tune up for gas, about 40 bucks in a hard year.
Whats one injector for a W18 or 33 go for? 71.00? One glow plug? 37.60 You going to replace that yourself?

There is a huge market for diesel. I don't deny that, but repowering a 25 to 30k boat with 11k of engine just doesn't make much economic sense, and my humble opinion, gives no advantage in safety concerns.


I also wouldn't rig up an outboard. Your motor would be delivered by the time you got a mount mounted.

[Xosh]

I just recently bought a Pearson 30 myself (and now i'm hoping it doesn't get blown away in the storm...), but I'm having inboard engine troubles as well. I actually just went an bought a used outboard bracket and plan to mount a 9.9hp outboard on it. My boat is about an hour north of where I am going to keep it and it's on a private mooring that I have to vacate by the end of Sep.

I don't have the cash to blow on my diesel right now, so this seems to be the cheapest way. I'm interested to see what others say about this posting.

[cardiacpaul]

whats wrong with the diesel?

[cranki]

I have a Pearson 30 with an Atomic 4. I would not mount the outboard but wait for the new/rebuilt engine. I would also stick with the A4 - quiet, smooth, easy to start. I wonder how many, if any, P30's have been blown to bits by their Atomic gas engines?

[CalebD]

Our Atomic 4 is 41 years old and is still quietly clunking along. It has had the electronic ignition upgrade and starts very reliably. Our boat has not caught fire or blown up in 41 years of service to at least 3 different owners. The worst problem we have with ours is that our plugs got dirty recently and we had to replace them at a cost of 12 - 18$. The engine likes new plugs and I need to tune the carb lean/rich screw so the plugs last longer.
I am a smoker as well so that means extinguishing all open flames when re-fueling, period.
Forget about the outboard mount unless you want a whole new set of problems to deal with. The Atomic 4 is a tractor engine while most outboards are engineered to a pinnacle that if one tiny thing goes wrong you are sitting in the water. An A4 can take some abuse that most outboards would require a major overhaul to fix.
Your mileage may vary.

[SEMIJim]

Pearsonistic,

I would definitely await the new engine. Do you really want to trash your P30's beautiful, classic stern with an ugly outboard motor mount?

Halekai36,

Usually your advice is right on the money, but I feel you're dead wrong on this issue. Personally, I believe the venerable A-4, in good condition and properly maintained to be a far better engine in all respects than any diesel. They're quieter, less smelly and, I believe, more dependable.

souljour2000,

The "blowing up from gasoline fumes" thing is a non-issue if the engine and fuel system is properly maintained and the appropriate safety procedures are observed. I've so far never smelled gasoline fumes in my engine space (knock on wood) and always run my blower for five (5) minutes nontheless.

TBH: Propane scrares me far more than gasoline fumes.

I would never consider $11k for a diesel vs. $6k for a rebuild A-4 from Moyer.

Jim

[BarryL]

Hello,

A few weeks ago I was in Cape Code sailing on a friends mid 70's Pearson 30. He bought the boat about 5 years ago. It came with the A30 gas engine. After a few years the engine died. He spent well over 10K to have a Yanmar diesel installed. He knows he will never get the money back, but he wanted something reliable and the yards near him would not install or work on the Atomic 30.

Personally, I have no problem with a gas engine. How many power boats are gas powered? How many blow up?

Barry