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Westerbeke vs Yanmar

21K views 69 replies 27 participants last post by  aa3jy 
#1 ·
I need Westerbeke owners to talk me into not getting a Yanmar. I'm relocating the boat to Honduras and the yard I'll be using is a Westerbeke Dealer. The benefit's of buying from them may trump getting a Yanmar. I have countless experiences with Yanmar and only a little with Westerbeke.
Plaese no one say Volvo, I get naucious when I read or hear that word.
 
#2 ·
Also consider what engine will be the best fit if not a direct replacement. Ultimately that is what sold me in the Beta, their ability to customize the feet for the engine. I did not belive yanmar, westerbeake have that ability. I am not kidding you that the bolt holes for the rear mounts were an exact fit using Betas measurement chart, that equals an easier install quick also equals less $$

just sayin
 
#8 ·
I've had both.
WB was a problem for all five years, fuel system and solenoid/fuel pump issues mostly but the transmission blew the first year too (got it new).

Never had a problem with either Yanmar (20 and now 44) I've owned - total of five years with them.
 
#9 ·
I had a WB13 in or '82 Sabre 28 and a WB33 in our '84 Sabre 38. Great engines, but part prices will kill you. I use Fram filters and Vitus water pumps.... basically anything that I can get from a source other than WB. With that said, they're reliable engines that require minimal work if maintained. The only stuff to go wrong with either engine were normal wear items. Items that I replaced in addition to filters & belts:

Raw Water Pump
Fresh Water Pump
Exchanger end caps
Starter Solenoid
Total Hose Replacement.
Transmission drain crush ring

Not bad for old engines
 
#10 · (Edited)
It's 1 for Yanmar and 1 for Westerbeke, one guy I trust say's his sucked and one guy I trust say's his was reliable. I know Yanmar is reliable, my buddy's brand new Yanmar had a transmision fail it's first year, so that could be just dumb luck. I'm moving my boat to la Ceiba boat yard. They are now a Westerbeke dealer. I gues I would have to import the Yanmar. I want a lot from them other than the engine and it would be a good long term buisness move on my part to buy and have them install it, but I just can't decide. They are English right? That's a point against them. Maybe if I have La Ceiba Boat Yard import and install a Yanmar for me it will be enough of a gesture?
 
#11 ·
Are you installing the engine in Costa Rica, or just needing servicing there? FWIW, Westerbeke's universal line are marineized Kubota engines and thier parts are readily available at non-marine prices. Westerbeke makes a 12hp and a "Universal" at 20hp. Are you looking for an 18hp? Are you thinking of going over or undersized? I had a M23 with over 5,000 trouble free hours. My current M35B (four cylinder) runs very smoothly.
 
#12 · (Edited)
I was looking at the 3 cyl. 18 hp Yanmar, so what ever Westerbeke has like that. I have a kubota engine powering the genset on my dive boat, so I am familiar with those.Is an
M23 a westerbeke model? All I realy know about westerbeke is I Think they are red, loud, vibrate and english. Now I think they are japanese "Univesal"'s I'm confused even more. I need something that will run well for day's and day's nonstop....who does'nt right.
 
#13 ·
There's no question that it would be convenient to have your warranty service provided by the yard you are in.

Of course, you may be aware that Westerbleak doesn't actually design or build engines. WB just contracts out for the lowest bidder on every part or system.

Yanmar actually designs and builds the damned things.

Just, you know, something to think about.
 
#14 ·
4 for Yanmar and and Westerbleak 2. The warranty matters. I buy My Yamaha outboards that I use in Honduras, in Honduras for that very reason. I guess I should google Yanmar dealer la Ceiba, for all I know there is a dealer in La Cieba.
 
#15 ·
I had a Westerbeke 21A on my previous boat and it was flawless for 7 years. I would buy one again. My current boat came with with Westerbeke 30.

Westerbeke is American, based in Wisconsin. These are marinized Mitisubishi engines (not Kubota as mentioned in a previous post). Beta marinizes Kubota diesels.

Their parts are expensive, but with a little creativity you can avoid buying parts from them as it is a tractor engine and the components are everywhere under other names. I traced the Mitsubishi engine number and bought a Mitsubishi engine manual for my engine so I can buy Mistsu tractor parts if needed.

Anyway, Westerbeke are very reliable engines IMHO.
 
#17 ·
Ok Ok, that's what I was looking for, American is good, I guess I was confused with Brigs and strat. When I said English. I like Mitsubishi as well. We just leaned heavy back to Westerbeke. I like Tractors.....Compelling argument Svtatia, well done. Thanks.
 
#16 ·
Nothing wrong with the current crop of Westerbeke engines, ours has over 3k hours is smooth, quiet and purrs like the day she was new. She burns no oil. We have had zero "engine" issues. I did have a solenoid go but those are not Mitsubishi parts. I did replace the motor mounts and have done all the services, valve adjustments etc.. They are based on marinized Mitsubishi industrial engines. Yanmar is also good as is Beta.

Any of the Japanese based engines are good when it comes to the blocks. Even Volvo's are Japanese blocks these days. The base engines are made by Shibaura and then sold to Perkins who then sells them to Volvo......

If I was to replace my Westerbeke I'd have no qualms going Westy again, though I'd look real hard at Beta. I like Yannies too...

As for prices of parts Yanmar and Westebeke are neck & neck. Volvo is more costly and the parts not always available. Westerbeke does a very good job of keeping parts in-stock even for some of the older engines. Beta wins in parts pricing and they have no issue telling you exactly what Kubota block your engine is so you can go to a tractor supply store and save 50-80% over "marine".... Even the marinized parts on a Beta are relatively reasonably priced..
 
#18 ·
They're actually Mitsubishi engines.

To be honest, if I had to repower, I'd probably go with what was readily available, like Yanmar. What had readily available parts. I like the Westerbeke, but I take care of the thing. Parts are readily available from the handful of dealers, but the cost is insane. $15 for an oil filter? I get the same thing from the auto parts store for $3.

So you could count me as 1 Yanmar and 1 for Westerbeke. Sorry.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Hold up! Capt Aaron, you are putting in an engine? This is an April fools day joke right? I suppose you are downsizing your anchor too?

:)
Ha, you got me.....No I am putting one in. I need to be able to motor on and off of Guanaja to La Cieba at will in all conditons. It's usually a run down to la cieba and a beat back. I have the dreaded scheduale. I'll be coming and going every two weeks from Honduras to Miami. I want to keep my boat in a slip in La Cieba when I'm on the Tug, and when I get off I want to be able to fly to La Cieba and carry my own self back to the Island rather than stay in a Hotel, and fly back on the little Rusian Plane that may or may not have a seat. Price of living out on the fringe. Plus when I'm home in Honduras, I want to be able to motor between the islands wind or not. It's easy to sail away from Guanaja as it sits up wind of every thing else, but getting out to the island is a beat from every where, Roatan, Cayas Cochinos, Utilla, Rio dulce, la Cieba, all down wind of Guanaja. Looks like Westy won. If Maine Sail is happy with his, that's good enough for me.
 
#23 ·
Why?

All my research for a new engine pointed towards ease of maintenance and the install. Neither Yanmar or Westerneke met this criteria well. Other than that, they're all pretty simple small diesel engines, how the owner takes care of them will mean more than a name brand.

Questions like these are better asked to mechanics. in my opinion, otherwise you're just going to get opinions...and we all know what they're like! LOL
 
#26 ·
Good points,

My testimonial FWIW, which is about about nothing I suspect...

Our boat was powered with a W50, probably oversized at 41 HP 17,000# boat.

- Engine had/has 3700 hours
- Burned over 1.5 gal/hr at 2400 RPM
- Hard starts even in temps above 70 F
- Rebuilt injectors & injector pump, did nothing to help fuel issue or start issues
- Common oil leak at rear seal, more of a nuisance than anything
- Motor mounts/bushing completely undersized and poorly engineered, nothing close to what is found on Yanmar, Beta, Nanni, etc
- Regular maintenance items were poorly designed and made it difficult to perform. On the W 50 the entire raw water pump Assembly had to be removed to change the impeller
- The oil filter was wedged so nicely between fuel lines on its side that there was no way to remove it and not spill several ounces of oil, no matter how one tried to cut a old plastic jug to cathc the oil :)

Of course none of that is really relevant because we're talking about a 30 year old engine that was poorly maintained it appears, or maybe it was because it was a Westerbeke and not a Yanmar? LOL
 
#28 ·
Good points,

My testimonial FWIW, which is about about nothing I suspect...

Our boat was powered with a W50, probably oversized at 41 HP 17,000# boat.

- Engine had/has 3700 hours
- Burned over 1.5 gal/hr at 2400 RPM
- Hard starts even in temps above 70 F
- Rebuilt injectors & injector pump, did nothing to help fuel issue or start issues
- Common oil leak at rear seal, more of a nuisance than anything
- Motor mounts/bushing completely undersized and poorly engineered, nothing close to what is found on Yanmar, Beta, Nanni, etc
- Regular maintenance items were poorly designed and made it difficult to perform. On the W 50 the entire raw water pump Assembly had to be removed to change the impeller
- The oil filter was wedged so nicely between fuel lines on its side that there was no way to remove it and not spill several ounces of oil, no matter how one tried to cut a old plastic jug to cathc the oil :)

Of course none of that is really relevant because we're talking about a 30 year old engine that was poorly maintained it appears, or maybe it was because it was a Westerbeke and not a Yanmar? LOL
Done a compression test recently?
 
#27 ·
I have limited experience with Yanmar, but have a Westerbeke 3B3. Works as advertised. Uses about 0.5g/hr @2500. Parts tend to be expensive. The only problem I have had so far was a bad selenoid.

I like the "admiral's panel" they sell.

One factor that has not been mentioned: It was my PO who replaced the old engine; access is the P323 is tight, and folks I know had to cut a vertical support (cosmetic) in the galley area to get the Yanmar engine in. Somehow the yard squeezed the Westerbeke in without cutting (or damage). May not be an issue, but in a tight fit the Westerbeke *may* be smaller??

Finally - a pro like you will have thought of this - my engine is installed backwards (V-drive), but the oil filter is off the engine, conveniently positioned on a bulkhead, and the oil sump drain tube also more conveniently located. Little things like that make a huge difference simplifying servicing.
 
#45 ·
Kinda sums it up. The v-drive is a peculiarity of my Pearson; kinda messes up engine accessibility, thus moving the oil filter and sump drain. I'll be honest - as somebody else said - they are both good brands, and I don't think there is a lot between them; I think the lack of religious fervor indicates that these powerplants are getting more and more similar as the quirks of smaller diesels have been worked out.

Mine is a WB 3B3, rated 27HP & 3600 rpm, in a 32'13000 lb boat. Preheat button bleeds/primes fuel system and warms up glowplugs. Good luck...
 
#29 ·
When the engine was still in the boat, yes and #1 was poor. More than likely that was the major conributor to the issues mentioned. Thats why I initally pulled it to do a rebuild, but after costing parts and time required to the job with the assitance of a trained mechanic, I opted for a new engine with a warranty. Cost was more to go new, but worth it IMO.
 
#30 · (Edited)
Are all Westerbekes back-a$$ mounted? I recall doing a "Rescue" delivery, " sail it home for me" engine is broke, and that one was in backwards v drive. I hate that system.
Well, I may have come full cricle. I just read that La Ceiba shipyard is also now a Yanmar dealer. Yay for me because I'm sure I want a Yanmar, but having the dealer, mechanic that installed it, and all that close to home was worth looking at the Westy's. I learned a lot here regardless. I come across these Westy's every once in a while on deliveries, so the more i know about their pro's and cons the better. Thanks again all.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Round and Round. First, you can't belive everything you read on the internet. La Ceiba Shipyard is not a Yanmar Dealer. Only Westerbeke. My next hurdle is getting around what model is available for me. They only seem to have a 12hp with 2 cyl. I want 3 cyl. for the smooth run. It seems to me like it will jump around a lot. The 30 is too big and is the smallest they have in 3 cyl. The little 12 hp looks sharp, and looks like it's not a V drive, which would be deal breaker. So, has anybody any experience with the new 12 hp Westerbekes? It looks like a tight little engine. Should push my little 28 footer along all right. I'm 80% sure I'm going with this model unlesss some one has some horror story about this model. Does anyone have an idea where to get a ball park price on line or know off hand what they cost?
 
#32 ·
I don't think you'll find anything in 3 cylinders till you get over the 20 hp mark. Most of the 12-16 hp motots I've seen are 2 cylinders.

While the boat is at home I'd like to repower to get rid of a md7a & have looked at Yanmar & Beta. In my boat I'd have to increase the height of the engine stringers to accomadate a Beta. The Yanmar is RH rotation only, the Volvo is LH so I'm not sure how that will shake out.

I have been looking at the 12 & 16 hp Vetus, avalaible in LH rotation & they seem to have a good warranty. 3 years or 1000 hours & after that another 2 years on major stuff either up or an additional 1500 hours.

Might be worth a peek
 
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