Swicth to diesel

[eastont]

I just purchased a Carver 3607 with twin 7.4l gas guzzlers and I am wondering, is it possible to switch to diesel and how difficult it might be.

 

[Don S]

Re: Swicth to diesel

is it possible to switch to diesel

Yes

how difficult it might be.

Depends on room, type of engine and tranny, and your abilities.

 

[eastont]

Re: Swicth to diesel

Thanks for answering Don,

My abilities are zero, ever since carpal tunnel surgery that didn't work. But I would have to have a marina do it.

As for room, there is lots. The twin 7.4's barely fill the engine room. I can get between them and also between them and the hull.....would diesels need to be as big an engine as gas????

I guess a final question at this time.....would they need to be "marine" diesels, or could a diesel from a semi tractor work?

 

[QC]

Re: Swicth to diesel

What you need to do is match horsepower if you want similar performance. Yes that can be done with a diesel from a semi tractor, but it will be 3000 lbs, much taller and much longer. Bad plan. Also can be met with as small as a 4.0 liter diesel at around the same weight and size. And there are some options in between.

What is your motivation? And what is your budget?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Swicth to diesel

I just purchased a Carver 3607 with twin 7.4l gas guzzlers and I am wondering, is it possible to switch to diesel and how difficult it might be.

Anything can be done with money.


It would take YEARS to make up the difference in repower costs from the fuel savings.

You didn't say what year you have but, A complete (new engine/drive) repower in a Carver 3607 could cost as much or more than you paid for the boat!

I found a couple for sale online with diesels that were priced similarly to the ones with gas engines......

Your best bet might be to just run the boat for a year or so and sell it.

Then find a boat powered the way you want.

As for room, there is lots. The twin 7.4's barely fill the engine room. I can get between them and also between them and the hull.....would diesels need to be as big an engine as gas????

Let me add that there's an engine that "replaces" the 454.....

400TA-310 – Peninsular Engines

But they WOULD cost a fortune

 

[halfmoa]

Re: Swicth to diesel

Anything can be done with money.


It would take YEARS to make up the difference in repower costs from the fuel savings.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Swicth to diesel

Diesels can present more problems than they fix, except for fuel economy-maybe.

The payback, to convert, is a VERY BIG number.

 

[rbh]

Re: Swicth to diesel

I have been thinking of doing the same thing as diesel engines were an option.

Dodge cummins engines, the same as in the pickup trucks are supposedly the same block as the marine,

If you go scrounging in the bone yards or on the internet you may find marine blocks in some pickups.

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Swicth to diesel

I don't think so.

Dodge/Ram is not going to put one extra cent into their automotive application diesels. They were designed for on road, a toally different application.

Cummins does. They design their marine diesels for marine applications. Different fuel curves, hardware, etc. Read $$$$$.

As said, the payback for transplanting diesel is HUGE:

1. Drive gear ratios.
2. Closed cooling.
3. Fuel system differences.

That does not mention the trashy diesel fuel out there today. As much as I love diesels, I wouldn't buy one unless I absolutely had to and the application met these requirements.

1. Everyday use.
2. Constant heavy load.
3. Payback calculation was three years or less.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Swicth to diesel

A member here put a GM 6.2L diesel from a truck in his 28' Luhrs. Osco makes manifolds for it.

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/77-luhrs-28-ft-diesel-repower-splashed-422225-23.html

This engine was made to be used in place of SBC's so it fits and bolts up in its place. He later swapped it out for a new gas 350 due to a lack of power though as these were pretty low output engines

 

[rbh]

Re: Swicth to diesel

I don't think so.

Dodge/Ram is not going to put one extra cent into their automotive application diesels. They were designed for on road, a toally different application.

Cummins does. They design their marine diesels for marine applications. Different fuel curves, hardware, etc. Read $$$$$.

As said, the payback for transplanting diesel is HUGE:

1. Drive gear ratios.
2. Closed cooling.
3. Fuel system differences.

That does not mention the trashy diesel fuel out there today. As much as I love diesels, I wouldn't buy one unless I absolutely had to and the application met these requirements.

1. Everyday use.
2. Constant heavy load.
3. Payback calculation was three years or less.

well just had a look and this is what I found first.
Cummins B Series engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Swicth to diesel

Up North absolutely not. 12 months a year boating down here it has some advantages. I've had diesel boats for 20 years. But we run every weekend 12 hours a day. the biggest boating mistake I ever made was selling my 26 Dusky with a perkins. 30 gallons all day. I really didn't care much for my Luhr's with Yanmars. But that was probably because they put too little hp in that boat to start with.

Too answer your question. From a money standpoint you will more than likely never see a return. We did a 36 Seapay years ago that was a feature article in Power and Motoryacht. From big block to Cummins BTA's. It was faster and better fuel burn. But how long will it take you to make up for 50-75 grand. Better off to buy a boat with them already installed. Correct sized shafts and drive train.

Not trying to insult you. But its a Carver.