Westerbeke - repair or replace

yobub

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2016
952
Northern Illinois
Boat Info
1998 400 Sundancer
Engines
Cat 3116's
I have a '98 Westerbeke 7.6BTD (diesel) and over the summer the back end fried (confirmed by a tech).

The Genny has about 5300 hours on it but I've only owned it for about 50 of those hours, so I don't really know how it was maintained. It ran totally fine before the back end fried, and even starts and runs fine now, just no power.

I'm trying to decide whether just to pull the back end and have it rebuilt, or to bite the bullet and replaced the whole thing. Without labor, having the back end rebuilt is about $3000 I think, including shipping. I got a quote for a new 7.6 EGTD from Citimarine at about $12k including shipping. If I just did the back end I *might* be able to do it myself (or might not), but if I did the full replacement I would definitely be paying the shop. Either way I'm in it for some significant labor.

The full replacement is a really big number, but with the age and the hours of the genny I don't want to throw good money after bad.

I'm heading to the boat show on Saturday to see if there are any dealers and any specials on replacement, but am not expecting the replacement price to move all that much.

Thoughts?
 
I would repair it. It I would consider rebuilding the engine as well and just have it down once.
 
I would likely repair it but I would have the motor checked out.

I'd have the compression tested before making a final decision. If good compression, I'd replace the back end (I believe this has been done on mine). While your in there, scrape and paint, replace the isolators/rails, have the injectors rebuilt and the head re-torqued. I'd call it a minor overhaul. If you went this way, you would likely get several more seasons out of the unit and if the $1500 price is accurate your likely in for about $3k or less.

Getting to it isn't to bad, and you could do most of the prep or even all the work yourself (I hired a local genny specialist to pull and service the injectors and do the head work). You'll need to pull the hatch beam (4 bolts), and remove the Starboard exhaust tube, and the aft vacuum generator (consider new duckbills while its out too). There are 4 lag screws that hold the unit down. Get them out, and you can rotate the unit around to access the backside and remove the hoses and pipes back there.
 
We have a 15KW Westerbeke that wouldn't start last summer. My mechanic, whom I trust implicitly, said it would be about 7,500 to repair it or 14,000 to install a new one.

The new one shore is purty.
 
I would likely repair it but I would have the motor checked out.

I'd have the compression tested before making a final decision. If good compression, I'd replace the back end (I believe this has been done on mine). While your in there, scrape and paint, replace the isolators/rails, have the injectors rebuilt and the head re-torqued. I'd call it a minor overhaul. If you went this way, you would likely get several more seasons out of the unit and if the $1500 price is accurate your likely in for about $3k or less.

Getting to it isn't to bad, and you could do most of the prep or even all the work yourself (I hired a local genny specialist to pull and service the injectors and do the head work). You'll need to pull the hatch beam (4 bolts), and remove the Starboard exhaust tube, and the aft vacuum generator (consider new duckbills while its out too). There are 4 lag screws that hold the unit down. Get them out, and you can rotate the unit around to access the backside and remove the hoses and pipes back there.
 
I have a 8kw Weaterbeke with a bad motor but a good generator. The motor overheated and cracked the block. I am not sure if my parts will work for what you need, but the price will be right since the Unit is sitting in my barn taking up space. The genny came out of a 97 Sea Ray 400db. I think it has about 1000 hours on it. PM if interested.

Keith
 
I have a 8kw Weaterbeke with a bad motor but a good generator. The motor overheated and cracked the block. I am not sure if my parts will work for what you need, but the price will be right since the Unit is sitting in my barn taking up space. The genny came out of a 97 Sea Ray 400db. I think it has about 1000 hours on it. PM if interested.

Keith

That's funny. I was just about to suggest the OP find a Gennie with a bad motor and frankenstein it.
 
Good luck. Went thru this 4 seasons ago. I like the boat. Don’t plan on getting rid of it any time soon and the season is too short up here to have to deal with this stuff. In the end I bit the $10000 bullet and bought a new 8.0. Glad I did.
 

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