290 TM Repower

[edjones]

Getting ready to start a 1986 290 TM repower. Current have MIE 260's.  Any help from those that have been here before?  Diesel an option?  (Worried about the smoke and the side exhaust).  Drop in replacement ... or go for new and improved?  Would welcome any and all inputs.

[JimCt]

That question is above my pay grade but can you send up some pictures?  Always interested in looking at someone else's project; maybe learn something.

[Radioshop]

The best diesel option is going to be lightweight diesel such as Yanmar, Nanni diesel or, Cummins 6bta's.  Your transmissions will probably be okay but new shafts, struts, props and, a major fuel tank cleaning will be in order.  It would be a great investment if you plan to keep the boat for a very long time.  Of course with rumors of $5 a gallon pump price on the streets, you can imagine what the fuel dock price will be.  The return on investment for the diesels may get to be more favorable.  The Nanni's are based on either Toyota or, Kubota diesels which is the same as Yanmar and can be bought from www.bateau.com.  I would suggest Peninsular diesels, in concept it's a great idea but sadly all the comments I've heard have cited miserable customer service and hit or miss performance.  You can get rebuilt Cummins 6bta's for less than 10k each, which is less than the new Yanmars.

[Randy H]

I know of a 290 in texas with 4 cyl.Yanmars the owner told me it will top out @about 25k and cruises good at 20 to 22k I have never asked about the economics as far as consumption goes but it is sure to be better than carburated gas motors.
The dealer in Rockport that made this conversion also likes the crusader fuel injected 350's and really touts them as a good investment for someone whom doesn't want to spend twice the money on repowering with diesels but to determine this you might want to consider how many hours a season you put on the engines that could tell you which way to go.

[Radioshop]

One last thought about return on investment (ROI) for marine diesels.  Remember most of the existing ROI models probably are set around $2-2.50 a gallon for gasoline costs.   If the $5 a gallon really does come to fruition, and I think it's less politics driving prices and more the old adage about a dog licking it's nuts, your ROI time will be cut in half.  Nothing worse than your boat sitting at the dock while the CEO of Exxon-Mobile takes out his new mini ship.