Engines

Inboard Engines originally fitted

Vire 6 petrol

The Vire 6 can corrode away to the point of uselessness. I spent a long time nursing one at 1.5 knots from Bembridge Ledge to Haslar. It is light with aluminium castings.
However it is still manufactured and I saw an example at Beaulieu Boat Jumble for £550

Volvo Penta Saildrive petrol

I saw an unhappy looking one of these on a boat for sale in 1995. It and the vinegar and toilet smell inside the hull told me what I needed that my next boat lay elsewhere.

Yanmar 1GM/ 1GM10

Solid and fisherman-proof seawater cooled diesel. Not a lot of hi-tech here. Loads of vibration and noise but it works. My choice. Expensive spares, widely available. See this link for more on maintenance.

Petter Mini 6

Similar to Yanmar but not made any more. Fitted as standard by Westerly ?

Beta 10/13

These are often the engine of choice for re-engining the boat. Cheap, quiet, light, powerful diesel. Freshwater cooling helps the performance and the weight is not much more than the Yanmar (85kg vs 75kg).
I was told by a salesman that the Beta 10 and Beta 13 are the same engine just the 13.5 is tuned and the 10 is not. As a result the power from the 10 may be more.

Adequate Engine Power for a GK24?

The 7 HP of my Yanmar 1GM7 pushes the boat at 5.5 knots in flat water with a clean hull. At that speed the water running back up the cockpit drains remains in the gutter around the central area of the cockpit floor.
However at least one Beta10/13 installation is reported as severely flooding the cockpit at speed with the stern squatting. This boat may be heavier than the other GK24s as its interior is well fitted out.

mike@hamble.demon.co.uk