Repowering 42 Bertram ?for boat builders

[Bluewater Lady Charters]

My boat now has about 3800 hours on their first majors -6v92s 475 HP Aside from replacing injectors, turbos, during this time and replacing a cylinder, broken fire ring.I should get at least another 1000 hours out of them. Thinking of repowering or rebuilding.

My ? is if I repower with new engines and gears, with most configurations saving about 2500# how will the boat handle in heavy seas. I have a full tower on this boat now and am worried about the center of gravity. Boat weighs 42,000#
Here in the Carolinas 3-5' seas are the norm offshore with 5' being the norm lately. Trolls fine in all kinds of conditions and will make my cruise 20-21 knots in the trough or following seas, even in 6-8' which is the direction we are usually running fishin for position.
The 92's require more maintenance than other but I do not to want sacrifice her ability to get off the dock one bit, handling or even spending a little more time in the engine room.

Anyone have any experience with this repower or a boat builder who can answer.

Thanks

[g_max_2003@hotmail.com]

hey a friend of mine in trinidad repowered a 42 bert, no tower with qsmll 540hp cummins and top end increased to over 30kts and cruise around 25 or so. however like u said those engines were much lighter than the original enignes and the boat sat a bit bow down. however he added extra fuel tanks totling 200 gal outboard the original aft tank and it seems to have made the boat float better now

greg

[PacificBlue]

You can't go wrong with repowering your Bertram with Cummins QSC 8.3's, CAT C9's, or the Volvo D9's (my preference). It will improve performance in all areas including speed, fuel consumption, smoke and engine room space. Better yet, you go to electronic controls and clean-up all those hydraulic/cable runs and you will also get better information on fuel burn. One key factor is who has the strongest service in your area - can't over emphasize how important that is.

If weight or trim becomes an issue, you can always add some usefull gear like an inverter system or ice maker, etc. You are correct in assuming you will be slightly raising your center of gravity, but think back to how the boat behaves with fuel tanks 1/4 full? Notice any big differences up in the tower? If it is not an issue then, I would not be overly concerned as long as you have worked out the boats fore and aft trim.

Slap on a set of Veem propellers, and you will be amazed at how quiet and smooth the newer diesel packages are.

Love the 42 Bert - it will just eat seas all day cruising in the low 20's...

[seapower]

and if you didn't understand that Cummins!!!! Long term investment speaking, that is. If this is a boat you feel like you're gonna be keeping and not selling, the choice is obvious. Frank

[Lobo Marine Products]

Have you considered repowering with a commercial class motor? Have you looked into IVECO/FPT engines they are a huge player in Europe and in commercial applications here. And in the Bertram 42 you have an abundance of space to put really anything in it.

[Fritz]

Originally Posted by seapower

and if you didn't understand that Cummins!!!! Long term investment speaking, that is. If this is a boat you feel like you're gonna be keeping and not selling, the choice is obvious. Frank

There is Cummins and then there is everybody else.

[seapower]

As most know I don't kick anyone else's product's on here. But from my point of view, any engine purchase is only as good as the service and support from "said" company. Alot of engine's that have made it "big" in Europe haven't done so hot here at home. Biggest problem is backing up the sale with service and part's availability over here. I don't care what color it is, it will break down at some point. How long you want to be down is the question to be asked. It's hard to beat "tried and true". Frank

[Deep C]

Right now we're running the 6v92 mills but in the 625 horse config... They havn't given me any real issues other than running dirty but we too are looking at repower. Our boat is a fast design so we need more power than you are looking at. We're probably gonna wind up with a set of cat c-12s... Every engine we have thoroughly investigated seems to have issues.

One engine I havn't seen mentioned above in your horse class is the Yanmars... I have run a 41 viking with a pair. Sweet. 25 knots, quiet, no smoke, 293 gallons on 85 mile each way overnighter... I'm looking at their little mills as being my choice for my albemarle...

[seapower]

Aren't opinion's like some thing else? Frank

[TROPHY SPORTFISHING]

Originally Posted by Bluewater Lady Charters

My boat now has about 3800 hours on their first majors -6v92s 475 HP Aside from replacing injectors, turbos, during this time and replacing a cylinder, broken fire ring.I should get at least another 1000 hours out of them. Thinking of repowering or rebuilding.

My ? is if I repower with new engines and gears, with most configurations saving about 2500# how will the boat handle in heavy seas. I have a full tower on this boat now and am worried about the center of gravity. Boat weighs 42,000#
Here in the Carolinas 3-5' seas are the norm offshore with 5' being the norm lately. Trolls fine in all kinds of conditions and will make my cruise 20-21 knots in the trough or following seas, even in 6-8' which is the direction we are usually running fishin for position.
The 92's require more maintenance than other but I do not to want sacrifice her ability to get off the dock one bit, handling or even spending a little more time in the engine room.

Anyone have any experience with this repower or a boat builder who can answer.

Thanks

A fellow by the name of Brick Brown has a 42 he repowered that stays in MHC used to stay at the MHCYB he put 450 c cummins in her 21 kt cruise 25 wot and he burns 30+/- gal a trip less and has twice the engine room. the boat sat a little higher all the way around but not anything ridiculous. recons are resonably priced and carry a 2 yr warranty QSC 540's would also be a good choice but are all electronic and twice the price i have already looked at these options i think you would be pleased with the 450 c's good luck.