We publish here

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general opinions on Yanmar engines and

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individual reports by skippers

February 2003

Steven, MOORINGS St. Lucia (Marigot Bay)

"We do not have any Volvo Penta engines in our ships any more. The management decided that. We only have Yanmar and Perkins engines in our ships."

February 2003

Alexander, since 1980 engine- mechanic at MOORINGS St. Lucia (Marigot Bay)

"As long as I am at MOORINGS, I had to overhauled a lot of engines, but never a Yanmar."

February 2003

Cecil, manages since 1984 the spare part procurement at MOORINGS St. Lucia (Marigot Bay)

"We did not replace any major parts on an Yanmar, but had some small repairs at the transmission."

February 2003

Roger Dosithee, since 1980 engine- mechanic at MOORINGS St. Lucia (Marigot Bay)

"I never had to open a Yanmar that was 5 years old or less. After 5 years they are clean like new. Not one oil leak."

March 2003

Peter ("Shanty") many years repair part manager at Stardust and Sunsail in the Caribbean, at this time Brazil

"In our charter business Yanmar motors were best of all the smaller engines .They are a little bit more expensive, particularly also in the repair part procurement, however, it is profitable. I can not say anything about the prices in Europe, and also in Caribbean the prices are in part dependent on the dollar exchange rate. Volvo motors we all fired. Particularly the motors with exhaust gas chargers, even more badly with Intercoolers, starts lubricating after short time, which is due to the turbine. These parts are especially expensive."

March 2003

Fabrice, spare parts division at KIRIAKUOLIS Le Marin, Martinique (with 30 ships)

"We have approx. 30 ships here in Martinique, from that 10 catamarans (Bahia 46, Belize 43, Venezia 42, Laveszzi 40, Athena 38), therefore 2 times 10 engines. Not a single ship has any more Volvo Penta engines, even if Volvo Penta offers spares to us now significant cheaper than Yanmar does. They are all equipped only with Yanmar. Since we rearranged from Volvo Penta on to Yanmar, we do not have any problems any more. The single repair at all Yanmar motors until today was the exchange of a cylinder head gasket, nothing else."

April 2003

Vergil Joseph

repairs since 2000 engines at BAREFOOT, St. Vincent, Blue Lagoon, before that 18 years at MOORINGS St. Lucia, 4 years STEVENS Charter St. Lucia

"With the 4JH 40 HP no problems at all. After 4000 hours we give them a complete rebuilt. Then they are like new again.

With the Kanzani gearbox, Yanmar has one of the best transmissions on the market. It is similar to Hurth, also a very good transmission. They will last for a lifetime."

April 2003

Meldon Danja Woods, St. Vincent, Blue Lagoon, SVG, engine manager at Sunsail (locally 40 ships) and TMM

Info Tel. 01784.5282250 / 4575802, email funtours@vincysurf.com

3JH3

"The 3JH3 has 3 cylinders like the 3GM, however, 50 % more stroke volume and 50 % more output.
The 3JH3 is fundamentally a good motor. It is always better than the 3GM, and who has the selection, should not take the 3GM, but the 3JH.
The placement of the sea water pump is very badly and much too complicated at the 3JH: If one must remove the sea water pump, one must remove first the engine mount and after that the bracket. That is very much work. A good mechanic needs 4 hours and more for that."

4JH

"The 4JH is a marvellous engine, even in the turbo version. There are not the smallest problems, however, up to a disadvantage:
The coating is very bad. The engine rusts everywhere. If one sees the smallest corrosion location, one should clean immediately the location and varnish the location. Otherwise the engine is soon full of corrosion.
But the corrosion does not have to do anything with the function of the engine. The engine itself, besides the coating, is simply super."

type

built

report

4JH4

1992

Olaf "Helios", 50 HP, only oil change, not the smallest repair, not touched any screw, rustbound engine, however, from outside strongly.

4JH4

1987

Bernd "Volle Pulle", 44 HP, 4000 hours, changed 1 impeller, else not the least repair, no rust at the engine up to a small place at the exhaust.

4JHTE

1998

Rudolf "Shanty", 63 HP, 648 hours, 2 times oil change, not the smallest repair