I have an 1981 PT 38 Trawler, 2" shaft, Perkins 185 aspirated, turbo,

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richspree

Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2023
Messages
9
Location
Blaine, Washington
Vessel Name
Settled
Vessel Make
1981 Cheer men PT 38 Europa
I have put all new instrumentation, the boat has been in a boat house for 40 years she is shocking to look at beautiful. I have redone a lot of stuff 10k on motor, 28K instruments, transmission plates, she is a 1995 motor, WHAT NEW MOTOR COULD I PUT IN THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE.
 
hey all! thanks for being here. I love salt water, from long island, NY. the pnw is my new boating home. i hope to join a group of happy would trawling along. Any referrals? Richard
 
Why do you want to change the engine? Go faster?

David
 
Welcome aboard. Is there something maJor wrong with the Perkins? You will never recoup the cost of a new engine. I prefer Cummins if you are going the repower route. Cummins used to have a reman program that had 5.9 naturals for less money than new but with the new engine warranty.
 
Was the Perkins 10k hours or dollars? If dollars, why would you want to repower after putting $10k into it? You could do a rebuild for that money. Confused. 🤔
 
Mostly, We just purchased this boat and love everything about it. I was astounded to know when I left my boat at Alliant Marina for three months that I spent 10k on the motor, the cooler was clogged and needed overhaul, Then the flex plates in transmission broke up. We had those repaired on the fly in Bellingham by TriCounty a most competent shop. I see the boat looks like a million dollars but the motor seems to have troubles with 35000 hours and being a 1995 with limited parts availability, or so we are told.
It is never going to go faster and slow is pro, frankly fuel is not a problem. Are we on safe platform? The engine purrs and runs nice. Maybe, I am seeking a pros point of view. Seriously, they( above) did a lot of work, radar, monitors, up and down, auto pilot, chart plotter, had all this work done but I still haven’t been taken through the boat and showed all the upgrades cause of a lack of the managements time to show us. The finishing stuff, lockset on sliding door, where to find one, the anchor drops but reeling it up it wants to wind around the star looking thing. Is it the wrong size chain? Thanks to all of you boat lovers. I hope to meet you one day.
 

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35,000 hours! Where did the PO go to accumulate that many hours since 1995? In any case if you spent $10,000 on it yourself and it purrs, keep it.

Your windlass is not aligned with the bow roller and that is why the chain rides up. Chain size looks good. Not the prettiest solution, but the easiest: Angle the bow roller so it is pointing directly to the chain wheel on the windlass and rotate the windlass so everything lines up.

David
 
Not the prettiest solution, but the easiest: Angle the bow roller so it is pointing directly to the chain wheel on the windlass and rotate the windlass so everything lines up.

Or maybe move the whole bow roller assembly further to starboard, to better align with the gypsy...

And that's maybe make room for another bow roller assembly on the port side, to align with the capstan... and that way you'd always have a choice of anchors to match whatever the current substrate is... and the second one could be a hot spare for emergencies.

35,000 hours?

-Chris
 
Welcome aboard. Is there something maJor wrong with the Perkins? You will never recoup the cost of a new engine. I prefer Cummins if you are going the repower route. Cummins used to have a reman program that had 5.9 naturals for less money than new but with the new engine warranty.
Thank you mate. I’ve had a boat all my life and electric Duffy 22 Boston whaler 18 double under 32 all were gasoline and not nearly as nice. I was hoping I could just drop a new engine in and feel confident to go the distance. Reading three different books currently One about diesels the other one about engines and transmissions and anything mechanical on a boat, I have a full library of electrical mechanical. At 71 years of age, I don’t really wanna be doing engine work if you get my drift, even with the Duffy electric 22 Cuddy cabin , the batteries had to be changed every four years.
 
35,000 hrs? Either someone missed a decimal point or they left the key on for a couple of years
 
Mostly, We just purchased this boat and love everything about it. I was astounded to know when I left my boat at Alliant Marina for three months that I spent 10k on the motor, the cooler was clogged and needed overhaul, Then the flex plates in transmission broke up. We had those repaired on the fly in Bellingham by TriCounty a most competent shop. I see the boat looks like a million dollars but the motor seems to have troubles with 35000 hours and being a 1995 with limited parts availability, or so we are told.
It is never going to go faster and slow is pro, frankly fuel is not a problem. Are we on safe platform? The engine purrs and runs nice. Maybe, I am seeking a pros point of view. Seriously, they( above) did a lot of work, radar, monitors, up and down, auto pilot, chart plotter, had all this work done but I still haven’t been taken through the boat and showed all the upgrades cause of a lack of the managements time to show us. The finishing stuff, lockset on sliding door, where to find one, the anchor drops but reeling it up it wants to wind around the star looking thing. Is it the wrong size chain? Thanks to all of you boat lovers. I hope to meet you one day.
I ordered the sliding door lock from an outfit in the UK. LocksOnline.co.uk. They supply to boats like ours under the name The Old Customs House, The Docks, Milford Marina Milford Haven SA73 3AA. It is a Union 2401 Sliding Door Lock , Model 9016. Ask for extra keys. I paid 153.26 pounds for it in 2020, including shipping.
 
I have put all new instrumentation, the boat has been in a boat house for 40 years she is shocking to look at beautiful. I have redone a lot of stuff 10k on motor, 28K instruments, transmission plates, she is a 1995 motor, WHAT NEW MOTOR COULD I PUT IN THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE.
I've got the 41' PT Cheermen Europa.
I repowered with Factory Reman BT 210 cummins
 

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I have put all new instrumentation, the boat has been in a boat house for 40 years she is shocking to look at beautiful. I have redone a lot of stuff 10k on motor, 28K instruments, transmission plates, she is a 1995 motor, WHAT NEW MOTOR COULD I PUT IN THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE.
Hi Rich
Cummins Marine provides factory reconditioned engines.
They have a comprehensive warranty and an extended warranty is available.
You can still get mechanically fuel 5.9 sizes as well as the 4 b t.
The age of your boat makes it legal to still use mechanical injection.
If you wish, and i certainly suggest it, you can get a 6.7, 5.9, 9.0 and 4 in electronic injected and controlled.
They are available as recons or new.
Electronic engines are quieter, have far better low speed torque curves, they dont smoke and are easier to troubleshoot and work on. I hope this helps. If not, please let me know and i will get you the answers you are looking for. The Perkins was great in its day. You will certainly be able to recoup some of the expendatures. I expect you have the warner C R gear or maybe prm. If you have just had it gone through you can probably use it on your new or recon Cummins.
God bless..following seas
 
I had the PT 41 classic, 1981, great boat!

Cummins would be my choice, but would also look at Yanmar pretty seriously.
 
I have put all new instrumentation, the boat has been in a boat house for 40 years she is shocking to look at beautiful. I have redone a lot of stuff 10k on motor, 28K instruments, transmission plates, she is a 1995 motor, WHAT NEW MOTOR COULD I PUT IN THERE. I WOULD LIKE TO TRAVEL FAR AND WIDE.
We repowered our 1981 Albin 36 with a 210 Hp Cummins. Very pleased with the results,like a new boat...however not without some pain...lots of retrofits .
I can send picts and invoices if it helps you in the decision making process.
We live in Vancouver and are currently cruising in the San Juans.
 
Or maybe move the whole bow roller assembly further to starboard, to better align with the gypsy...

And that's maybe make room for another bow roller assembly on the port side, to align with the capstan... and that way you'd always have a choice of anchors to match whatever the current substrate is... and the second one could be a hot spare for emergencies.

35,000 hours?

-Chris
Your answer, your reply, you your wisdom thank you. I reread the logs and found that the first motor had 1,000 hours on it when they replaced it in 1995, so for all intent and purposes this motor has 2500 hours total of 3500.
 
We repowered our 1981 Albin 36 with a 210 Hp Cummins. Very pleased with the results,like a new boat...however not without some pain...lots of retrofits .
I can send picts and invoices if it helps you in the decision making process.
We live in Vancouver and are currently cruising in the San Juans.
I am lowing our trawler but so many troubles, or maybe I m seeking perfection. Should I keep the vacuum flush equipment and commode? Upgrade the commode and keep the equipment? Or did All and get an electric commode
 
I've got the 41' PT Cheermen Europa.
I repowered with Factory Reman BT 210 cummins
I am in Semiahmoo marina. That motor looks fantastic. My engine room is very clean everything in its place plastic shields protecting from fan belts etc. But I could imagine that Cummins in the place of that Perkins mainly because of parts. I put a new exhaust hose on, new flex plates and the transmission, and the manifold to cool the motor was utterly clogged and leaking. The motor really does purr. Should I really quit worrying and enjoy the show? Ownership of a boat like this has been my dream for at least six years. And then I found the cash to make it come true. This area in the Pacific Northwest is immense, and full of wildlife, A different kind of cruising than Long Island, Montauk point, Statue of Liberty, it was good but this is vast. Can anyone guide me where to find sliding troller door hardware Mortis type? Where can I catch up with you to see your boat?
 
Quit worrying about the Perkins. It’s a great engine with reasonable hours.
 

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