A new Yanmar 30hp engine perfect for classic wooden boats

When a skilled shipwright sets about restoring his own boat, it's odds-on that the outcome is going to be impressive. In the case of Wayne Parr and his sloop Moonraker, the six-year restoration is said to be stunning.

As a first year apprentice, Parr encountered Moonraker in 1998 when she was in the yard at the Wooden Boat Shop at Sorrento for a new engine. Parr’s initial reaction was that this 1953 built, 25’ boat had a cavernous interior cabin below the decks.

Tim Phillips, the owner of the Wooden Boat Shop commented at the time that Moonraker was a beautiful boat that could sail anywhere.

A decade later, the owner of Moonraker approached Parr and suggested that he might like to buy the boat. Obviously, Parr had shown way too much interest in the boat during the repower. The change of ownership took place in 2008.

PEELING AWAY THE YEARS
The first year of the project was spent pulling the fit out apart and removing all the paint and fittings from inside the hull. This was undertaken using a heat gun and scraper while Moonraker was moored in the water. The paint removal process revealed all the faults and fractures which would later need to be rectified.

It also showed that the hull was well constructed, her full length planking in NZ Kauri was in beautiful condition. The hardwood frames however were not so healthy. With the paint peeling away, one break after another was revealed.

A full year was spent repairing the frames and fitting eight new floor timbers. A new keel was also fitted with the overall strength of the hull greatly increased.

WOODEN BOAT CHALLENGES
Working as a shipwright by day at the Wooden Boat Shop and then picking up the tools after work for a couple of hours more, proved to be challenging.

With a deadline of the 2015 Australian Wooden Boat Festival at Hobart, Parr was resolute in finishing Moonraker in time to make the Bass Strait crossing.

"Anyone who has built or restored a wooden boat understands that it is a big commitment financially and physically," Parr said. "In many ways restoring Moonraker has been more gruelling than building a new boat."

"We had installed the Yanmar in ’98 so I knew that it was in excellent condition," Parr said.

"Because of my work at the Wooden Boat Shop where we fit and service Yanmar marine diesel engines, I have absolute faith in the Yanmar brand. Moonraker can carry 150 litres of fuel so that’s a lot for this efficient engine."

HEADING FOR HOBART
With Moonraker back in the water and lovingly restored from stem to stern, Parr together with his wife Melinda Piesse set off from Sorrento (Melbourne) and set course for Hobart. The plan was to take 2½ weeks island hopping across Bass Strait, undertaking the journey in the company of another boat.

The idyllic pre-voyage dream and the reality soon proved to be at odds with one another. The first couple of days at sea provided the dream sailing that had been anticipated. It was peaceful travelling under sail, then at the end of each day, the Yanmar 2GM20 was started so that Moonraker could reach the overnight target destination.

Bass Strait weather can be unforgiving and treacherous. When the weather changed for the worse, Parr knew that all his skill as a shipwright would be put to the test. Those repaired frames and new keel proved to be a wise investment.

HELLISH SEAS
The seas were very sharp and had a chop on top. As Moonraker ploughed into each trough, the green water would literally bring the boat to a shuddering halt. Sailing was out of the question, so the Yanmar 2GM20 was pressed into action to push Moonraker towards Tasmania.

At times, and with the Yanmar operating at wide open throttle of 3500rpm for three hours at a time, Moonraker was making headway at just one knot. There were times when the GPS showed negative one knot speed. The 35 to 40 knot winds and high seas were pushing Moonraker backwards at full throttle.

 Eventually Moonraker made it. She took the full 2½ weeks to make the journey and of the 17 days at sea, only two were spent under sail. The Yanmar 2GM20 ran for over 100 hours on this voyage and got Moonraker all the way across Bass Strait with a total fuel burn of 220 litres.

"We took on extra fuel at Lady Baron Island, but apart from that we were self-sufficient," Parr said.

"Ours is a boating family and we’ve always had Yanmar engines. The voyage in Moonraker again proved that the Yanmar brand is safe and very dependable."

YANMAR 3YM30AE REPOWER
In most repower situations this is where the story finishes, but not so with Parr. His arduous experience across Bass Strait highlighted the need to consider more power in the engine room. This coincided with the launch of the new Yanmar 3YM30AE marine diesel engine.

"When Yanmar released the new 3YM30AE engine I thought that it would be the ideal model to upgrade Moonraker," Parr said.

"This is a new generation engine technically with greater fuel efficiency and more power. It will greatly enhance our capabilities aboard Moonraker."

The new model Yanmar 3YM30AE is a three-cylinder engine which develops 29.1mhp at 3200 pm. The maximum rated engine speed is 3200rpm.

A key thing in this whole story is this — as a result of the reduced maximum rpm and new cylinder block design, the noise and emission levels have been reduced and the engine torque increased. That will no doubt come as music to the ears of Parr and his wife.

The 3YM30AE having a similar footprint to the Yanmar GM series proved to be very easy to install without major works to the engine compartment.

"There are numerous other benefits the 3YM30AE offers for the cruising yachtsman, such as the capacious 125 amp alternator with the no slip flat belt, and the forward facing water pump that enables an impeller change without demounting the pump," Parr said.

More at www.powerequipment.com.au and www.woodenboatshop.com.au