A27 Engine Questions

[Arjayen]

I am considering purchaning an '88 A27 powered by a Yanmar 4JH-DTE. The engine hours are a mystery - there in no hour meter in the tac instrument and the owner, who is not the original owner, has no idea of the hours. Also ther is no maintenance log available. I find this strange and see not knowing the hours and maintenance history as a big problem.

My questions are:
1. Was the Yanmar 4JH-DTE a common original engine in the A27 or could this be a repowered A27?
2. Might it be productive to post the serial number of the A27 on this forum to see if a previous owner could shed any light on the problem?

I have quite a bit of experience with smaller Yanmars in sailboats and always kept a good engine maintenance log. But I'm not a mechanic. I think I should have a good mechanical survey done. I would appreciate any comments owners might about this situation.

[hetek]

I looked at a '88 boat in Flanders, NY once and it also had the 77 hp Yanmar 4JH-DTE. I also know there are a couple other boats documented with the "Yanmar 77 hp", so I would assume it is factory installed.

Unless that one boat really got around!

[packham]

I too have the Yanmar 4JH-DTE in my 1987 27 FC...it also didn't originally have an hour meter installed but it does now. I find the engine is very economical to run...I burn approx 3 litres (.7 gph) per hour cruising at 7 knots. It is my understanding that these engines are pretty much bomb proof provided the basics (oil changes, clean fuel, fuel filters) are done on a regular basis.