Albin 25 MD2B switch to MD3B or MD17C

[JohnJ]

New to the Albin world. Purchased an Albin 25 with good running MD2B. I am wondering what is encountered if I repower with a 3 cylinder?
Does anyone have a MD2B engine in running condition? I am not necessarily looking for more power. I would like the piece of mind of having a spare engine.
Thank you

[kerrye]

Did you buy the boat in Thunder Bay from a guy whose father owned it originally? Lives on a bluff above the river with the boat stored in a garage? If so, I know that boat. I looked at it and considered purchasing it before I bought the one I currently own.

[JohnJ]

Yes that is the boat. "Kristinehamn"

[kerrye]

As I recall, the engine in it had been replaced with a newer model which had a geared starter instead of a belt starter. I didn't hear the engine run but it and the whole boat looked like it had been well maintained. Perhaps my memory fails me but I thought the seller still had the original engine from the boat also. I'm under the impression those engines are very robust and last a long time.

[kerrye]

One thing I've done on mine to increase peace of mind, is to install a drop down outboard bracket on the stern where I carry a 9.8 Tohatsu. It already saved us once when the muffler blew apart in the middle of the lake on our first splash. Not that I don't think having spare engine parts is a good idea, but having a running spare ready to use at any moment is a good idea too. It also works as a 'stern thruster' when manoevering in tight quarters.

[DesertAlbin736]

John J, would love to see some pictures of your boat posted. It's a bit of a PITA posting pictures since they limited the file size, but it's not too much trouble to resize them down to acceptable size limit.

Kerry, the Tohatsu outboards are good motors. We had a Tohatsu 8 for our sailboat, which was the long shaft 4 stroke that weighed in at about 95 lbs. Catalina Direct sells the spring loaded motor brackets that are used with Catalina sailboats & they work quite well.

I think if I were ever to consider repowering I'd go for a Beta/Kubota engine, mostly for spare parts cost and availability, not like the Yanmar parts bandits.

[kerrye]

I happened to have some handy.

[kerrye]

Some more.

[WillieC]

I am in similar straits, switching from 3b to 17C. The 3B in the boat has the RB transmission. The 17C has the MS transmission. My particular models with similar gear reductions (1.87 and 1.91 respectively, according to the books) have a very close vertical ouput shaft offset, meaning I can use the same engine mounts. However, the MS tranny is about 2" longer than the RB, requiring shaft and maybe coupler mods. That 2" pushes the coupler back and almost hits the uprising slope of the bottom of the engine belly pan.
Now the 2 cylinder engine pan may be entirely too small, but MAYBE, just MAYBE, Albin and Per Brohall were anticipating a longer three cylinder engine. Measure twice, cut once.

Just checked your pics and that looks like a two cylinder engine pan. Or maybe parallax distorts the view. You like working with fiberglass, right?

[JohnJ]

It is a 2 cylinder pan. I assume the 3 cylinder engine requires a longer pan.

[WillieC]

Apparently so, JohnJ. I'm not sure they (engine pans) are demountable, since the engine mount bolts are cast right into the pan and more securely into some kind of bed below. I won't have my engine out for a while but maybe others can shed light here.
That third cylinder jacket adds about five inches. Now you have a real project!