Waikato

Thanks for that heads up Tony. I have always been a great fan off antifreeze and have 4 litre container on board for toping up. We used to have a company out here called Metalock, they where kept very busy, back in the day but we used to have mostly British built vehicles' back then.

Well here I am tony took a bit longer than I thought. We have had a couple off cyclone's since my last post so it took a while. However have been up to the boat today and as luck would have it run into the man who built Chloe. It turns out that there is a secret compartment that is called a draw that I had never got around to looking in. Bugger me, there was a wealth off info such as the operator's Handbook for a Newage/BMC COMMANDER Marine engine. engine number c360/289, plus a host off other info. You where absolutely right regards the size and real hp off said engine. 46hp at 3000 rpm 35hp at 2200rpm recommended economic cruising. Thanks for your help to date. have been put onto a outfit that may be able to supply new timing chain, told them what it is like and they said they would not have a problem. We will see.

I do think you are on to it Tony. in another life many years ago I was a mechanic, but got sick off the grease and oil on every thing I touched so went about earning a living in other ways. However when I look at this motor it do's remind me off the Morris Oxford motors I used to work on in my misspent youth. My launch is a NZ design and build. I will post photo off boat and motor in about month. I do appreciate your help in this, there is a few off these gearbox's on the odd boat out here, but most off them tend to be on Nuffield's. This is the only boat I have seen with this type off engine out here. The hull speed of the boat is only 8knts so more power will only be wasted. Chloe will travel at that speed at about 1800rpm with clean bum, and best off all it seems to make diesel as it travels. Kevin

There is an inline pump, the timing chain cover from memory did not look all that wide however that all depends on how my addled mind remembers it. the boat was built in 67 and the motor went in then. I had a brief chat to the builder and the grandson off the owner that had it built. they where both pleased to see that the vessel was still pretty much as built. I don't know if this helps but it has a British marine mechanical box with hydraulic slave cyl working the clutch. Kevin

Hi Tony, Thanks for that info. I do like the term "alleged" as that has always been my thoughts. However it is an honest little engine in an honest old boat. It do's have a good rattle going from the timing chain, users no oil etc.. was thinking off giving her a recon given it's been doing it since 1967. But maybe just a new chain and tappets etc.. Will take photo's next time on the boat which could be about a month as it is winter here and only visit Chloe to run her up and charge bats. Kevin

Hi good people, I have an 11 metre launch with a bmc newage diesel engine. was put in to boat when built in 1967. What I would like to know is are these engines petrol blocks with diesel heads or do they have sleaves and stuff. The engine is 4 cyl. I will get the engine number next time on boat but all the paper work says it is 50hp but that means jack. Waikato