Rustinhornsby for sale

[pelicanbespoke]

I have a marinised Rustinhornsby engine for sale. I’d like to get rid of it soon. We are turning the engine room into a bedroom and reinstating an engine in the stern. I can send more pictures and a video of the engine running. 
She is in good condition. Could do with a service and the solenoid looking at. 
Will come with the exhaust, day tank and prop shaft. 
we are located in London near Mitre bridge. Kensil rise. 
I can organise the engine lifting. 
happy to except offers 

Please call Chris 07973159941

 

[Momac]

i expect you  mean its a ''Ruston & Hornsby'' engine.

[Tonka]

Why not put the bedroom in the old boatmans cabin position?

[MtB]

Curious. What model of Ruston is it? 

 

Looks air-cooled to me and a bit on the small side. Interesting gearbox too which I've also never seen before.

 

 

 

 

Or maybe that's not a gearbox at all on the tail of it, and that chain arrangement is a raised hand-start. Especially given what looks like an alternator drive belt hanging loose.I initially took the chain for the gear-change mechanism like on a Kelvin. 

 

I expect Bengo will be along shortly to explain all! 

 

 

[Momac]

1 hour ago, MtB said:

Curious. What model of Ruston is it? 

 

 

 

Maybe this is the same or similar model 

https://nbalbert.blogspot.com/2010/06/ruston-hornsby-2ywm.html

 

[MtB]

I think you're right. 

 

12.5hp at 1800rpm according to realdiesels.co.uk

 

Not a great choice for a narrowboat. 

[PaulJ]

43 minutes ago, MtB said:

I think you're right. 

 

12.5hp at 1800rpm according to realdiesels.co.uk

 

Not a great choice for a narrowboat. 

I was moving a 54fter earlier this year with a very similar looking RH 2YBA- that was rated  10hp @ 1800

Think it drew about 32 or so inches and other than having to work a bit  ploughing through a fairly shallow North Stratford it went OK.

[mrsmelly]

8 hours ago, PaulJ said:

I was moving a 54fter earlier this year with a very similar looking RH 2YBA- that was rated  10hp @ 1800

Think it drew about 32 or so inches and other than having to work a bit  ploughing through a fairly shallow North Stratford it went OK.

My first boat, a 56 footer had a 9hp LR 2. We did most of the system in her including Tidal Trent, Thames etc. It was a bit interesting at times. 

[PaulJ]

1 hour ago, mrsmelly said:

My first boat, a 56 footer had a 9hp LR 2. We did most of the system in her including Tidal Trent, Thames etc. It was a bit interesting at times. 

One of my all time favourites remains a Barry Hawkins 67ft (I think) powered by a Gardner 1L2- great fun- did take a while and bit of forward planning to stop though 😀

[alan_fincher]

18 hours ago, MtB said:

I think you're right. 

 

12.5hp at 1800rpm according to realdiesels.co.uk

 

Not a great choice for a narrowboat. 

 

Whilst realdiesels should know what they are talking about that doesn't sound right to me.

 

I think the R&H 2Y engine is usually considered to be fairly similatrto a Russell Newbery or National in powere terms.

 

There are quite a few in narrow boats I think, which would perhaps not be the case if they were "not a great choice".

[David Mack]

According to the MCA Fishing Boat Database the 2YWAM has an "output range lower" of 15kW, or around 20 hp at 1800rpm.

[PaulJ]

1 hour ago, alan_fincher said:

 

Whilst realdiesels should know what they are talking about that doesn't sound right to me.

 

I think the R&H 2Y engine is usually considered to be fairly similatrto a Russell Newbery or National in powere terms.

 

There are quite a few in narrow boats I think, which would perhaps not be the case if they were "not a great choice".

Im no RH expert and thought the same as you- expecting HP to be similar to the Indian built 2YDs- about 38hp @ 2200 rpm.

Didnt feel like it though and when I checked the plate..

Makes sense though as it puts them in same bracket as SR/SL etc

 

Edited November 10, 2025 by PaulJ

[MtB]

22 hours ago, MtB said:

I think you're right. 

 

12.5hp at 1800rpm according to realdiesels.co.uk

 

Not a great choice for a narrowboat. 

 

I must apologise. 

 

Checking realdiesels.co.uk again, it appears I was reading the wrong line. The 2YWM is 20.5hp. Much more like it for a NB! 

 

Here is the entry:

 

2YWM

2 2

41/8 X 49/16

20.5    1800

Water

Diesel

Ruston Hornsby

Vertical

 

Except for one problem. It says the 2YWM is water cooled and the engine in the pic appears to be air cooled.

 

Back to the drawing board....

 

https://realdiesels.co.uk/rustondata.html

 

 

[PaulJ]

23 minutes ago, MtB said:

 

Except for one problem. It says the 2YWM is water cooled and the engine in the pic appears to be air cooled.

 

Back to the drawing board....

 

https://realdiesels.co.uk/rustondata.html

 

 

I think , albeit by accident, you have read the right spec for the one up for sale!

Be interested to know the exact model of whats up for sale- but this is a similar (and air cooled) type. Probably.

@pelicanbespoke be worth confirming what the engine is if you are trying to sell it 🙂

Edited November 10, 2025 by PaulJ

[pelicanbespoke]

Hi, thanks for the message. Our engine looks very similar to this one. I’m not an expert by any means. 
would you have any idea what it is worth? I’m really just trying to get rid of it as we need the space. I can send more pictures. 
all the best Chris. 

[PaulJ]

9 hours ago, pelicanbespoke said:

Hi, thanks for the message. Our engine looks very similar to this one. I’m not an expert by any means. 
would you have any idea what it is worth? I’m really just trying to get rid of it as we need the space. I can send more pictures. 
all the best Chris. 

Sorry- I really am the worlds worst when it comes to the value of anything. 

There should be a plate on the engine near the oil filler cap that will give all the info on the engine. A pic showing the gearbox will help too. Post in the For Sale section on here.

Nice engine but will only appeal to a limited amount of people- hope you find the right one who loves it and not just someone who sees the chance to get something at a bargain price!

[MtB]

10 hours ago, pelicanbespoke said:

Hi, thanks for the message. Our engine looks very similar to this one. I’m not an expert by any means. 
would you have any idea what it is worth? I’m really just trying to get rid of it as we need the space. I can send more pictures. 
all the best Chris. 

 

 

Its quite difficult to put a value on it as firstly it depends a lot on exactly which model it is. There seems to be several different sizes that all look similar. The bigger versions will be worth more, possibly a lot more. There will almost certainly be a brass data plate on it somewhere giving a model number, have a close look! 

 

Secondly the market for such engines is microscopic. You might advertise it for months with no response then someone pop up wanting it desperately and willing to pay top dollar for it. Or you might immediately get several people interested. 

 

Finally it is going to fetch a lot more if it can be see running in the boat rather than as just a lump of metal on a pallet, so keep it in the boat while you search for a buyer. Or if it really needs taking out NOW, take extensive videos of it being started, running, in gear and out if gear, and of it being stopped. Also take videos of the exhaust as it is started, run in and out of gear at various speeds, and stopping. The footage and soundtrack will be of enormous help in selling. 

 

 

P.S.

If you really do just need to get rid of it as you say, then take it to any metal recycling scrapyard where they will probably give you about £30 for it. This would be a terrible shame though, to lose such a charming vintage engine to the metal recyclers.

 

 

 

Edited November 11, 2025 by MtB
spelling

[Intrepid Max]

It maybe a 2ywa.

 

There is a Rushton Hornsby group on Facebook.

 

It may also be worth getting InTouch with Phil at Longboat Engineering.