Volga Hydrofoils Messageboard

Hello Volga lovers,

My first real story with pictures included. These days, i transported my volga from a small city in Latvia to another small city in Latvia, haha.
Interesting, because it was quite a challenge to get the boat out of the old wooden shed. We eventually got it on the truck. The journey went smooth.
At the place of destination, the truck driver wanted a lot more money than we agreed, so my party mood went a bit away.

The previous owner had started to take the paint off with far to ruff material, that's why it looks so bad. I will do soda blasting (off course). Besides that, it looks rather good. So the boat was placed on the new spot an i started to strip it completely. Hard work, because it was already 34 degrees, and i was able to fry an egg on the aluminum deck. At this moment, i took almost everything out, including the gearbox. Question: does anyone know the original RPM of the propeller and gearbox (number on the gearbox is difficult to read, but i think it is 192-20, or 152-20. I need to put another engine in and want to use the original propeller and gearbox, because they are in good shape. This is the propeller: Greetings and till next time,

Daan

Congratulations Daan.

the boat seems to be in good shape.
What engine do you have?
V8 or 6inline?
Happy boat building!
Christian t.

Hey christian,

Thanks! The boat is in quite good shape indeed. I have a 240 HP V8 gasoline engine (in super good condition), but i actually want a diesel engine. Gasoline is really expensive in Holland. Do you know the origional RPM of the propeller? i haven't got a clue. Someone with the original engine and gearbox setup would know.

Greetings,

Daan

Hi Daan,
the original Rpm of the GAZ 53 engine is 3200-1min max. 120HP/ 29Kgm torque at 2000Rpm. It can rew up to 3500Rpm without engine surgery.
Normal cruising speed is 30 knots at 2600-2800 -1min.
A good marine diesel : VW marine or Yanmar- which uses BMW engines of HP-150 - 180 costs a lot. Rpm should be max 3500Rpm. Torque should be min 300Nm /30Kgm/ . at 1600-2800Rpm.better 350-400NMt.

You must check with your local marine engine supplyer ot boatyard for pricing and cost of engine swap.
Make a t account and put your engine hopurs per year, running cost per hour for the two kinds of engines - gas and diesel. plus the depreciation, insurance and initial cost of the engines.
I am curious what the result would be.
The other possibility is to do it the US way : buy a car or tuck engine, blueprint it and marinize it. For some application it is more affordable to do so than buy a new drop in engine, but it depends...
If you are an engine rebuilder or seasoned hobby rebuilder, than you can tace a diesel from a totaled car say Mercedes 3,0tdi or BMW 3,0 tdi, rebuild it with all new parts, head job etc. and marinize it. this would be the cheapest way to get your diesel marine engine. But do not take a used common-rail engine. Common rail is super, but only factory new. Rebuilding it, with new computer, turbo, cables will cost forbiddingly., shop hours are E 80,- plus - 30 Hours of rebuilding time will cost some Sparschwein...
Best regards
christian

Hi,

What Christian says is correct. Make your own calculation and you will see that with private use you will not come to more than 150 hours a year. A diesel might be sure a better thing, but be aware of the cost. Silly you have to be to through away a brandnew V8 for getting in an xpensive diesel for 150 hours a year. If you do not have the original gearbox which was reducing from 2800 rpm via 1:1,546 ratio, buy a brandnew ZF 63 IV with a corresponding reduction ratio to your engine rpm for it. You may then also replace the old gearbox + V-drive with a V-drive gearbox. This one you can reuse if you get a new diesel with same rpm.

All this has been reported and commented on our website. Dig in it. Congratulations and don't make anything silly...

br.
georg

Hi Christian an Georg,

Thanks! great info. I already read most of the other topics, but i couldn't find the original reduction ratio (maybe overlooked it). Actually, i have more boats, and have good experience with mercedes car engines, adjusted for marine use. One of my boats has the mercedes om 602. My idea is to buy a mercedes 300d (om 603) and make it suitable for marine use. The RPM, HP and torque matches good. This atmospheric engine (6 cylinder diesel, no turbo) is really simple and reliable. Actually, there are a couple of company's that provide rebuilt kits. The specific document about these kits below is in Dutch. Because there are a couple of Dutch enthusiasts, i share it.

Greetings and thanks again,

Daan

Hi Daan,
very nice umbaukits.
If you take a Mercedes 300 engine teka a turbo. It is funny , but you get the same fuel consumption and a lot of more torque....
Christian