After a sailing season in 2020 that was largely curtailed by COVID, we looked forward in 2021 to sailing once more to more distant waters. It was not to be.
All began well as we meandered our way slowly north through the Gulf Islands – our local waters: Clam Bay, Herring Bay, then through Dodd Narrows to Nanaimo. With a good forecast we continued up the coast of Vancouver Island to Nanoose Bay.
Early in the morning, preparing for a crossing of the Strait of Georgia in calm weather, we noticed unusually large clouds of white smoke emerging from the exhaust. 
There was hurried consultation between the captain, crew and sundry diesel engine manuals, which suggested we distinguish first between white, grey, blue and black smoke…Well it wasn’t black, but was it white or grey, with just a tinge of blue? Whatever. There was a lot of it.
We limped back to Nanaimo at a snail-like two knots, and then spent three days going over our forty-year-old Bukh, with interludes on the phone to mechanics of our acquaintance. A mildly distressing discovery was made: there was a single blade missing from the black rubber impeller that drives seawater as coolant into the engine block. The common wisdom was:
“You must find this blade”.
There was no chance of it having worked its way past the thermostat and into the exhaust (the aperture is too narrow), so we reluctantly concluded that the errant blade was likely lodged in one of the engine block’s inner channels, likely leading to diminished water flow – and overheating. The engine still functioned, but the prospect of a sudden further deterioration of its health in a remoter place was not tempting.
We turned around and made or way very slowly back through the islands to Salt Spring, spending a few more nights in scenic locations en route. Every twenty minutes or so, we’d check the temperature of the engine block with one of those temperature guns that have become popular in the COVID era, and which are remarkably sensitive.
Diesel enthusiasts now recommended we give the engine a thorough rebuild, replacing the major components – “it will make a great project for you.” They conceded, however, that taking apart a 40-year-old piece of machinery could just as likely reveal more problems as solve the existing ones. So we decided to save ourselves the worry and have a new engine installed. “It will certainly cost more than you initially think” was the next warning; true enough, it did.
O
ur choice was one favored by many Vancouver 27 owners who have over the years faced a similar decision: a Beta, which is based on the very rugged Kubota tractor engine. We opted for a Beta 25 – more power than we would need, but only marginally more expensive than the 20, and likely to be an easier fit. It is about half the weight of the Bukh, and is of the more common heat-exchanger variety.
We had the work done professionally in Sidney. From the moment of placing the order for the engine (they are dispatched by air from the UK), to setting sail again was about three months. The only significant modification needed was re-boring of the raw water intake, to take a larger flow of water. The Beta is smaller (fore-and-aft) than the Bukh, so a spacer – a “bobbin”, of stainless steel – was placed between the transmission and the flange on the existing propeller shaft, this obviating the need to replace the prop and shaft.
We took advantage of the operation to replace the otherwise difficult-to-access shaft seal, and also simplify our wiring – which had developed into a veritable rat’s nest after forty years of accretions.
Initial impressions have been extremely positive: we reached over 7 knots in flat water at maximum revs. This is actually too fast: at this speed the stern digs into the water and seawater enters the cockpit up the rear drains.
Our Bukh served us faithfully, and to those who are inclined to rebuild rather than replace – and are mechanically inclined – we’d say by all means “go for it.” But we are not so talented. Above all, in the remoter waters of BC, we are now looking forward to a sense of reliability, and not having to offer up prayers of thanks after every successful start.
More: Around Vancouver Island