I have a bukh diesel in my trimaran which is sadly blown (probably beyond repair, and about 30 years old). This is a long shot, but has anyone ever replaced a bukh diesel with another brand, and gotten it to link up and function keeping the bukh saildrive?
-Thanks
Hi Toroa1
I just replaced my bukh dv20 shaft drive with a beta 20 based on a Kubota d722
check out my post H28 engine repower Beta 20 for Bukh 20 www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Sailing/General/H28-engine-repower-Beta-20-for-Bukh-20/
i'm very happy with result I will never own a boat with a bukh in it again i'm just not a fan, but some people seem to love them.
what model trimaran do you have? Ive been racing trimarans for 20years+ mainly farriers
and what model bukh do you have? they can be rebuilt even 30 year old ones. I looked in to it but cost where high.
there is a lot to change swapping engines. engine mounts , exhaust system ,shaft coupling ,propeller, raw water intake and more depending on what you already have. but its definitely worth the effort if you plan to hang on to your boat for a while. I had a huge weight reduction too which would be a huge plus for a trimaran
Hi toroa. The Bukh people at Tarren Point are also the Beta people. Call Graham and he'll
be able to suggest alternatives regarding rebuild or change over to Beta.
http://clouds.nl/cyfu/_saildrive-330
just thought Id throw it up here
Cisco will love this one below 
betamarine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/saildrive_guidelines/saildrive_solutions/solution_1/Volvo_SD110_Guidelines.pdf
Or
Select to expand quotetoroa1 said..
I have a bukh diesel in my trimaran which is sadly blown (probably beyond repair, and about 30 years old). This is a long shot, but has anyone ever replaced a bukh diesel with another brand, and gotten it to link up and function keeping the bukh saildrive?
-Thanks
First up toroa1, welcome to the forum. You have reached "Placious Sympatico", what ever that means. Many of us here have 30 year old yachts we wish we were sailing 30 years ago. Some of us were and some us were not and some of us still are.
Ask the question and combined we try to give the answers.
Sounds like you have the worst of both worlds there mate. A Bukh and a sail drive.
How the hell did a great heavy Bukh end up in a trimaran anyway?? A Bukh diesel and a trimaran are the antithesis of each other.
So your engine being 30 years old in your trimaran would seem to indicate your trimaran may be a Piver??? If that is the case the hull construction is most likely plywood and therefore the area where the saildrive goes through the hull will need some attention.
My suggestion is you consider a complete engine reconfiguration. Repair and remould the hole where the sail drive goes through and fit a shaft drive engine or fit an outboard engine to your main hull transom or fit two smaller outboards to each pontoon.
Whatever you decide to do I think you will be very lucky to get away with less than a $10,000 spend.
No!!
Boat means $100,000 or more.
Engine means $10,000 or more.
Divorce means no boat, no engine and $200,000 or more.
Forget about the Ferrari. The best you will do is an old 82 Fairmont to sleep in. I just happen to have one for sale for $2,500 so what does that say about me?
Select to expand quotecisco said..
No!!
Boat means $100,000 or more.
Engine means $10,000 or more.
Divorce means no boat, no engine and $200,000 or more.
Forget about the Ferrari. The best you will do is an old 82 Fairmont to sleep in. I just happen to have one for sale for $2,500 so what does that say about me?
N.B.E.D been there and done the D.
E was cheap so far
B. is the biggest cost after
D. for me any way 
That's not the Fairmont you found in hard rubbish is it Cisco
OK, love the enthusiasm and entertainment in the replies so far. I will try to chase down some of the leads offered. Thanks to all.
My boat is not a Piver, but a nearly one-of-a-kind cold-moulded wood epoxy design. Perhaps the closest comparison is a Marples. My wife and I bought it about 12 years ago. I am aware that the builder made a dubious choice in terms of power to weight ratio in installing a bukh. But, as long as it worked well for me, I had no reason or desire to change it out. Yes, as I assess it further, I might end up just rebuilding and carrying on with the same engine. But it is also time to seriously consider other options. Either way I recognize there are no easy or cheap options, but the details on the kubota might prove very useful.
I would pull down the Bukh first and see what needs to be done. If you can get parts for the saildrive still then the best bet is a rebuilt Bukh. Some sail drives like Nanni are impossible for parts but if the saildrive you have is OK and you plan on keeping it then keep the motor.
Bukh sydney do change over engines
I just sold my old dv20 it needed a rebuild
And i think tge bew owner a fitter and turner is going to do it
From what the august gentlemen on this wonderful site have stated on other threads, it seems like the saildrive component is the real hassle. If that bit is OK, then the lowest cost may be to refurb the engine, given that spares and a wealth of knowledge is available here and on the web.
There is an adaptor to connect a Beta engine to a Bukh saildrive.Which makes it all a bit longer. Special feet have to be added to the beta to match the engine mount positions on the saildrive bed.A reconditioned Bukh DV20 or DV24 would fit in without fiddling,and would probably be cheaper(although still costly). You retain the manual starting ability and decompression levers and Bukh durability and corrosion resistance. Foibles are exhaust elbows, salt water block inlets and thermostat housings...and the price of the spares
Conversion to shaft drive would be a cost explosion. 
