We Need to Repower our 78' Yacht! Now What?

Repowering a 78' aluminum yacht is no small task, especially when the original engines are Detroit Diesel 12v-71s—legendary, powerful, but far from efficient. In this video, I walk you through how we made the tough decision to replace them and everything that went into choosing the right engines for Tangaroa. There’s a lot to consider when planning an engine repower on a yacht—power requirements, duty cycles, performance curves, and how the new engines will fit into the existing setup. It’s not just about horsepower; it’s about making sure the engines perform efficiently at cruising speeds and last for the long haul. I also had to think about shaft sizing, ballast changes, and matching the power curve to our boat's needs. Whether you’re into boat work, engine swaps, yacht restoration, or just love seeing classic boats brought back to life, this video is for you. Learn why we chose to repower instead of rebuild and how we figured out the perfect setup for our 78' yacht. If you’re interested in more boat projects and engine swaps, make sure to subscribe and follow along. There’s a lot more to come as we get Tangaroa ready for serious offshore cruising! #BoatRefit #EngineSwap #YachtRestoration #DieselEngines #MarineRepower #ClassicYacht 👉 Want to go deeper into life onboard Tangaroa and get early access to every video from both of our channels? Join our crew at www.onboardtangaroa.com or right here through YouTube Memberships. We’re not on Patreon anymore—we’ve built our own space where we can connect directly with you, share behind-the-scenes updates, and offer crew-only perks like: ✔️ Early and ad-free access to all videos ✔️ Real-time Wheelhouse Weekly Video updates ✔️ Our Monthly Captain’s Log newsletter ✔️ Discounts on exclusive crew-only and other merchandise ✔️A Crew-Only Discord Community - we're in there LOTS! Whether you're here for the tech builds, the off-the-grid living, or just the adventure of it all—your support helps us keep sharing it every step of the way. And in return, you get the full story—not just the YouTube edit. ⚓ Join us here: www.onboardtangaroa.com or click “Join” on our YouTube channel to become part of the crew. ✅ Also check out our other channel: Exploring the World Onboard Tangaroa 🆓 Our free newsletter is launching soon—sign up on the site! 📢Tried, Tested & Tangaroa Approved 🧭... We use TIMEZERO for all our navigation — it’s the system we trust to keep us safe out there. They’ve also given our viewers 10% off any product on their site with the code TANGAROA. 📧 Questions/Business Inquiries? Reach us at: [email protected] Programs We Use: 🎵 Music from: Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/3jxxv9 📅 Social media scheduling made easy: SmarterQueue https://smarterqueue.com/?afmc=207 🤣Do you know what BOAT stands for? Bring On Another Thousand. – Unknown (but very relatable)