bertram31.com

When I looked at them they were 2000 lbs, 200 HP, and wouldn't fit in the space that's availible.

Just because Yanmar makes a great tractor engine......doesn't mean that Deere makes a great marine engine.

Unless they're giving them away, I would steer clear of the Deere.

Ditto what the Prof says, too big, won't fit in a B31. Weight wise the boat will handle a ton a side like the Cat 3208s, but the Deeres are just too bulky. Stick with the in line 6s like Cummins or Yannies, seem to be the best based on the experience here......and if nothing else, we got a ton of collective experience screwing with these old boats.

UV

Many of the commerical boats out of Manasquan are running John Deer's. I saw a 26 Sisu with one. Boat ran great. JD has a great rep with the guys who make a living with their boats. Too bad they don't really fit a 31B well.

The boatyard down from me has two 31 Bahia Mar's he plans to put Deere's in. I talked to a broker during my repower search who said they had squeezed a pair in a 31 being shipped to Puerto Rico. He said if you can fit them in, they run forever, burn very little fuel, and parts are cheap. I know a charter captain with a pair in a 36 Chris, his are 300 hp, seem to do real well. When I talked to the Deere rep, I think he was talking 220 hp for the inline 6's he thought would fit in my boat - maybe. They are heavy, and big, but they run at real low rpm, develope maximum hp at real low rpm, made to pull at real low rpm.

John Deere 6081AM
235hp - 375hp
57" long x 33.61 wide x 40.54 tall
1,875lbs dry

I have always heard these guy's will run forever, the dimensions are not that bad. Maybe a 33 Bert could handle one. I would think the height may be the problem in a 31....maybe the lenght? it's appears to be about 2" longer than a 6BTA. Width is virtually the same. Weight is fine.

You can check out the data sheets at boatdiesel.com

Got a quote for Progressive Diesel in Pearland Texas. For the Deere 300hp engines with gears $56K - drive out. A little strong!

I have a John Deer diesel tractor mid size 4 wheel drive bucket, mower deck ect. it has a yanmar engine can't kill it, thats why I have them in my boat. John Deer does make a good diesel though.