Nonsuch 26 Engine Options

General
1

My 1981 NS26C has a Volvo Penta MD2030 with Saildrive. (which I like)

I would like to know if this was an original equipment option, since I haven’t seen any others or heard them mentioned.

Thanks,

Ken Julian
Blue Note - NS26C#9
Fredericton, NB

2

Ken,

I don’t have a definitive answer, but some clues - for what it’s worth -

Volvo started making the MD2030 in 1998 so yours is a replacement. All the references that I’ve seen said the 26 came with a Westerbeke and a prop, but it seems pretty unlikely that someone would swap out both motor and prop (cha-ching).

My 1979 30C #16 had a saildrive with a replaced Volvo 2xxx. From past references, I recall that Hinterhoeller made about 125 model 30’s with saildrives into the early 1980’s. That puts your 26 right on the cusp of that change.

Some AI search response stated that the 30 was never made with a saildrive, so the accent here is on “artificial” and not “intelligence”.

Jon

3

Thanks so much for your reply, Jon. That makes sense, because I think the previous owner or the broker mentioned it being replaced about 2000. I’m going to look up the listing and the engine serial number.

I just started wondering because there’s no sign of where a prop shaft might have gone.

Thanks again, good sir.

Ken J.

4

Ken,

I don’t know the number of boats built with saildrives vs. shaft installations, but I think you’re not anywhere near alone. FWIW, Practical Sailor just re-posted a year 2000 article on N30s which claims that the original factory installed engine on those was a, “23 horsepower Volvo MD 11C diesel with saildrive.” However, I spotted errors elsewhere in that article, so take it with a grain of salt.

I had twin Volvo MD2030’s on my Manta 42 catamaran. It came with Reverso oil change pumps, which were a really nice alternative to having to haul out for oil changes. Replacing the hull gaskets on the saildrive’s was an unattractive expense, although I got away with much longer than the factory-recommended interval.

In case of interest if your MD2030 gives up the ghost many years down the road, I believe Volvo now makes a drop-in replacement electric saildrive in addition to their diesel models.

– Bob

5

Thanks Bob.

I went back and found the dealer listing for the boat when I bought it in 2020. The engine was listed as a “2001 Perkins 3 Cylinder M30 with sail drive” so I quess I answered my own question. Obviously Perkins was taken over by Volvo Penta because the engine is green with “Volvo Penta” labelling all over it.

Thanks for responding. Interesting about the drop in replacement electric units. That would be sweet.

Ken Julian

6

You nailed it Jon. Looks like it was a 2001 model probably installed around that time. As per my note to Bob. KJ

7

Bob, as you may know I own ‘Nonsuch’ the first N30 and it does indeed have a Volvo MD 11C which is still alive and kicking (he looks feverishly for some wood to touch).