The Adams 10.6, 31, 36 & 40 on Port Phillip
- Built
- 1980s – 1990s (most hulls)
- Length
- 31 – 40 ft (cruiser family)
- Drive
- Shaft drive
- Original engine
- Varied — Bukh DV10/DV20 on the 10.6s; BMC, Volvo MD-series and Yanmar on the cruisers
No designer is better represented in Victorian listings than Joe Adams — when we surveyed the local market, Adams designs were the single biggest cluster, spread across Geelong, Williamstown, Docklands and Hastings. These are tough, fast, owner-loved boats, many amateur-completed and all individual.
That individuality is the point of this page: Adams repowers are survey-first jobs. A 10.6 on its original Bukh, a 31 on a high-hours Volvo MD2030, a 36 on a BMC — we’ve seen the pattern, and the D1-30-class conversion is already proven in the Victorian fleet.
Bukh, BMC and Volvo MD — the Adams engine room in 2026
The Adams fleet’s original engines are a snapshot of 1980s Australia: Danish Bukh singles and twins on the 10.6s, BMC and Volvo MD-series diesels in the bigger cruisers, old Yanmars scattered throughout. Bukh support runs through a single interstate distributor; BMC parts are a UK mail-order exercise; MD-series genuine parts are drying up.
Because hulls and installations vary, we spec each boat individually — but the destination is common: a current 19–50 hp Volvo Penta or Yanmar matched to your boat’s displacement and use.
Why these engines reach the end
- Bukh spares via one interstate distributor — workable, but slow and pricey
- BMC/Leyland parts only by UK mail order; local mechanics increasingly decline the work
- Volvo MD-series corrosion and parts scarcity — high-hours examples in the local fleet right now
- One-off installations that deserve proper engineering, not another patch
The pattern across every brand: sailing auxiliaries corrode out long before they wear out. At 50–100 engine hours a year, the calendar — not the hour meter — decides when a yacht diesel is done. Repower or rebuild? Read our honest guide.
What we fit in the Adams 10.6, 31, 36 & 40
Volvo Penta D1-30
Our recommendation29 hp · 3-cylinder · the proven conversion for the 10.6 and 31
- Already fitted to repowered Adams 10.6s in the Victorian fleet — a proven, right-sized conversion
- Replaces Bukh and MD-series engines with modern freshwater cooling and full local support
- 3-year factory “helm to prop” leisure warranty
Yanmar 3YM20 · 3YM30AE · 3JH40
The alternative21–40 hp · sized to the boat — 3YM20 for a light 10.6, 3JH40 for a 36/40
The Adams range spans 31 to 43 feet, so the honest answer is “it depends on your boat” — which is what the inspection is for. Bigger Adams 40s land in D2-50/4JH45 territory.
Yanmar 3YM20 · 3YM30AE · 3JH40 specificationsWhat an Adams 10.6, 31, 36 & 40 repower costs
From a compact 10.6 repower to a full Adams 40 re-engine — the spread is real because the boats are. Fixed quote after inspection.
How your repower runs
- 1
Inspection & fixed quote
We survey your engine, beds, shaft or saildrive, exhaust and electrics — at your berth or on the hard — and quote the complete job fixed, usually within days.
- 2
Book the yard
You book the hardstand and we coordinate dates. Royals (Royal Victorian Yacht Club) and Savages Wharf at Williamstown are ideal for us; we also work at Wyndham Harbour and Sandringham YC with some added travel cost.
- 3
Out with the old
Old engine out, bay cleaned and prepared — and we dispose of your old engine as part of the job at no extra cost.
- 4
In with the new
New beds and mounts, engine in, shaft or saildrive fitted and aligned, exhaust, cooling, fuel, electrics, controls and panel — engineered, not improvised.
- 5
Sea trial & handover
Commissioning checks, a proper sea trial on the bay, factory warranty registration and your service schedule. You get a finished boat, not a box of loose ends.
Factory warranty, dealer-registered
Volvo Penta — 3 years
Full “helm to prop” leisure coverage — engine, transmission or saildrive, controls and genuine accessories — with no engine-hour cap.
Yanmar — 2 years, extendable
24-month leisure warranty as standard, with Yanmar’s extended program taking eligible engines to 5 years of coverage — ask us when we quote.
As an authorised dealer for both brands we supply, install, commission and register every engine — one job, one responsible party, warranty watertight.
Adams 10.6, 31, 36 & 40 repower — your questions answered
My Adams is amateur-built and nothing is standard — is that a problem?
It’s normal for the class and exactly what we’re set up for. Every Adams repower starts with an inspection of your actual installation — beds, shaft line, exhaust run, tankage — and the engineering is designed to your boat, not a template.
What about my Adams 10 one-design?
The racing Adams 10s mostly run outboards or small inboards under class rules — for a race-legal setup, talk to us and the class association first. This page is aimed at the cruising 10.6s and the 31–40 ft cruisers, where an inboard repower makes clear sense.
Bukh parts are still available — why not just keep rebuilding it?
You can, for a while — Bukh support exists but runs through a single interstate distributor, and every year the maths shifts. When a rebuild quote approaches half the cost of a new engine with a factory warranty and local dealer support, the honest advice is usually the repower.
Where does the work happen?
At Williamstown, minutes from our Spotswood workshop — Royals (Royal Victorian Yacht Club) and Savages Wharf are our preferred yards. We can also repower at Wyndham Harbour or Sandringham Yacht Club, with some additional travel cost. You book the hardstand (we’ll point you to the right people) and we handle everything from there. Geelong owners: we’ll ask you to bring the boat up to Williamstown.
How long does a repower take?
A standard repower is about two weeks on the hardstand. Engine lead times are currently reasonable — but plan ahead a few weeks so the engine is on the floor before your boat comes out of the water.
What warranty comes with the new engine?
Volvo Penta engines carry a 3-year factory “helm to prop” leisure warranty with no engine-hour cap. Yanmar engines carry a 24-month leisure warranty, and Yanmar’s extended program can take eligible engines to 5 years of coverage — ask us when we quote. As an authorised dealer for both brands, we commission and register every engine so your warranty is watertight.
Can you fit an engine I buy elsewhere?
No — we install engines we supply. That’s not a sales line: it’s how we can stand behind the entire job, from engine to beds to sea trial, under one warranty and one responsible party.
What happens to my old engine?
We remove and dispose of it as part of the job, at no extra cost.
What about an electric conversion?
We’re developing an electric repower offering in-house and will be bringing it to market. If you’re weighing diesel against electric, talk to us before committing either way — we’ll give you the honest state of play for your boat and how you use it.
Request an Adams 10.6, 31, 36 & 40 repower quote
Tell us your boat, where it's berthed, what engine it has now (roughly is fine) and how you use it — we'll come back with honest advice and a fixed quote, usually within a few days.
Boat model names are used to describe the vessels we service; Mariner Engineering is not affiliated with the boats' designers or builders. Mariner Engineering is an authorised Volvo Penta and Yanmar dealer.