Our partners
Beta Marine
The engine that brings us home. Beta Marine builds quiet, compact marine diesel engines and generators in the UK, based on Kubota diesels.
Beta Marine is one of our partners. This page is our own short summary of betamarine.co.uk.
Who they are
Since 1987
Beta Marine has built marine diesel engines and generators since 1987 at its own factory in the UK. It ships worldwide through 56 export distributors, who also look after service.
What they’re known for
Quiet, smooth-running engines built to last, an easy-install “special feet” service, and a five-year self-service engine warranty.
What they’re saying right now
Their homepage highlights a fuel test. Beta Marine found that HVO fuel can be used in their Kubota-based engines without any changes, which they say can cut CO2 by up to 90%.
Alongside the diesels, they’re showing their electric and hybrid drives.
What they make
Ours, aboard our own photo Photo: Beta Marine the maker’s photo
Seagoing engines
Diesel engines from 10 to 115 hp, engineered in the UK. Ours is a Beta Marine 85 hp turbo diesel.
Saildrives
Two ways to replace a saildrive engine: a new engine with a new leg, or a new engine with an adaptor for your existing leg.
Electric propulsion
Water-cooled 48V DC motors with a built-in controller, rated 14 or 21 kW continuous (25 or 31 kW peak).
Inland waterways
Engines from 14 to 115 hp for canal and river boats, plus a 48V hybrid drive.
Generating sets
Compact generators from 4 to 58 kVA, open (BetaSet) or in a quiet enclosure (BetaGen “Super Silent”).
Bespoke generators
Custom-built generators from 28 to 650 kVA, including to “Class” specification.
Their site also lists their distributors around the world.
On Sophisticated Lady
Our main engine is a Beta Marine 85 hp turbo diesel. It also turns our two 48V Balmar alternators, so whenever the engine runs, it charges the house bank too.
What we run
- Engine: Beta Marine 85 hp turbo diesel
- Charging: two 48V Balmar alternators, on custom brackets and machined pulleys
- Feeding: our 48V lithium house bank and the Victron system that runs the boat around the clock
How it fits our power system
Solar does most of the charging on a sunny day. When we run the engine, the alternators add their share to the same 48V system.
See the full Beta Marine range
Visit Beta Marine’s own website for every engine, drive and generator. It opens in a new window, so this page stays right here.
Visit Beta Marine ↗Opens betamarine.co.uk in a new window.