|
|
|
|
|||||
|
||||||
From: R Purdom (no email)
Date: Mon Sep 01 2003 - 22:37:56 EDT
We are shopping for a 40-42 foot trawler about the 20 year old vintage (for
budget reasons). I am finding the diesel engine considerations much more
challenging than I did with gas engines in a bit smaller craft.
Brokers tend to talk up low engine hours when the boat has them and the long
life of diesels when the hours are high. We have seen boats with as few as
110 original hours (one engine rebuilt!) and as many as 4000-5000 hours. I
have heard the former can be worse than the latter. I have seen a number of
boats that have had rebuilds at about 3000 hours.... which is not many more
hours than can be expected from properly maintained gas engines. Rebuilds
and re-powers are pricey and pricier, making the engines probably the single
biggest operating liability for a boat owner.
So, I'm trying to figure out what I should be looking for. Low hour engines?
Recently rebuilt engines? Some people say diesels are good for 10,000 hours
but that isn't what I'm seeing in pleasure boats.
Since commercially-used engines seem to have a much longer life, what
pleasure boat operating characteristics account for their shorter life? I've
read the discussions about cruising at the proper engine temperature being a
factor. Does less frequent use and shorter trips also account for shorter
life?
I've learned that diesel engines can be quite different from one make to
another. I've heard big numbers for rebuilding Volvos and much smaller
numbers for Detoits. Cats are quiet and Detroits are noisy. In fact, I've
heard enough to be thoroughly confused.
In short, what should a prudent buyer keep in mind about 20 year old diesel
engines?
Roger Purdom
Still shopping for my vessel
_______________________________________________
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-list
To Unsubscribe send email to
Include the word "Unsubscribe" (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message.
|