Advice - Please Diesel Newbie


R

rchase513

Member
Looking at purchasing a 2004 37PC with 370 hp Yanmar 6 LTA-STP 6 cy turbos 460 hours/Always fresh water Lake Michigan use
I am moving up from a 27PC with twin 350s that we have primarily used as a day boat-
We intend to keep this boat for 12 to 15 years

My first concern is this boat underpowered 740 hp?
Second concern is do I really want diesel verses gas? Will be using for coastal cruising approximately 400/500 miles per year
Third Concern- I hear diesels are reliable and good on fuel, but then I read about cooling system maint, some blown motors and the expense involved and I'm getting nervous.
Fourth Concern- Maint costs of diesel verses gas- Are they comparable?

Finally how much of a premium are the diesels & inboards on this boat verses a gas/IO set up

Any advise and assistance would be appreciated

Bob Chase
Chaser-2000 27PC
 
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First of all don't expect the type of speed you get out of your 27 PC. I run 440 Yanmars in my 40 PC. Great motors I can cruise at 23 mph at 2500 rpm burning 18 gallons an hour. You will come with similar numbers burning less fuel. Running 400 hours a year diesel is the only way to go. Diesel maintance is generally more expensive than gas motors. Cooling systems need to be done at 2000 hours according to yanmar. There are less parts to maintain but all parts are more expensive but are more heavy duty. I would think that this boat would warrant 20k to 40k more for diesels.
 
I'll be running 400 miles not hours annually.

Dos that change your recommendation?

I also do a lot of putting around at slow speed and have read that diesels don't like that?

Does that change your comments?

thanks,

Bob
 
wow I guess I read your post wrong. Sounds like you will be running less than 40 hours a year. Diesels will not like that. Slow speed is ok but you do need to get the oil up to temperture which does take about 20 minutes under a load before you shut down. In your case diesels may not be the best thing for you. Good luck.
 
I love the Yanmars on my 40PC and I won't be going back to gas. They are far more efficient than gas and the torgue is going to make the difference, not the HP. I don't have the exact figures but you will be in the range of 700 Ft lbs. torque each engine. I maintain the diesels myself and I have found them cheaper to maintain than gas, no plugs, wires, caps, rotors or any type of ignition system. You also won't have to plan on changing the manifolds and risers. They use standard oil that you can buy at Walmart in 5 gallon buckets. When you need parts they are extremely expensive but you shouldn't need them very frequently. Main thing is to make sure they were maintained and that you can hit the wide open throttle rpm's as specified, if not they will have a short life.
 
Nate said:
I love the Yanmars on my 40PC and I won't be going back to gas. They are far more efficient than gas and the torgue is going to make the difference, not the HP. I don't have the exact figures but you will be in the range of 700 Ft lbs. torque each engine. I maintain the diesels myself and I have found them cheaper to maintain than gas, no plugs, wires, caps, rotors or any type of ignition system. You also won't have to plan on changing the manifolds and risers. They use standard oil that you can buy at Walmart in 5 gallon buckets. When you need parts they are extremely expensive but you shouldn't need them very frequently. Main thing is to make sure they were maintained and that you can hit the wide open throttle rpm's as specified, if not they will have a short life.
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What are your thoughts on making shorter trips with diesels? I?m considering buying twin 440?s. Most of our trips are usually 10-20 mins away, although we?ll go further with this bigger boat. One poster said you need 20 mins minimum to get oil temp up.
 
I do plenty of short trips and it hasn't been an issue, I give them plenty of time to warm up but they will not get up to temp without running under load. They do run extra smooth after running them for a few hours on one trip.
 
Any Gas boat vs Any Diesel boat....Safety. Diesel genset vs gas genset. Fumes in bilge, gas leaks tend to be undesirable. Especially if you are staying overnight with genset running. Just Sayin..
 
I had a 34 PC with 8.2 L twin gas. now a 37PC with 370 VP diesels 10 years 800 plus hours.. Love it. Cruise Gulf Coast. Would not let $$ make a boating decision.
 
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