2001 Sealine S28 - engine and sterndrive setup

oGaryo

oGaryo

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Looking in to buying a Sealine S28 year 2001 that looks to be well maintained fitted out with Mercruiser D2.8L's (150hp each) and B2 drives... any views on the drive combination would be welcomed.. The boat itself looks tidy and well cared for as do the engines from the service history and clean state of the engine bay so it'll be down to whether there's any negatives to be thought through with the power option along with a full inspection by Tom (Mercuryman) and sea trial of course

We've also looked in to a few F33's but a few things going on at home have steered us away from considering these as this stage considering the extra purchase and ongoing cost over and above the S28.... it's my understanding that the D2.8L lump is an economical engine to run (being 4 cylinder) and maintain by the DIY enthusiast... I'm pretty familiar now with the Alpha 1 Gen 2 so would that also be a plus presuming the B2's are similar, or at least, more similar than if I were to go for B3 drive setup.

hope you can help advise.

Anyone who wants a cracking Rinker 250 with impecable service history by yours truely and of couse Tom, get in touch lols :D
 
Only little personal experience (friend had one in a project boat, caused some trouble but finally ran. May well have been due to lack of service in previous life)

The most common advice for these engines are: Look out for cooling issues, they really do not like overheating!

FYI:
The 'American' Mercruiser D2.8 originates from VM Motori (Italy), just like the 6-cyl version D4.2 (0.7 litre volume per cylinder).

Designed with separate head for each cylinder- ie. 2 x 4 in your case (and no, gaskets are not 1/4 of normal price. Gaskets come in 3 thicknesses and often cannot be replaced individually).

Fuel: Consumption follows hp produced, so more depending on behavior at the helm than on engine details... :D

Bravo drives have no impellers so it is a pump on the engine - a benefit when replacing.

The 150 hp are propshaft power which is the same Merc's 165 hp crankshaft-rated model.

Direct injected it makes a more distinctive dieseling sound.
Full Throttle RPM Range is 3600-3800 so this what to look for at trial time.
 
i don't really know much about the mercruiser itself but the vm diesels in the older range rovers were absolutely carp! and spares non exsistent..

have to be volvo everytime for me.
 
Tom will put you right on the engines Gary. I've been asking him about a few sets ups for my brother in law who is looking at a few boats.......

My experiance with Bravo drives have been spot on. A few issues but nothing (touch wood) too major. Defo have another Bravo powered boat, but I guess alot has to do with looking after them.

Good luck and hope it turns out ok.
 
next money pit

Your not getting any input from me till I have that cold pint of Thatchers tomorrow at the Pitch and Piano!!!

You got let off tonight as its your birthday and also by the fact Lisilou came to the rescue with a chilled Cobra.
 
oGaryo said:
Looking in to buying a Sealine S28 year 2001 that looks to be well maintained fitted out with Mercruiser D2.8L's (150hp each) and B2 drives... any views on the drive combination would be welcomed.. The boat itself looks tidy and well cared for as do the engines from the service history and clean state of the engine bay so it'll be down to whether there's any negatives to be thought through with the power option along with a full inspection by Tom (Mercuryman) and sea trial of course

We've also looked in to a few F33's but a few things going on at home have steered us away from considering these as this stage considering the extra purchase and ongoing cost over and above the S28.... it's my understanding that the D2.8L lump is an economical engine to run (being 4 cylinder) and maintain by the DIY enthusiast... I'm pretty familiar now with the Alpha 1 Gen 2 so would that also be a plus presuming the B2's are similar, or at least, more similar than if I were to go for B3 drive setup.

hope you can help advise.

Anyone who wants a cracking Rinker 250 with impecable service history by yours truely and of couse Tom, get in touch lols :D
Click to expand...
Not a common package. I have sea trialed many S28's and is a boat I love but always had the KAD 32 package and I have NEVER come across the Mercruiser powered version. Personally I would be wary. But Tom at least knowes the engines.

I would just add that it is a boat I would buy, great hull and cruises well. With the KAD 32's it is a perfect package.
 
Last edited:
S28

Are they the 165hp versions Gary.

I looked after a couple of the early S28`s with the 5 cylinder 150hp D183`s it went really well. As well as the KAD32 version.

With the 4 pots they will be a little lighter not much I think it will go ok.

Just wait and cast an eye round her and go from there.
 
Technically, B2 drives are fine, and the 2.8 engines have a reasonable reputation if well looked after. Check for leaking cylinder head gaskets, and that the turbos spool up smoothly.

The main issue is that Mercs on an S28 are seen by most as the "wrong" engine package. Not many were sold, although it should have been a good option, in theory.

It's not an issue if you are planning to keep it for ages, but it might be an issue if you wanted to upgrade after a season or two.

The "right" (i.e. quicker to re-sell) engines are VP KAD32's, with VP AD31 150's in second place.

dv.
 
The most popular version is the kad 32 version with we all know delivers over 170hp , the boat has loads of power on tap and can suit sea conditions thrown at it within its hull and design capabities. Why buy an underpowered boat , you have to remember the day you want to sell it. Unless its 10k below a Volvo powered boat it's not a good buy in my view.
That's down to Gary as to what you want to spend, but remember merc parts for drives and engines are not cheap, the alpha leg isn't good at taking diesel torque either where as the Volvo d p e drive takes up to 260 hp that the kad 44 can throw at it.
 
sealine

10 hp is not a lot if they are the 165hp versions. Seeing as this boat handles the 150hp AD31`s ok.

Paul its on Bravos not Alpha. You wouldnt put anymore than 150hp diesel theough an Alpha or its silver oil time!

The Bravo 2 is pretty bullet proof.

When doing all our Yanmar installs we fitted 1 Bravo 3, 6 Bravo 1, 100+Bravo 2
 
volvopaul said:
The most popular version is the kad 32 version with we all know delivers over 170hp , the boat has loads of power on tap and can suit sea conditions thrown at it within its hull and design capabities. Why buy an underpowered boat , you have to remember the day you want to sell it. Unless its 10k below a Volvo powered boat it's not a good buy in my view.
That's down to Gary as to what you want to spend, but remember merc parts for drives and engines are not cheap, the alpha leg isn't good at taking diesel torque either where as the Volvo d p e drive takes up to 260 hp that the kad 44 can throw at it.
Click to expand...

Just supports my view. Personally, I would not touch it with a barge pole unless it could be got for silly money. And even then I would question my sanity:rolleyes:
 
Solitaire said:
Not a common package. I have sea trialed many S28's and is a boat I love but always had the KAD 32 package and I have NEVER come across the Mercruiser powered version. Personally I would be wary. But Tom at least knowes the engines.

I would just add that it is a boat I would buy, great hull and cruises well. With the KAD 32's it is a perfect package.
Click to expand...

In my short search I've come across two mate.. one at Hamble Point but ran a mile as the boat and the engines had been severly neglected... this one seems loved.
 
Interesting thread as a friend of mine has just bought a Fletcher 25GTS Sportscruiser with a single 2.8 Mercruiser coupled to a Bravo leg. I suspect it may be the same unit as it's from around 1999/2000. His is stated as 165hp - a D-tronic I think? His boat seems marginally under-powered and he took a bit of a punt buying as it struggled to plane, but was a great buy. Clean filters and a hull scrub appears to have fixed the planing issue - for now at least! The previous owner kept a detailed log and receipts, which also suggest the motor is pretty frugal. I'd have thought that with a pair of these on the S28 would have ample power and reasonably economic - presumably you will have a sea trial before you buy anyway?

It's always interesting so see how the forum divides into Volvo and Mercruiser 'camps' too - I guess a bad experience of either would put you off that setup! ;) I have to be on the fence currently as I have a Volvo Penta 5.0 V8 coupled to an Alpha1 Gen1 drive!
 
I am more comfortable with owning the Mercruisers to be honest as that's where my familiarity is with previous boats... I believe the only reason why Volvo's are fitted to so many sealines is not so much the Merrc are bad units, it's simply Volvo did a deal with Sealine way back in the day which resulted in Volvo's ending up in their sales brochures and Mercruiser not, even though they were an option if asked for specifically... may be wong on that count.

The units in th boat I am looking at have been well cared for which is the most important aspect for me...

thanks for the input on the Volvo side of life, appreciated and noted.

cheers Gary
 
Hi Gary,
The merc engines are perfectly capable, just not as appealing as the volvo's, if you need reassurance then the same will happen when you move on with a prospective purchaser asking the same questions!,.
You can pick and choose with s28's, I wouldn't rush in, there will be KAD32 powered alternatives which make more sense longterm.

Only real reason your looking at mercs are because you have had them in all boats before, we had mercs and now volvo's, I wouldn't get too worried about ditching mercs, volvo are a nice engine, kad32's with 290dp drives are one of the best packages out there.

As previously posted the mercs would be 3rd choice at best:(
 
I agree with enterprise, also you have a Volvo dealer on every corner of the south coast that now carry ,most parts that were previously in stock at rugby, volvos parts warehouse so your holiday or weekends are not spoiled by a problem requiring parts that day(excluding Sunday) where as merc dealers have to order parts in that's are not a filter or anode.
 
volvopaul said:
I agree with enterprise, also you have a Volvo dealer on every corner of the south coast that now carry ,most parts that were previously in stock at rugby, volvos parts warehouse so your holiday or weekends are not spoiled by a problem requiring parts that day(excluding Sunday) where as merc dealers have to order parts in that's are not a filter or anode.
Click to expand...

VP, it depends on the parts. Most of the conusmables on the engine, I buy from a Car Stealer, 30% of the price of the Merc parts. They are kosher OE replacements, not Halfords or Chinese copies. Sterndrive consumables I buy from the USA, 40% of the price of Merc here, but agreed, not too handy if required at the weekend.
 
rafiki_ said:
VP, it depends on the parts. Most of the conusmables on the engine, I buy from a Car Stealer, 30% of the price of the Merc parts. They are kosher OE replacements, not Halfords or Chinese copies. Sterndrive consumables I buy from the USA, 40% of the price of Merc here, but agreed, not too handy if required at the weekend.
Click to expand...

Quite right, but that's the beauty of owning a Volvo in that you an get parts virtually off the shelf.
 
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