about 2 buy my first boat need some help on engines

[dave001]

I am about to buy a maxum 2700scr with twin Lx/v6 4.3 litre Alpa One Mercruisers with only 400 hours. The boat is a imaculate and a 1994 we have never owned a boat before. We are concerned about fuel useage can anybody help with some advice. We like the boat any help would really be appreciated. email address is hotdirect@aol.com

 

[ccscott49]

That boat with those engines is going to eat fuel! I'm sure there's guys on here will tell you exactly, but you may have to wait a wee while, as most will be out playing today.

 

[jhr]

This is slightly guesswork, but I reckon each engine will burn about 8 gallons per hour at cruising revs (say, 3,500). So that's about 16 gallons, or £80 per hour at waterside prices. But it depends what your usage is going to be. For example, my average day out is 45 minutes going down river at 5 knots - which will maybe use one gallon - then a 30 minute blast down the Solent - which will use about four or five gallons - then the same going back. So, ten gallons - or £50 - for the day. I have a single 5 litre V8, so if you double those figures then lop off about 20%, I reckon you'd use £80 on an equivalent outing. Put that way, it perhaps doesn't seem quite so scary? Imho, twin petrols are best reserved for the Channel Islands or the US, where petrol is a quarter of the price.......

 

[Chris_d]

I'm afraid the reality is that these sorts of boats (large twin petrols) are usualy only bought by first timers, which endup back on the market pretty quickly, once they realise their mistake. However if your buying it to use on the river, broads or just for short weekends with limited actual engine use, it will probably not be too bad, if you get it for a decent price (sounds like a 25-30K boat to me /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif).
But don't go planning any extended 2 week holidays to France or the west country unless you own an oilfield /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Roy]

Many US boats bought here are in great nick because they don't get used much, at least driven anyway. Why? Fuel costs. I had a new maxum 2900scr and could hit 36knts and use 20 plus galls of petrol each engine. Mostly we burned about 12 galls per engine per hour at cruising speeds and half of that when just chugging along. Mind you, the 2900 is a bit bigger and heavier but I am quoting for the same engines. Suggest you look for a newer one with a single diesel. Three of these (new) 2700's were commisioned on Loch Lomond this weekend complete with £5,000 gensets and a few other extras and total price to the water was £70,000 each. I would personally never own another petrol boat for economy, fuel availability and safety reasons, but you pays your money and makes your choices. Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[Whitelighter]

Although I have a petrol boat, it is only a single engine and uses multipoint injection, so at a 21knt cruise I am using about 8-9 gph. Twin engines with a 94 vintage will be a little thursty, but as others have mentioned, it depends on how much you will use it. Bear in mind a diesel boat is likely to cost a good 10k more for the same age which buys an awful lot of petrol, especially if you do not know how much you will use the boat.

With red diesel under the executioners axe as well at the moment dont buy a diesel boat on the promise of 40p per litre prices - they may not last past january 1st 2007!!!

One more point, I have been boating i the Solent since 1990, and not once have I seen a boat burn (let alone explode) because of a petrol leak. Seen a few rags go up because of gas stoves (diesel engines so MUCH safer obviously) but no petrol Mobo's. If you dont have stats for actual boats going up because of petrol leaks, can we please stop this saftey bollocks that is trotted out every time petrol vs diesel rears its head?

 

[dave001]

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP. i WAS ALLREADY VERY DOUBTING OVER BUYING THIS BOAT. PITTY THOUGH AS THE MAXUM LOOKS VERY PRETTY AND MY 12 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WOULD HAVE LOVED TO POSE IN TOP. HAVE FOUND 2 DIESEL GLASTRONS AT 150HP WHICH SEEM OK GOING TO LOOK AT THEM NEXT DAY OR SO. NOT AS POSERISH THOUGH FOR MY KIDS.

 

[ShipsWoofy]

GOOD LUCK

BEST OF LUCK FINDING YOUR PERFECT BOAT.

KEEP US INFORMED WONT YOU?

 

[ccscott49]

Why not as poserish?? Nobody can see the engines!!

 

[Solitaire]

Re: GOOD LUCK

[ QUOTE ]
BEST OF LUCK FINDING YOUR PERFECT BOAT.



[/ QUOTE ]

Now, now! You know that will never happen on the first boat!

 

[Roy]

Do you have stats which show anything in the favour of petrol then?? How many solent boats use petrol as opposed to wind or diesel? As for bollox - diesel is safer than petrol!!