Buying a 41' flybridge

[Boater On Thames]

Dear All,

I am new here. I am purchasing my very first boat- a 41 feet flybridge. I had sea trial today. It running just ok. Top speed 15 knots at 2500 rpm. Twin engines Volvo TAMD61. The engines noises are too loud. It's almost impossible to stay comfortable in the saloon while cruising. Also, lots grey smoke from engines at the beginning when throttle push up, then white smoke in all time. Oil has been changed in June, and not been use so much since there. So the suveryer said oil analysis is not help anyway.

Based on the sea trial experience, I am now struggling whether I should go ahead or cancel the purchase. Survey report will come next Wednesday.

Any input appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[pvb]

Welcome to the forums! You'd probably get more knowledgeable responses if you post this question on the Motor Boat Forum - the guys there know all about noise and smoke!

 

[Plum]

Dear All,

I am new here. I am purchasing my very first boat- a 41 feet flybridge. I had sea trial today. It running just ok. Top speed 15 knots at 2500 rpm. Twin engines Volvo TAMD61. The engines noises are too loud. It's almost impossible to stay comfortable in the saloon while cruising. Also, lots grey smoke from engines at the beginning when throttle push up, then white smoke in all time. Oil has been changed in June, and not been use so much since there. So the suveryer said oil analysis is not help anyway.

Based on the sea trial experience, I am now struggling whether I should go ahead or cancel the purchase. Survey report will come next Wednesday.

Any input appreciated.

Thanks.

First, a sea trial to evaluare engines will be meaningless unless you are confident the bottom is completely clean and the propellers are completely clean. Then, you should be able to get 2800rpm (i recall that is the rated max rpm) or very close to that number at full throttle while underway. Low revs and smoke can just mean the props are fouled with barnacles. As for the noise, that could just be a function of the sound proofing that is or is not present. Do nothing untill you get the full survey.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Boater On Thames]

Thanks. I didn't realize that there is a motor boat forum. Just posted there.

 

[Tranona]

Best to have your surveyor on board during the sea trial as that is what you are paying for.

Agree with Plum. The symptoms you describe suggest a fouled hull and propellers which is overloading the engine and causing the smoke,noise and low speed. Running like that will wreck the engine eventually.

 

[Boater On Thames]

The surveyor was with me in the sea trial. But he said nothing at the scene. He just said wait for his full report next week.

The hull and the propellers are quite clean. We lifted up the boat before sea trail. The seller explain that the low speed and low rpm is because the full tanks. But I think the loud noises and smoke indicated some thing not good for the engines.

There is one more thing, the trim tabs are not working.

 

[matthewriches]

Be advised that that era of engines can be quite smokey on startup if they haven’t been regularly used and looked after throughout their earlier life. I have a pair of 61’s and they were removed and rebuilt in 2009 by a yard on the South Coast. The boat then sat for a good few years until early 2015 when I acquired it, a little smokey so injectors were sent for rebuild.... good as new and now very little smoke on startup. This then enabled a friend of mine to wind the pumps up to get a bit more ooomph!