Cummins or Volvo

[mcanderson]

One model of boat that we have been looking at comes with a choice of engines. Either D6 volvos in 310 or 330 up on Volvo sterndrives or Cummins Mercruiser QSD 4.2 320s on Mercruiser sterndrives.

Has anyone got any opinion one way or another? The boat will be kept in the South of France and both brands are well represented.

Thanks.

 

[volvopaul]

You know my answer.

 

[mcanderson]

Pointless even asking you.

 

[Whitelighter]

You know my answer as well, but for the forum:

The Cummins engines are good, though rare in this type of boat. Coupled with the mercruiser drives they are not a desirable package (and yes Portofino, we know there isn't an iutdtive in the world considered desirable). The D6 package is much more popular, especially in this model and will be easier to live with (drives) and much easier to sell on (package).

The only way I'd consider the Cummins/mercruiser package is if they were significantly cheaper than the VP package - like 20%+ and a minimum

 

[mcanderson]

I've found two with Volvos and one with Cummins. One of the Volvo fitted models isn't that far from BSM. The other two boats are in Italy. One Italian broker (Cummins) is being helpful, but waiting on answers from the owner. The other (Volvo) refuses to supply a video or high def photos. The photos he has provided are okay, but lack resolution also it hasn't been serviced or antifouled in a year, so I wonder what else has been left to slip as he wants to sell....

 

[julians]

It undoubtably is the case that volvo is more desirable than cummins/merc,but Is there a reason why this is the case?

My experience of volvos is that theyre not especially reliable, and parts prices are crazy, so the other engine would have to be really bad to be worse than volvo's.

Julian (current owner of volvo d4)

 

[Bouba]

Be careful, although cummins are far superior to volvos in every respect this maybe the exception. When cummins and mercruiser where once married they adopted this poor italian called qsd 4.2
Now by all accounts this is a very good motor with an excellent reputation but when cummins and mercruiser divorced the qsd became an orphan again so check that either the mercruiser dealer or the cummins dealer can service it and carries the spares

 

[Whitelighter]

It undoubtably is the case that volvo is more desirable than cummins/merc,but Is there a reason why this is the case?

My experience of volvos is that theyre not especially reliable, and parts prices are crazy, so the other engine would have to be really bad to be worse than volvo's.

Julian (current owner of volvo d4)

It's the drives rather than the engines which would put me right off, plus the reduced disirability on resale.

 

[Portofino]

You know my answer as well, but for the forum:

The Cummins engines are good, though rare in this type of boat. Coupled with the mercruiser drives they are not a desirable package (and yes Portofino, we know there isn't an iutdtive in the world considered desirable). The D6 package is much more popular, especially in this model and will be easier to live with (drives) and much easier to sell on (package).

The only way I'd consider the Cummins/mercruiser package is if they were significantly cheaper than the VP package - like 20%+ and a minimum

He's, got @ least two shafty options ( with CATS ) whch will fit the "red line " 12 M or what ever @ BSM until 2018 ?

Both cracking boats from engineering /bulid Q perspective .

Why op into aged VP sterndrives ?. Or any other for that matter ? .

It's not the boat ,it's where after the concession ends --- boat bills /repairs will be small beer compared to the rent massive increase ..

 

[Whitelighter]

He's, got @ least two shafty options ( with CATS ) whch will fit the "red line " 12 M or what ever @ BSM until 2018 ?

Both cracking boats from engineering /bulid Q perspective .

Why op into aged VP sterndrives ?. Or any other for that matter ? .

It's not the boat ,it's where after the concession ends --- boat bills /repairs will be small beer compared to the rent massive increase ..

Maybe, just maybe, the OP really likes the make and model of the boat so much he'll live with outdrives?
Maybe he doesn't like the boat attached to the shaft drive option.
I was commenting on the two drive options listed, not the suitability of drives over shafts.

In the other thread I linked to a very nice shaft drive picnic boat, but can accept the OP doesn't fancy it.

Buy an itama, buy an itama, buy an itama
Or a Pershing

(Thought I'd do that for you)

 

[Portofino]

Buy an itama, buy an itama, buy an itama
Or a Pershing

(Thought I'd do that for you)

Depends how how he intends to use the boat ? But bear in mind from what I understand ( happy to stand corrected ) he has hard standing accomodation -an appartment in BSM .
So the foul weather / floating caravan side of the swing ometer is a bit reduced .
This does open up ,if you move the compromise swing ometer to a bit more racey ,less caravan more performance .

But no ,depends on his age ,or the age he thinks he is ,how fat ,bald etc ------ each to his own .
I have only reccomended an Itama once on this forum ,mistakenly ( not knowing Pete M has FL running through his viens ) it's kind for you do it by proxi for OP -many thanks , but not needed .

The only time was to Pete m -- many years ago in the early days of his search .Happy to put me hands up I was miles off ,and happy to take stick on that .An I 38 fitted --not .

I,ve been on my boat 3weeks ( out of 5 ) and it's not rained yet --So F --- as if it's a hassle to dust down the covers .
But the Op has indicated "year round use " --- so Itama -no good .

Niche very niche -not for everybody .

Btw cummins over Volvo
1/2 the prob --no engine woes just outdrives

 

[mcanderson]

Porto,

Thanks for the advice. I know what you mean about the weather right now in the SoF. I had two weeks down and my wife three and not a drop of rain. Everyday better than the last. It was brilliant.

I would love to get a sports cruiser with shafts that has two good cabins, but I can't find a model that works. I love the look of the Pershing 37, but the offset bed in the master rules it out. After 9 years of crawling over or around each other on our sailing boat a decent bed is a must.

We do have an apartment in BSM, but we rent it out so the boat has to be liveable all year round as our apartment is proving popular and so we are not getting much time in it ourselves. Certainly none between now and the middle of October.

Our berth in BSM is an annual rental berth. We don't own the lease.

Have had some good news on a wild card boat model that has been winking away. I always thought BSM would rule it out due to length, but on Sunday afternoon I got an email stating that it was okay!

We are heading down again next Thursday to take our personal items off our old boat. I am trying to line up viewings for the Friday for our replacement.

 

[Portofino]

Great ,
I know what you mean re the bed issue .its nice to have a symmetrical arrangement and his n hers lockers etc .
We had two idiosyncrasies
1- a big cockpit table ,large enough for two folks to sprawl out a board sheet in the Am ---and a table that did not rock , tilt or move ,so tea was not split when someone got up !
2- the bathing platform had to be low enough so could sit dry and wet enough leg to cool down .

Those two narrowed it down .

We are passing by BSM latter 1/2 of this week ,it's been a while since we called in -if we are in do drop by .