D12 Engine survey Nice area

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rlw

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Hi All,

Preparing to look a a few boats around Nice area to San Remo. Can anyone recommend a good volvo engineer agent to survey D12 engines in that region?
I found Sud Marine diesel. Are they trusworthy. From reading the forum I gather the it can be a bit hit and mis.

Rob
 
Rob,

For general surveying and a man to trust try Keith Willis Eurosurvey. He did my boat prepurchase and I was very happy.

I’m sure he will be able to help.
 
rlw said:
Hi All,

Preparing to look a a few boats around Nice area to San Remo. Can anyone recommend a good volvo engineer agent to survey D12 engines in that region?
I found Sud Marine diesel. Are they trusworthy. From reading the forum I gather the it can be a bit hit and mis.

Rob
Click to expand...

I find Sud Marine Diesel always quote a lot more than other ( MAN ) agents .
I know they do VP and other manufacturers service and parts too .
You could try Y.E.S , Yacht Engine Service , they do pre inspection but are MAN specialists .

Have you seen any SH or recent invoices ?
Most 1/2 comptant brokers get together a file of relevant paperwork that prospective buyers are likely to ask to see ??

Your problem imho is this ,it’s a matter of expectations .
The buyer wants as new in a 10 y or so boat ,that’s just unrealistic.
Maintenance is conveyor belt ,constantly turning , the seller jumps off the buyer jumps on .
Some stuff is time dependent like suggested injector pulling , others just wear ,like exhaust elbows on the D12 ,
Some stuff is known weakness like leaky sump gaskets on D 12 s .
Then marine aging like coolers salting up and water pump seals weeping .,batteries decaying etc .

All you are gonna do flying in from the UK with what they ( locals ) perceive as a fussy “Brit stiff upper lip “ seemingly demanding survey with this that and t,other is create reports at your expense , which when used to chip the buyer for triviality or wear n tear ( to recover your expenses ) puts you at the back of a queue if another punter shows up with any easier route to buying it ,

Better off taking a knowledgeable mate ,offering to sub the diesel and go out for a run it .
You might find if you agree a price , “ I will buy it if it’s as described “ for € X .
“ I,am flying in so really need to test it before committing “

Bargain s don,t hang around .
 
Portofino said:
I find Sud Marine Diesel always quote a lot more than other ( MAN ) agents .
I know they do VP and other manufacturers service and parts too .
You could try Y.E.S , Yacht Engine Service , they do pre inspection but are MAN specialists .

Have you seen any SH or recent invoices ?
Most 1/2 comptant brokers get together a file of relevant paperwork that prospective buyers are likely to ask to see ??

Your problem imho is this ,it’s a matter of expectations .
The buyer wants as new in a 10 y or so boat ,that’s just unrealistic.
Maintenance is conveyor belt ,constantly turning , the seller jumps off the buyer jumps on .
Some stuff is time dependent like suggested injector pulling , others just wear ,like exhaust elbows on the D12 ,
Some stuff is known weakness like leaky sump gaskets on D 12 s .
Then marine aging like coolers salting up and water pump seals weeping .,batteries decaying etc .

All you are gonna do flying in from the UK with what they ( locals ) perceive as a fussy “Brit stiff upper lip “ seemingly demanding survey with this that and t,other is create reports at your expense , which when used to chip the buyer for triviality or wear n tear ( to recover your expenses ) puts you at the back of a queue if another punter shows up with any easier route to buying it ,

Better off taking a knowledgeable mate ,offering to sub the diesel and go out for a run it .
You might find if you agree a price , “ I will buy it if it’s as described “ for € X .
“ I,am flying in so really need to test it before committing “

Bargain s don,t hang around .
Click to expand...

Sounds like the LondonRascal method is catching on:)
 
to be honest I tend to agree with Portofino. I didn't have a survey on latest boat - I have paid for 5 surveys in the past and I could have written all of them - except the "its not my fault if I miss something legals". I obviously haggledon price and kept the survey fee in my pocket for the inevitable few bits and pieces that I hadn't spotted. Unless you are new to boats better to take someone with you who knows engines and drives and how to spot galvanic problems (pink props). second hand boats are always a risk and I think Portofono has described the situation very well
 
kashurst said:
to be honest I tend to agree with Portofino. I didn't have a survey on latest boat - I have paid for 5 surveys in the past and I could have written all of them - except the "its not my fault if I miss something legals". I obviously haggledon price and kept the survey fee in my pocket for the inevitable few bits and pieces that I hadn't spotted. Unless you are new to boats better to take someone with you who knows engines and drives and how to spot galvanic problems (pink props). second hand boats are always a risk and I think Portofono has described the situation very well
Click to expand...

Yeah but as, you're a man who will happily remove his engines and I dare say replace them. I was glad of the engineers inspection and sea trial report that I had undertaken on my boat. Saved me £1000's and they were only KAD44's.
 
I agree with the above comments I am only looking for someone to inspect the engines and hang a vodia tool on them as this does provide some insight into the engine condition.On my Targa 40 I inspected the rest myself and did not have any surprises afterwards. The engines were checked out by Aquatom of this parish. As long as the hull and engines are in good condition the other items I can sort myself.

Apart from the leaky sumps any other D12 week spots to check? Saw some soot on a T52 exhaust port in the brokers pick. Could you expect visible smoke with these engines when starting up or going onto the plane? Coming from outdrives so not used to above water exhausts.

Only half Brittish so judging by the comments above I need to take my Belgian pasport :)

Rob
 
Suggestion:

How about "proper misuse" of the collective knowledge of the forum members ?

I think this would work:
  • fly out to Nice
  • take a friend for added weight and sharing thoughts
  • buy a prepay 20 Gig internet bundle as below, for € 49 at Lebara - valid for 30 days
  • do the extensive testdrive
  • upload 100 pics here
  • upload the videos to a Dropbox sharing site

I am sure you will get a comprehensive review of the engine - probably before your return back to port !


https://mobile.lebara.com/fr/fr/data-plans/internet-bundle-20gb/p/330119
 
volvopaul said:
Volvopart they are cast .
Click to expand...
i don't doubt that Volvo might make an elbow but they don't have to be Volvo elbows on any particular boat. I've had 4 d12s with Halyard elbows and they are the ones that corrode. No big deal at all. Just replace them every 4 years. Not going to spoil a holiday. Piece of cake to replace and absolutely not a downside of the d12 engine.
My sumps never leaked either. I like this engine. Mine never smoked and you shouldn't have smoke unless well beyond 1000 hours
 
Read on an America site , the oil pan issue centres around blocked crank case breather s inceasing bottom end pressure .
Once replaced the weeping stops .
Also over filling due to dipstick ( lack of ? ) calibration issues is not helpful in both bottom end pressure and glogging up the breathers , Or re glogging up of newly fitted soon after .
Of course the dip stick issue is related to the instal - inclination of the engine etc , or not ?- - - if it’s a V drive .

Allegedly with the correct oil level ( if it’s possible to determine on an inclined instal ? ) and replaced crank filters in a timely manor ,according to Volvo the problem is iatrogenic.
 
I would always go for a survey ... afterall it is small money compared to the price tag of a boat. I was in for a 2002 boat from the Med and found all fine by myself and then had a surveyor to come and check too. After close inspection he found the hull had osmosis which I could not see myself. I learned that you must measure the MC in the hull between the 7th and 14th days after layup to measure correctly. Most Med boats seem to live in the water for extended periods and therefore osmosis can become an issue. D12 was introduced in 2003 so the boat in question could have such an issue too....
 
About Time said:
osmosis can become an issue.
Click to expand...
A real issue or just in surveyor's heads? I realise it impacts your re-sale value so in that sense it matters, but it is a bit like "VAT paid" status - much more perception that reality.

Plus, any D12 boat will be 2002 onwards so will/should have the new osmosis resistant resins in the lay up
 
http://www.superyachtservicesguide.com/20/16155/jan-verbeek


If my previous suggestion to go "ultra light" with just with a SIM card is considered too risky, please consider fellow dutchman Jan Verbeek. He is based in Toulon, so almost on site already.

We worked on some customer service issues with american boats in SoF in the (distant) past, he is definitely a professional surveyor.
 
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