Diesel speed boat

sealover1

sealover1

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Hi guys,

Been thinking about buying a Diesel speed boat but don't know the names to web search for,

would like what I think is called a bayliner bowrider 1700 Diesel but not sure what the correct model is called does anyone know??

anyways can anyone tell me the names of any bowrider Diesel speed boats so I can start looking round or mabey put a saved search on ebay and see what comes up


or if anyone got one for sale for around 6-7 grand or so let me know please, don't want nothing to big around 16-18 feet be great
 
As the owner of a "Binliner Bowrider" I have to partially agree with No Regrets.

If you are after a Bowrider then you are looking at watersports and speed on warm sunny days, therefore a Diesel is not for you, particularly if you want to ski/wakeboard where getting quickly to the plane is best.

A petrol Bowrider will be pretty economical anyway so the saving in economy is pretty marginal, ours does 5 litres per hour on the Thames. A Diesel is not going to be much different at these speeds.

This rises to average 8 to 10 litres an hour at sea (this is an average with fast, 38 knots, speed plus stops).

The key advantage of a small cuddy such as the Fletcher that was pointed out is the privacy (changing, using a portable toilet), which you do not get with a Bowrider. Also they will take slightly worse sea conditions, bowriders can be restricted as to the conditions they get out in.

Apart from that a small cuddy is actually often a waste of space. Most people are unlikely to sleep in a small cuddy as it is too small and is not much different to camping in a very small tent, it becomes a toilet plus storage/collection place for a whole load of boat junk. If you have passengers then the cockpit area on a small cuddy becomes crowded.

My bowrider experience is here - www.sportsboat.org.uk
 
As a previous owner of a Bayliner 1800 Cobra (Bowrider), I have to agree with most people in here .... great for watersports, but not diesel, nor are they the best in high(ish) seas...

First of all, you will have to determine what you mean with "speed boat".... is it something that does 40 knots + , or is it more on economical fast cruising ?

The two are usually mutually exclusive, as speed = $$

Bayliner did two "speed boats" in the late 80's ... 1800 and 2250 Cobra ... both good for 45 knots, one with outboard, the other with a 270 HP V8 petrol... none of them will be classed as "econonical" .... and none of them would be classed as "speed boats" with a small, economical diesel onboard...

My advise would be to determine what you want to use the boat for, then start to look what you can get for your budget...(ask forum here for what would be considered as "suitable" alternatives.... ).
 
And to add to all the above, the Mercruiser Dti is not the best engine in the World.

If you really want a bowrider, pay £5k for a nice 10 year old one with a 4.3L V6 and spend the savings on petrol, the clue is in the name 'SpeedBoat' ;)
 
cheers for all the advise chaps, some interesting points made.

erm don't want a cabin again as been said I would only fill it up with boat junk again lol and I think its a waste of space, I like the extra front seating space of the bowriders, not going to be skiing or boarding as got no balance what so ever tho may tow a tube with my mates kids in it but not looking to go hugely fast . I like the sun seats on these sort of boats where I can just lie down and crash n burn in the sun lol

just a nice size good looking 4-6 seater boat with a little bit of poke will do me nicely not looking to go that fast but fast enough to have fun, diesel I get a reduced price hence the reason for wanting one

suitable" alternatives yep always willing to look but still want a diesel ;)
 
Last edited:
sealover1 said:
cheers for all the advise chaps, some interesting points made.

erm don't want a cabin again as been said I would only fill it up with boat junk again lol and I think its a waste of space, I like the extra front seating space of the bowriders, not going to be skiing or boarding as got no balance what so ever tho may tow a tube with my mates kids in it but not looking to go hugely fast . I like the sun seats on these sort of boats where I can just lie down and crash n burn in the sun lol

just a nice size good looking 4-6 seater boat with a little bit of poke will do me nicely not looking to go that fast but fast enough to have fun, diesel I get a reduced price hence the reason for wanting one

suitable" alternatives yep always willing to look but still want a diesel ;)
Click to expand...

There's one thing about discount on the price of your fuel but the initial outlay to buy a diesel engined boat (they're invariably more expensive) over a petrol would negate the benefits of the discounted fuel. They're heavier too so typically not suitable for the size of boat you're considering without some form of ballast in the bow = a heavier boat than necessary = more fuel burn
 
i have a campion sports speed boat its a 1.7 turbo diesel it great fun even for water sports has plenty of grunt as its diesel your get lots of torque with it.
these engines do suffer from turbo problems mine is 7 years old and its now waiting for a replacement turbo . once this is done im thinking selling it so if your intrested pm me thanks.
 
oGaryo said:
Try Mercruiser 1.7 dti 120hp
Click to expand...
I looked at a small boat on Sunday with one of these engines. I did hear it run and it sounded perfect. But too dear. I was told that it would only do 25 knots. But many petrol heads dont realise that like at the garage near me they sell Red Diesel at under £1. a litre.And many people now run company cars which are diesel. And Farmers buy it in 500 galls at a time, where of course they would not be allowed to store petrol.
 
Jim@sea said:
I looked at a small boat on Sunday with one of these engines. I did hear it run and it sounded perfect. But too dear. I was told that it would only do 25 knots. But many petrol heads dont realise that like at the garage near me they sell Red Diesel at under £1. a litre.And many people now run company cars which are diesel. And Farmers buy it in 500 galls at a time, where of course they would not be allowed to store petrol.
Click to expand...

yeh farmers are cool dudes ;)
 
I'd be looking for a diesel rib. There's a few around with fwd sun beds, a good turn of speed and much more comfortable and safer in a sea than a bin liner.
 
Check out ebay and just troll through.

Regal did a lot of these as did Monterey - little 1.7 turbo diesels.

However what people have said is true - they will be sluggish and not very "exciting" - but very cheap to run.
 
You can have a fast diesel. FNM diesels are very lightweight and relatively high revving. They are based on Alfa Romeo car engines so you get high power in a small package. They are not really suited to commercial heavy use but fast leisure boats such as inboard RIBS or Ski boats are perfect.

***Disclaimer*** Yes, as an agent for Mermaid Marine, who are FNM distributors, I do have an interest in them. But as the OP is looking for a boat and not a new engine I'm not trying it on with sales patter, just informing the masses that there are fast diesels. :)
 
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