Duo-prop size - Sealine S34

petem said:
Having pondered this overnight, 1999 was not long after the KAD32 was launched and I wonder if the brochure speeds were proven when it went to press. A later brochure might show a lower and more accurate top speed.

But what does concern me is that 2x170hp is an not a lot of horsepower to haul around a 6 ton boat. Might be OK for the river but could struggle with some cruising gear / crew / fouling. In comparison, smallest engines for Targa 34's were unpopular twin AD41's (2x200hp) with most buyers opting for 2x260hp KAD42's or 2x300hp KAD300's.
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Yep, I get what you are saying Pete.

Having done lots of research it seems that the 32's were most prevalent in the S34 and many owners are happily cruising at sea in the 20-22 knot bracket and report that it is perfectly adequate but with the focus on cruising as opposed to performance. The two guys with 'Shark Bay', an S34 with the KAD 32's, did a circumnavigation of the UK, then went to the Hebrides' from the south west and then a tour of Biscay so I am thinking that it wont exactly be unfit for purpose :)

Coming from a Broom top end is not a concern for me and as long as I get a reasonable cruise speed that is fine. I got to the point where it is the overall condition of the boat that is the deciding factor and not the engines. Tried to buy one with AD41Ps earlier in the year and survey was no good so walked away. This one is in great condition (assuming the revs thing can be resolved) so we are happy with the engines. A huge plus point is the space in the engine bay as I do a lot of maintenance myself :)
 
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petem said:
Having pondered this overnight, 1999 was not long after the KAD32 was launched and I wonder if the brochure speeds were proven when it went to press. A later brochure might show a lower and more accurate top speed.
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Later 2002/2003 brochures have the speeds quoted as 28/30kts with KAD32s.

Most people with S34's and KAD32s would charitably describe the performance as "adequate", even if loaded up.
i.e. cruising around in the low 20's, 28kts flat out on a good day.

You guys with Targa 40's and D6-350's storming along at 40kts would not be impressed :p but it's very capable as a cruiser.

Fouling will affect performance just the same as any other boat ... more powerful engines might ultimately keep you planing with bigger barnacles, but they'll still be overloaded.

HlxitI.jpg
 
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I have noticed an explosion of growth and particularly barnacles in the last two weeks. So much so my intakes were crusted over and I had to beach the boat to scrape off. Do not be surprised by the fact your hull may have been clean a couple weeks ago but is looking a bit grim now. It is their breeding season.

Look at the props here. Boat used two weeks ago and they were clean. I could still brush the barnacles easily off with a wipe of the hand their shells were still so soft. However in another two weeks they'd have hardened up and then even a spell on the plane wouldn't shake them off

DnEcEAt.jpg


Same goes for weed growth. The exceptional weather has left a healthy bush just below the waterline

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Two weeks mind. Just two week. It beggars belief.
 
We had a 2002 S34 with KAD32’s and I assume whatever the factory fitted props were (it was 2 years old when we bought it).

With a clean bottom and props we could just about push her to 27knts but cruising was around 22knts which as others have said was “adequate” and comfortably on the plane. It wasn’t a thrill ride but rode well enough.

Prop fouling - we were in Mallorca - had the biggest impact on speed, easily losing 5-6 knots in a few weeks. I used to scrape the barnacles off the props about 3 times per season.

Incidentally I think my old boat is currently “sale pending” on the Boats.co.uk website.
 
It kept changing.

The shot above is from the 2003 Brochure.

2007 Brochure, which I think was the last year of production, has options for petrols, D4-225s or D4-260s :eek:
 
Greg2 said:
Yep, I get what you are saying Pete.

Having done lots of research it seems that the 32's were most prevalent in the S34 and many owners are happily cruising at sea in the 20-22 knot bracket and report that it is perfectly adequate but with the focus on cruising as opposed to performance. The two guys with 'Shark Bay', an S34 with the KAD 32's, did a circumnavigation of the UK, then went to the Hebrides' from the south west and then a tour of Biscay so I am thinking that it wont exactly be unfit for purpose :)

Coming from a Broom top end is not a concern for me and as long as I get a reasonable cruise speed that is fine. I got to the point where it is the overall condition of the boat that is the deciding factor and not the engines. Tried to buy one with AD41Ps earlier in the year and survey was no good so walked away. This one is in great condition (assuming the revs thing can be resolved) so we are happy with the engines. A huge plus point is the space in the engine bay as I do a lot of maintenance myself :)
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Greg, the AD41 boat. Was it in Portsmouth?
 
Greg2 said:
Yep, I get what you are saying Pete.

Having done lots of research it seems that the 32's were most prevalent in the S34 and many owners are happily cruising at sea in the 20-22 knot bracket and report that it is perfectly adequate but with the focus on cruising as opposed to performance. The two guys with 'Shark Bay', an S34 with the KAD 32's, did a circumnavigation of the UK, then went to the Hebrides' from the south west and then a tour of Biscay so I am thinking that it wont exactly be unfit for purpose :)

Coming from a Broom top end is not a concern for me and as long as I get a reasonable cruise speed that is fine. I got to the point where it is the overall condition of the boat that is the deciding factor and not the engines. Tried to buy one with AD41Ps earlier in the year and survey was no good so walked away. This one is in great condition (assuming the revs thing can be resolved) so we are happy with the engines. A huge plus point is the space in the engine bay as I do a lot of maintenance myself :)
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Shark Bay is the S34 we are surveying

Its in remarkable condition, loads of maintenance records from the same company since new. Its very impressive mechanically.

890 hours but our usage will not put much on them.

Fingers crossed the hull survey comes back ok!
 
Bbroomlea said:
Shark Bay is the S34 we are surveying

Its in remarkable condition, loads of maintenance records from the same company since new. Its very impressive mechanically.

890 hours but our usage will not put much on them.

Fingers crossed the hull survey comes back ok!
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Well she has certainly been used so if maintained properly then a good option. The hours aren’t particularly high IMHO - the one we are looking at has just over 1000hrs with quite a lot done on the river with some sea trips from what we can make out. Service history not so great but is a stock boat and has been four of five times over recent years so well looked after each time. Hull survey was very good so happy as long as we sort the revs issue.

Good luck with your survey :)
 
Greg2 said:
Well she has certainly been used so if maintained properly then a good option. The hours aren’t particularly high IMHO - the one we are looking at has just over 1000hrs with quite a lot done on the river with some sea trips from what we can make out. Service history not so great but is a stock boat and has been four of five times over recent years so well looked after each time. Hull survey was very good so happy as long as we sort the revs issue.

Good luck with your survey :)
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I actually find some comfort in a documented blog of the boats adventures along with woes and tribulations. Being able to pick the phone up to the chap who owned it for 90% of its life and the mechanic who has looked after it since it left Sealine is very reassuring to me.

How many boats have a history that a buyer will know nothing about!?

I'm sure it will survey ok and the hours will be nothing but a blank volvo penta screen in a few years time ;)

Good luck with your purchase.....
 
Sailorsam101 said:
If you are changing props be careful. I wanted to replace my A7's on my Targa 33 but VP don't make A's any more so had to go to the new improved J prop.

All the numbers etc were done and a J7 was due to be a direct replacement...well as son as i put a J prop on i lost 10% of speed.

So do you number carefully and buy some old stock A's if you can find them...i wish i did!!!!
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After your wear fitted Volvo had to do a recalculation , now say go up 2 sizes from original!! Crazy statement without a calculation.
 
volvopaul said:
After your wear fitted Volvo had to do a recalculation , now say go up 2 sizes from original!! Crazy statement without a calculation.
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I had heard that VP were saying same size for A series and one up for B series when switching to J series Paul. Are they now saying up two sizes for both?
 
volvopaul said:
After your wear fitted Volvo had to do a recalculation , now say go up 2 sizes from original!! Crazy statement without a calculation.
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<<roll eyes emoji goes here>>

This is causing endless confusion ... why didn't Volvo simply stamp the sizes to match up with the old naming scheme of the A-series?
 
I thought an update would be in order as it now seems that the problem is solved.

Having satisfied ourselves that the boat had the right props (A4) I checked the tachos and they appeared to be reading low, so that was potentially the problem. The boat was a stock boat with Norfolk Yacht Agency and when they looked at it they identified that someone had fitted CAV fuel pre-filters with a max flow rate of 45 lph, whereas KAD32s should have filters with a max flow rate north of 100lph. Racor 500 filters installed and I have been advised that she is now making 3,900 rpm! So it seems that the problem is solved, which is just as well as we took delivery of the boat on Friday! :)

NYA have, as ever, been excellent to deal with. They have solved the revs issue and whilst we were taking the boat on the understanding that she would go back to them in the autumn to have servicing, snag list etc done, they had done everything, including full valet and polish, in time for handover on Friday! We are delighted and it is great to be back on the water :)
 
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[2068] said:
Original props would have been A4.

You should be getting somewhere North of 3700rpm on there, not 3300rpm.

Changing to A5 is only going to make things worse.
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I have s24 underperforming as well and I suspect it is a prop issue. Yet to establish what is fitted till I lift the boat but any idea what standard issue would have been? It’s a single engine kad32 on a stern drive
 
Murdy said:
I have s24 underperforming as well and I suspect it is a prop issue. Yet to establish what is fitted till I lift the boat but any idea what standard issue would have been? It’s a single engine kad32 on a stern drive
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A4 was standard - based on my S23 was fitted with the same kad32 /290dp-e
Alternatively use J5 pros
 
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