Elan 30 used on river, good or bad?

[ozzie]

We have decided to sell our Beneteau Monte Carlo 37, and downsize due to SWMBO health problems. We have always liked the Elan 30 having looked at them at the Southampton boat show launch, and have found two for sale in Norfolk. I have made some enquiries, and both look promising, one has the D3 220s with 220 hours, the other has D3 200s with 160 hours, both with service history. Ideally I would like the 220s but the boat with the 200s ticks more boxes. I have been told that performance wise the only real noticeable difference will be the top speed, which I am not bothered about. Provided she will get up on the plane and cruise in the mid 20s with two onboard I will be happy. My main concern (with both of them) is the fact that they have been used predominantly at low speeds on the river. My question is, will this use have had a detrimental effect on the engines? I vaguely remember hearing that it can glaze the bores? Is there anything that I should be specifically looking for that will need servicing or replacing. The last thing I want is unreliable engines!!

 

[spannerman]

Diesels like to be worked, I had a customer with a Sealine with 2 D4’s in it, he complained of excessive oil consumption which we verified. He was a pensioner who went out most days with friends and just drove all day at displacement speed resulting in glazed bores. I told him to try a long hard run for several hours to see if it wore the glaze off. The alternative was engines out for glaze busting. So buyer beware! Good service history is worth its weight in gold, also a clean engine room indicating the owner has looked after the boat.

 

[Momac]

Plenty of sea boats are used on rivers with no apparent issues .
I do make the effort in the summer to get places where some fast runs are involved. But that's looking less likely this year .

 

[Catalina36]

Boats used on fresh water rather than salt water are said to be more prone to osmosis owing to its lower density. I know not whether this is truth or myth.

 

[Seastoke]

well generators run all day on low revs, just saying .

 

[oldgit]

Plenty of sea boats are used on rivers with no apparent issues .
I do make the effort in the summer to get places where some fast runs are involved. But that's looking less likely this year .

There are about 8000 boats registered on the Thames,several thousand more on the Broads and many down here on the upper Medway.
If you asume that 25 % are motor boats, probably a considerable underestimate, at least some sign of bore glazing should be evident by now.
Engines being scrapped due to lack of maintainance and lack of use ,Yes.
Older engines might become uneconomic to repair but cannot recall anybody ever mentioning an engine being rebuilt or scrapped due to bore glazing. ?

 

[jrudge]

Your bigger issue will be where to do a "sea" trial. You really need to confirm WOT and that is does not overheat.