Engine hours

[Little yogi]

Hi All

I'm currently in the market for a new boat, I've seen a Profile 33 1980 model.

The seller has sent me a copy of the surveyor's report that they had done in 2018, the year they purchased the boat, in the report it states that the engine has a recorded 714 hours, to the best of my knowledge cruisers of this era don't record engine hours, also in the advertisement the seller said that the fuel injections had been replaced, diesel injections should last years, so why replace after just 715 hours, if the hours are genuine that's a huge selling point, so why not mention it in the advertisement.

In this area there's only one marine surveyor that I and fellow boaters s know, of but no one round hear has heard of the person named on this survey, dare I say , do you think this survey was made up for insurance purposes , I've not actually looked at the boat yet but this has put doubts in my mind.

 

[Portofino]

Why not commission your own by a reputable surveyor? End of !

Unlike cars boats injectors either or worse both get……
1-8hit and water in the fuel system which knackered the tips .
2- Basically very easily unintentionally end up wearing your car / automotive hat run up a steep hill in top gear effectively lugging .This is because of back to boats , hull fouling , prop fouling , meddling owners switching props ets etc .What this does is raise cylinder temps and pressures commonly known as EGT s exhaust gas temps .This burns the tips , knackers them equally along with crappy fuel .

Marine diesel service schedules often add in a timely “ pull the injector s and test / replace etc “ Where as as you infer you roll up to German car manufacturers ( or Japanese theses days ) drive off in your D and the injectors do hundreds of thousands of miles without a care in the world. This is because the engine and drive wheels are separated by a gear box which you use so the thing never sees chronic raised cylinder temps / pressures that risks injector health .Also the tiny tank is constantly replenished with fresh fuel , dry fuel and better filtered .

 

[Momac]

You should not rely on a survey report carried out in 2018
The hour meter could well be younger than the boat.
What are the recorded hours now an what servicing records are available?

If the injectors have been replaced is that not a good thing ?

 

[Fjord John]

Personally i wouldn't get hung up on engine hours. There are probably better indicators of condition like how it runs\sounds, service history and what comes out of the exhaust. My boat is higher hours but cherished - think of all the neglected boats unsold on broker pontoons in this harsh weather, low hours - but not loved.

 

[kashurst]

Engine hours is not a great indicator of condition. In the UK we seem to get very hung up about it. Boat engines fail through lack of proper maintenance of the engines, cooling system and fuel system or abuse (overloading). Older designs of engines can be pretty smokey when cold, fresh injectors sometimes improve that. If you like the boat a surveyor will hopefully spot any structural defects. Best way to check engines is drive it hard and watch the gauges. What engines are fitted?

 

[ChromeDome]

I think you mentioned Perkins 4236 in another thread?
Agree to have an experienced pro look at and listen to it. Alone a cold start will give such a person good info.

An oil analysis could tell a lot but really depends on recent usage. If no or little use for years it probably won't tell much (relevant).

 

[Little yogi]

If I do decide to purchase the boat it will definitely be on condition of a satisfactory survey commissioned by myself.

The survey supplied by the current owner makes interesting reading as it highlighted a few minor issues, I can point theses out to my surveyor to check if the issues have been dealt with, or just left, should give an indication to how much tlc the boat has had.

Thanks for all your replies

 

[Bigplumbs]

How much is the asking price of the boat

If you are going to have a Survey choose a surveyor carefully as some Survers are not worth the paper they are written on. Perhaps choose a different Surveyor to the one who did the survey you have so you can compare.

 

[Little yogi]

Hi bigplumbs,
The asking price is 31, 000 euros ( I'm in ireland ) think that's about 29,000 sterling
Yes I would be getting a different surveyor to the one that the owner used

 

[Bigplumbs]

Hi bigplumbs,
The asking price is 31, 000 euros ( I'm in ireland ) think that's about 29,000 sterling
Yes I would be getting a different surveyor to the one that the owner used

Thanks for that I ask because many people suggest surveys on boats that are very cheap. At £29K I think a Survey is a good idea.