Engine preference.

[New Boater]

Hi all,

Narrowing my search down to a Sealine S28. Seems to do everything we want and is near to budget. (Nearly)

Most are twin engined (KAD32’s) and Merc V6’s.

I have found a couple of anomalies though!

One has a single KAD44 EDC and one has a set of Yamaha ME370’s on DuoProps.

In your opinion, do you think the single KAD44 would be enough for this boat or do you think it will be working its backside off all the time?

Also does anyone know or love the Yamaha?

Cheers all.

NB

 

[DavidJ]

Hi all,

Narrowing my search down to a Sealine S28. Seems to do everything we want and is near to budget. (Nearly)

Most are twin engined (KAD32’s) and Merc V6’s.

I have found a couple of anomalies though!

One has a single KAD44 EDC and one has a set of Yamaha ME370’s on DuoProps.

In your opinion, do you think the single KAD44 would be enough for this boat or do you think it will be working its backside off all the time?

Also does anyone know or love the Yamaha?

Cheers all.

NB

I would avoid the old electronics of the KAD44 and go with the KAD32 albeit much lower powered. Better still if you can find one with KAD43’s. That would fly quite nicely.
Sealines with Mercruser engines and Yams are unpopular and resale is difficult…..cheap to buy though
Great choice of boat by the way

 

[Momac]

The kad 32 engined boat will have twin engines so 2x170hp=340hp total which is of course more than a single kad44 at 260hp.
I think twin 6 cylinder Volvo's in a S28 is not an option but I am open to discussion on that.

 

[Greg2]

The KAD32’s are the best option on that boat IMHO. Same engines were adequate in our S34 but I would imagine the S28 will do well with them. They are also good motors.

I would avoid the Yamahas as parts may be tricky and they aren’t really mainstream. As already said, Mercs don’t help resale or price of a boat.

 

[Elessar]

Hi all,

Narrowing my search down to a Sealine S28. Seems to do everything we want and is near to budget. (Nearly)

Most are twin engined (KAD32’s) and Merc V6’s.

I have found a couple of anomalies though!

One has a single KAD44 EDC and one has a set of Yamaha ME370’s on DuoProps.

In your opinion, do you think the single KAD44 would be enough for this boat or do you think it will be working its backside off all the time?

Also does anyone know or love the Yamaha?

Cheers all.

NB

I’d have the single KAD 44 all day long.
Singles are harder to find but are so much better in a boat of this size.
Cheaper on fuel (less drag) cheaper to service, easier to maintain. Twins on a boat this size are just too difficult to access.

 

[ChromeDome]

Merc V6 are 4.3 liter petrol engines...? If diesels could be VW or, more recently, Fiat/Chrysler based 3.0 liter... (not to my taste).
I think VW ceased deliveries in 2017.

The common drawback of all of them is the sterndrive, but if you get an S28 you can't avoid it.

 

[Momac]

I’d have the single KAD 44 all day long.
Singles are harder to find but are so much better in a boat of this size.
Cheaper on fuel (less drag) cheaper to service, easier to maintain. Twins on a boat this size are just too difficult to access.

Boat handling so much easier with twins
Plus the engine bay access on an S28 although snug is not too bad
picture from the internet

 

[volvopaul]

I have worked on many Sealine S28s with the AD31 and KAD 32 in and one with the single kad 43 , the service points are very easy on them all , I once replaced the sump on one without hiring in a crane , for river use I’d buy a single engine but for the coast definitely twins .

 

[Elessar]

Boat handling so much easier with twins
Plus the engine bay access on an S28 although snug is not too bad
picture from the internet
View attachment 181493

“Much easier” ? I disagree.

It makes very little difference with a single out drive or outboard and almost no difference at all with a duo prop out drive.

Agreed a single shaft needs a stern thruster.

Even then I’d go single up to about 35 ft.

 

[Elessar]

I have worked on many Sealine S28s with the AD31 and KAD 32 in and one with the single kad 43 , the service points are very easy on them all , I once replaced the sump on one without hiring in a crane , for river use I’d buy a single engine but for the coast definitely twins .

Good job we are not all the same and I respect your view Paul but I disagree.

Why drag an extra leg through the water and have all that extra drag for virtually no gain. Plus double the servicing cost.

 

[Elessar]

View attachment 181493

Good access front and top. Terrible access between the engines or outboard.
Single all day long!

 

[oldgit]

Straight line point to point, no problems with any single engine boat and the big plus of cheaper to maintain and service.

Problem , its a tiny weeny proportion of most folks boating.....

In the real world, 50% ? of boating time will be close quarters maneuvering out of your mooring in some tightly packed marina or boatyard , Owners of the boats you are most likely to collide with ( and marina staff) all taking an keen interest in the manner of your departure.
A set of twins gives you far more control over the boat as opposed to the nightmare of persuading a single engine boat (shaft or outdrive ) to go where you want it to, especially in that brisk breeze from the wrong direction that always appears as you undo the mooring lines.

Twins , more expensive to run, more expensive to mainatin , a PITA to service agreed, but more likely to get you home and less stress on the trip back worrying that you will get the boat back on the mooring without incident.

 

[Elessar]

Straight line point to point, no problems with any single engine boat and the big plus of cheaper to maintain and service.

Problem , its a tiny weeny proportion of most folks boating.....

In the real world, 50% ? of boating time will be close quarters maneuvering out of your mooring in some tightly packed marina or boatyard , Owners of the boats you are most likely to collide with ( and marina staff) all taking an keen interest in the manner of your departure.
A set of twins gives you far more control over the boat as opposed to the nightmare of persuading a single engine boat (shaft or outdrive ) to go where you want it to, especially in that brisk breeze from the wrong direction that always appears as you undo the mooring lines.

Twins , more expensive to run, more expensive to mainatin , a PITA to service agreed, but more likely to get you home and less stress on the trip back worrying that you will get the boat back on the mooring without incident.

Disagree OG. Twin outdrive gives very little manoeuvring benefit over a single. Almost none if duo prop. And none of the benefit is relevant if you have a bow thruster.

In fact if the person at the helm is inexperienced it’s worse. Takes a while to instinctively use the correct engine for manoeuvring. And of course you would generally only use one at a time.

Example of a benefit.
You are stern to and port side to a marina berth. You want to move out forwards whilst not risking dragging the fenders along the pontoon and them popping out.
Steer half a turn towards the finger.
Use the port engine (the one nearest the finger)
And the boat will move foward whilst moving away from and staying parallel to the berth.
Handy.

In the single you just steer towards the pontoon half a turn and dab the bow thruster right to get the same effect.

In a shaft boat of course you’d use the engine furthest from the pontoon and dab the bow thruster right.

But it’s not the huge benefit you state.

 

[SC35]

Good access front and top. Terrible access between the engines or outboard.
Single all day long!

Access outboard is actually good, although the photo doesn't show it.
I'd concede that access in between is tight.

But most S28 were not fitted with bow thrusters.
With twin KAD32 I didn't really need one - it spins easily just using engines.
With a single engine, you probably would.

Also ... SPEEEEEEED.
An S28 with twin KAD32 will hit 34kts, at least mine did.
Although a sensible cruise speed is more like 20-22kts, and the engines aren't working too hard at cruise.

And ... Resale.
Your S28 will most likely not be exit-level boating.
When you come to trade in or trade up, an S28 with twin KAD32 is the desirable choice that will sell quickly if in good condition.
The boat with twin Mercs or Yamahas will sit on the brokers lot for months/years.
Single KAD44 will sell if on a river location.

 

[Elessar]

Access outboard is actually good, although the photo doesn't show it.
I'd concede that access in between is tight.

But most S28 were not fitted with bow thrusters.
With twin KAD32 I didn't really need one - it spins easily just using engines.
With a single engine, you probably would.

Also ... SPEEEEEEED.
An S28 with twin KAD32 will hit 34kts, at least mine did.
Although a sensible cruise speed is more like 20-22kts, and the engines aren't working too hard at cruise.

And ... Resale.
Your S28 will most likely not be exit-level boating.
When you come to trade in or trade up, an S28 with twin KAD32 is the desirable choice that will sell quickly if in good condition.
The boat with twin Mercs or Yamahas will sit on the brokers lot for months/years.
Single KAD44 will sell if on a river location.

Agree you need a bow thruster.
And agree about desirability due to misconceptions and misinformation on here.
Single 44 will keep up with a twin 32 and use far less fuel. The drag of the extra leg is significant plus the weight saving. Smoother and quieter too.
A single 44 is not a river boat.

 

[New Boater]

I can feel a race coming on!!!