Experience with Volvo Penta engines?

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SteveDH

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Dear all,

We're currently looking at up-sizing into a Sealine / Fairline 37/38 sports cruiser dated somewhere between 2004 and 2007, and see that these boats were fitted with a wide variety of Volvo Penta engines (KAD42's, 43's, 44's, 300's, D4's, D6's etc).

We'll only be using her on the Thames so performance is not an issue, but I'm hoping to get some advice as to which engines would be happiest and most reliable at idling river speeds, as coming from a 30ft cruiser with a small diesel on a shaft, the potential cost of keeping 2 big engines with outdrives running is a scary prospect!

What engine choice is likely to return the best reliability for our usage?

Thanks in advance!

Steve
 
SteveDH said:
Dear all,

We're currently looking at up-sizing into a Sealine / Fairline 37/38 sports cruiser dated somewhere between 2004 and 2007, and see that these boats were fitted with a wide variety of Volvo Penta engines (KAD42's, 43's, 44's, 300's, D4's, D6's etc).

We'll only be using her on the Thames so performance is not an issue, but I'm hoping to get some advice as to which engines would be happiest and most reliable at idling river speeds, as coming from a 30ft cruiser with a small diesel on a shaft, the potential cost of keeping 2 big engines with outdrives running is a scary prospect!

What engine choice is likely to return the best reliability for our usage?

Thanks in advance!

Steve
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As an engineer the engine you don’t really need is the KAD 44 or 300 for low speed river use due to the rocker shaft and arms not getting good lubrication at low rpm , all the others are good .
 
volvopaul said:
As an engineer the engine you don’t really need is the KAD 44 or 300 for low speed river use due to the rocker shaft and arms not getting good lubrication at low rpm , all the others are good .
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Thanks Paul - I was kind of hoping you'd comment. :o)

I'm not sure where you're based ... could you cover an engine survey at the Thames and Kennet if we progress things?

Best regards

Steve
 
petem said:
For river use would it not be better to avoid supercharged engines if possible (all other things being equal)?
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I'd be happier with a supercharged D4 or D6 for river use because the supercharger seems to only kick in when accelerating or going past 1500rpm.
My KAD32 seemed to engage the supercharger much earlier.

D4/D6 are also quieter and smoother, no smoke on startup. Complex electronics and electronic gear shifters mean that repairs can be ££££ if they do go wrong, though.

.
 
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If only using at low speed on the Thames I would steer clear of outdrives, not the best option for low speed running and your props will likely get damaged too.
 
MartynG said:
Something was wrong with it.
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Well, no, it's also due to gearing and the D-series being lower revving.
Point being, I can make good progress against the tide without engaging the supercharger being engaged with two D4-260s.
I only end up using them to get up onto the plane.

With two KAD32s, I was mostly in the supercharger engagement range if I was against the tide.
 
Hi Steve

I have a 2006 Broom 39KL with 2 x D6 310s. I have had her on the sea in the Isle of Man for several years and over on the River Shannon in Ireland for the last 3-4 years. I have no issues running the engines at low revs. They are great engines, very quiet, smooth and smoke free. I do, however, try to run her at full revs occasionally (which we can do on the lakes on the Shannon - not so easy on the Thames unless you head down the estuary I accept!). I was advised by my original surveyor (and assume VolvoPaul would say the same) that large engines don't particularly love being run forever at low revs.

The only fault I ever had with the engines in 300 hours was a faulty ECU unit on the port engine while heading out to sea one day. I left my berth, all going fine. As I exited the harbour, the port engine stopped responding but stayed running. After lots of trouble shooting, the faulty ECU was diagnosed. £1,000 later I had a new unit and I was back in business! Which reminds me, if anyone wants a faulty ECU unit for a D6, I have one in a box somewhere!

Best of luck with your decisions. Not sure if you considered Brooms (there are plenty on the Thames). I can highly recommend, great boats and loads of space. Cant beat the aft cabin. I assume if you are looking at sports cruisers, you won't like the styling of an aft cabin, but the Brooms are highly desirable and if you spend time on one, you will never go back to a sports cruiser (at least in British weather IMHO!).

Tom
 
FlowerPower said:
Well, no, it's also due to gearing and the D-series being lower revving.
Point being, I can make good progress against the tide without engaging the supercharger being engaged with two D4-260s.
I only end up using them to get up onto the plane.

With two KAD32s, I was mostly in the supercharger engagement range if I was against the tide.
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That's not what you said earlier
You indicated the superchargers were in at much lower than 1500rpm
My kad32 superchargers cut in a bit above 1500rpm which I believe to be correct.

Against a tide whether the superchargers are in or not depends how fast the tide is an how fast you want to go.
 
MartynG said:
That's not what you said earlier
You indicated the superchargers were in at much lower than 1500rpm
My kad32 superchargers cut in a bit above 1500rpm which I believe to be correct.
Against a tide whether the superchargers are in or not depends how fast the tide is an how fast you want to go.
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The exact rpm figures really aren't the point.
On the S28, I think the superchargers kicked in slightly below 1500rpm on mine.
On the S28, we frequently ended up in the 1500rpm zone coming back in against the tide, with the superchargers whirring away.

SC35 with D4-260s, this simply doesn't happen.
The superchargers seem to kick in later - exactly what "later" is I shall look at more closely next time I am out, but they only seem to engage when getting onto the plane.

Speeds in both cases would be maybe 6-7kts through the water.
 
FlowerPower said:
The exact rpm figures really aren't the point.
On the S28, I think the superchargers kicked in slightly below 1500rpm on mine.
On the S28, we frequently ended up in the 1500rpm zone coming back in against the tide, with the superchargers whirring away.

SC35 with D4-260s, this simply doesn't happen.
The superchargers seem to kick in later - exactly what "later" is I shall look at more closely next time I am out, but they only seem to engage when getting onto the plane.

Speeds in both cases would be maybe 6-7kts through the water.[/QUOTE

The super chargers on the D range cut in as and when required based on load , throttle position , demand etc so basically if it’s needed it gets it, play with the levers gently and they won’t cut in.
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