Falcon 22 Newbie advice please

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Jay C

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Hi all,
Brand new greeny here and first time posting so please bear with me.
I'm looking at purchasing a Falcon 22 with a Volvo Penta AQ151 146hp petrol engine.
Can any please advise me whether this is a good and reliable engine, and the niggles and things to look out for with the Boat itself?

Thanks in advance
 
The engine you mention has an aluminium cylinder head and a cast iron water cooled exhaust manifold. These engines were notorious fow water leaking from the exhaust manifold into the rear cylinder.Also has a belt driven camshaft 😬
Due to the poor design and fixing of the cooling system water pipe unions raw water can easily drip/leak, This allows raw water onto the cambelt tensioner and pulleys corroding them wearing the teeth on the cambelt. they also stalled regularly when cold unless you kept the revs up during warm -up.
They also needed to be thoroughly warmed up before pulling away as the did not have a choke for cold starts.
They are a particularly noisy high revving engine and under powered for the boat.
You would find the V6 205hp volvo far better suited to the boat lower revving, a choke for cold starting, smoother running and much quieter.
I worked for a dealer during the boats hey days
We never ordered a stock boat with that engine always a V6 or V8
Great starter boat .
Get a Volvo tech to check out engine and drive make sure his familiar with your engine/drive choice.
 
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Great boat, but spend on survey and engine and drive survey , it could save you thousands later, where are you based.
 
stelican said:
always a V6 or V8
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In that kinda boat, that's where my money would go if it's petrol. Much more dependable units in my humble experience.. I guess the 151 if it was just pottering up and down a canal/inland river would be ok, but too much aggro for hard use at its age now..
 
I remember seeing a Falcon 22 in Wroxham around 84 or 86 , it was tucked up a little inlet , we had a Shetland Black Hawk , I nearly cum when I saw the Falcon.
 
stelican said:
The engine you mention has an aluminium cylinder head and a cast iron water cooled exhaust manifold. These engines were notorious fow water leaking from the exhaust manifold into the rear cylinder.Also has a belt driven camshaft 😬
Due to the poor design and fixing of the cooling system water pipe unions raw water can easily drip/leak, This allows raw water onto the cambelt tensioner and pulleys corroding them wearing the teeth on the cambelt. they also stalled regularly when cold unless you kept the revs up during warm -up.
They also needed to be thoroughly warmed up before pulling away as the did not have a choke for cold starts.
They are a particularly noisy high revving engine and under powered for the boat.
You would find the V6 205hp volvo far better suited to the boat lower revving, a choke for cold starting, smoother running and much quieter.
I worked for a dealer during the boats hey days
We never ordered a stock boat with that engine always a V6 or V8
Great starter boat .
Get a Volvo tech to check out engine and drive make sure his familiar with your engine/drive choice.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your advice. I rang up a Volvo Matine Engineers earlier today and they said it's a very old engine and the component parts appear to be obsolete for many bits of the engine. Such a shame as it's a beautiful boat. This leaves me thinking this may not be the perfect starter boat as it's too much of a risk.
Can you offer any advice on a boat make, model that is a safer option?
We're looking for a 4 berth, ideally coastal cruising abilities but again I'm starting to think this may be out of our budget which is 12k.
 
It doesn't make alot of difference regarding boat model it's the size, budget and requirements that are your problem.
Taking those into consideration you are in a minefield!
Try and find a Falcon 23 with a V6 with a good service history and have surveys which will cost £1k
Alternatives Fairline Sprint or maybe Sealine
 
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Jay C said:
Thank you for your advice. I rang up a Volvo Matine Engineers earlier today and they said it's a very old engine and the component parts appear to be obsolete for many bits of the engine. Such a shame as it's a beautiful boat. This leaves me thinking this may not be the perfect starter boat as it's too much of a risk.
Can you offer any advice on a boat make, model that is a safer option?
We're looking for a 4 berth, ideally coastal cruising abilities but again I'm starting to think this may be out of our budget which is 12k.
Click to expand...

Same size and budget. Start looking at Fairline 21 sprint or 24 Carrera.
 
You may find a Seamastrr 30 in your budget with diesel engines. Huge accomodation and a reasonable sea boat, although displacement speed only. I know one that had twin 115hp Volvo petrols that topped out at 25 knots but I believe that was unique.
 
PCUK said:
You may find a Seamastrr 30 in your budget with diesel engines. Huge accomodation and a reasonable sea boat, although displacement speed only. I know one that had twin 115hp Volvo petrols that topped out at 25 knots but I believe that was unique.
Click to expand...
Was that the fly bridge version?
 
Jay C said:
Hi all,
Brand new greeny here and first time posting so please bear with me.
I'm looking at purchasing a Falcon 22 with a Volvo Penta AQ151 146hp petrol engine.
Can any please advise me whether this is a good and reliable engine, and the niggles and things to look out for with the Boat itself?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Unless you really want petrol, I'd choose diesel for the reduced running costs and availability.
 
I'd also decide exactly what type of cruising you'll be doing, and where the boat will be kept.
I went through the same exercise as you but inland waters only. It took about 2yrs of thorough research to find what was best. Ideally I wanted a canal barge - did the NYA Helmsman Course, went on a couple of holidays then visited a couple of marinas nearby. One had plenty of GRP cruisers so discovered plenty within my budget. So...here I am 200 miles away in Norfolk with a lovely 30yr+ 4 berth diesel cruiser.
It's a 'low wash' 24ft that sips diesel - the 100ltr tank will last nearly 2 seasons. It's similar to the Falcon you liked too - in fact they used the pattern to make 'yours' but changed the hull. Also a sea type hull is not ideal at slow speeds as you be forever adjusting the steering. It'll be great at sea though.🛥️😀
 
I once had a new Conway 26 with twin Volvo 130 petrol engines, I believe parts for them are more easily available, the build quality was superb, very thirsty at 25 mph, went from Hollyhead to Dublin (about 30 miles) and used 30 gallons of petrol, In 1975 petrol was 3 gallons for £1. After that I bought diesel boats.
 
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