help wanted. Take two!

[Chris_d]

Re: Diesel engines

Ignoring all the other arguments it comes down money and avaliabilty in the end:

-Diesel £1/gallon avaliable anywhere
-Petrol £4/gallon bring your own!

LPG is still a none starter really unless you do all your boating on the South coast, most people just accept the extra cost and opt for diesels.

 

[Guest]

Re: Hola Amigos! (sfx:guitars please...)

tan usted un poco espaol. Qu usted sabe sobre el edificio del barco de Argentina?

Buenos dias

 

[Observer]

Re: Diesel engines

I agree that location and/or expected usage can make petrol a non-starter (pun intended). But are there not many boats around (I guess the south coast probably has a significant proportion of the total poulation) which could be/have been petrol engined without much, if any, loss of convenience and, notwithstanding higher price per gallon, at lower overall cost of ownership (taking in purchase cost, service costs, depreciation etc)?

Looking back at 5 years ownership, I can't say I wouldn't have been able to make any trip I actually did make if I had petrol instead of diesel.

 

[Chris_d]

Re: Diesel engines

I couldn't agree more, but because of the cost most of these boats only get used as weekenders. when you want to travel further the cost suddenly becomes very off putting, e.g quick blast over to Bembridge say, cost in petrol £50, cost in diesel
£10 or for £50 in diesel we could go to France and make a proper holiday of it.
When you are stumping up at the pump you tend to forget the lower capital outlay, service costs etc.. its hurting there and then and eating into your beer fund !

 

[hlb]

Re: Diesel engines

As we have said before. At 33ft and £100 plus grand. It is hardly a starter boat. So most buyers are going to be at least partly seasoned travelers. My last P33. Was blamming over to Ireland, Scotland and Wales every other week. Yes I'd learned the hard way with a V8 petrol American thingy. Try going for 100-200 gallons of fuel. With a jerry can!! And thats if you have money to burn. We used 600 gallon of diesel on one holiday. Pottering round Ireland. That cost around £600 would have been nearer 5 grand in a petrol boat. But in any case. The petrol boat would have only made it half way round cos the rest of the time would be in taxi's with the jerry can.
Next time I see a petrol bus or truck. I'll be convinced of your argument.


<font color=blue>
No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer<font color=blue>




Haydn

 

[hlb]

Re: Diesel engines

As we have said before. At 33ft and £100 plus grand. It is hardly a starter boat. So most buyers are going to be at least partly seasoned travellers. My last P33. Was blamming over to Ireland, Scotland and Wales every other week. Yes I'd learned the hard way with a V8 petrol American thingy. Try going for 100-200 gallons of fuel. With a jerry can!! And thats if you have money to burn. We used 600 gallon of diesel on one holiday. Pottering round Ireland. That cost around £600 would have been nearer 5 grand in a petrol boat. But in any case. The petrol boat would have only made it half way round cos the rest of the time would be in taxi's with the jerry can.
Next time I see a petrol bus or truck. I'll be convinced of your argument.



<font color=blue>
No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer<font color=blue>




Haydn

 

[Observer]

I heard you first time

It's not really an argument (not strongly held anyway). It's just reading the article on the website I mentioned. Written by somebody who appears knowledgeable and has no apparent axe to grind. It made me think - and qustion previous assumptions.

In your case I completely see your point. My point is that there appears to be many others, perhaps me included, who could have save up front cost by going for a petrol engine (not that it was an option), lower maintenance costs, longer life. Possibly higher fuel cost but an LPG conversion redresses the balance (and has dual fuel/redundancy advantage?). But so many don't. Accepting the practicality and cost arguments, there is still, it seems to me, an inherent bias in favour of diesel - on grounds of reliability, safety, longevity, economy - which, it appears, are more imagined than real.

If I had to re-engine (God forbid), I think I would look very seriously at a petrol/LPG installation.

 

[hlb]

Re: I heard you first time

Ok. You win. Import the bloody thing and see if anyone wants it. I thought you had come here for opinions on what would sell! I dont need a lecture on the benifits of petrol.

You wanted our views. You have got them. On a smaller boat there is good arguement. But cant see this as a go'er IMHO.

<font color=blue>
No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer<font color=blue>




Haydn

 

[Chris_d]

Re: I heard you first time

Dave Pasco who wrote that article is of course talking from the US, over there petrol is avaliable waterside everwhere and costs the same if not less than Diesel.
That comletely change your perspective, they give you a funny look if you enquire for Diesel, much like they run for a fire extinguisher over here and treat you like your not a serious sailor.
And yes they even have petrol buses and trucks over there.

 

[Observer]

Re: I heard you first time

Haydn

Bit touchy I think - and you confuse me with the chap who started this thread. I'm not looking to flog them and certainly wouldn't buy one.

I thought we were discussing the petrol v diesel question, particularly on smaller boats (<35ft).

 

[Guest]

Re: I heard you first time

Ah yes,

It was me that started the thread not your man 'observer' Sorry the petrol/diesel thing all got a bit heated, I didn't offer an opinion because I don't have any experience of tracking down fuel pumps at pontoons.

Again, I am not looking to import the boats, only to find out what you boat people thought of the spec and report back..honest!

Anyway, thanks again for your comments.
Brian Short

 

[hlb]

Re: I heard you first time

Yes. Sorry for the confusion. But your arguement sounded very much like you were selling some thing. Petrol could be an option on say 20 odd ft. But over 30 and you come into what is expected to be a cruising boat with capability to match.
Now take my wife Tutts. She likes a small car, but wants it a bit posh. She never goes antwhere in it. So a two gallon fuel tank would be quite ok. But if VW were to offer a car with Two gallon fuel tank. We'd think there off there rockers.
Same thing with petrol. Your looking for a customer. Well not you. Him. Well anyway. Got to find a knowlagable customer who knows he's not going anywhere before he buys the boat.
Not real life. Most folk think there going to go miles and miles every week. But then maybe dont have the time they thought they did.

Oh and I'm not touchy at all. Just a bit worried about that Jimmy bloke/woman.

And no. did not think we were discusing petrol V Diesel. Thought we were discussing whether this boat would sell in present format.

<font color=blue>
No one can force me to come here.<font color=red> I'm a volunteer<font color=blue>




Haydn