Is a Volvo worth 10% more

[DavidJ]

I am in the market for a Sealine S37 and there are a couple that I have seen of 1997 vintage which are in v.good condition and in my price range. However the one with Mercruiser 4.2L (220hp) with Bravo 2 leg is 10% cheaper than the one with Volvo KAD42 (230hp) and duoprop. Is the Volvo worth 10% more
Advice please
David

 

[longjohnsilver]

Have never had either, but many postings here about Volvos. I know several boats that have had Mercruisers and they seem to have had more problems than most, so mebbe the reason for price difference? The majotity seem to agree that Volvo best for outdrives, but still more likely to cause trouble when compared to a shaft drive boat.

 

[byron]

My mate is on his second Sealine 37, personally I think they're rubbish, they have as much room in them as a 27 footer and look like a jelly mould. His aren't outdrives they are shaft driven. I thought all 37s were shafts. Who knows about the price difference, maybe the Volvo one is in better nick, good tyres and not as much mileage.

©2001
www.education-jobs.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[c_j]

As far as I am aware the S37 is not and was never available on shafts. The reason the Mercruisers are cheaper is that when buying and selling these boats most people prefer to buy the bigger engine option because, well because they sell for more. I too was interested in an S37 and looked at several. One in particular was a mercruiser engined boat and it was on the market for ages and ages, in fact it was for sale 6 months before I eventually bought a boat and I noticed it still for sale fairly recently over eighteen months later. I htink that boat, in good condition would have been sold for under 90k

As for Byrons comment about space well that is I am afraid to say just not true. As you will be no doubt aware the big selling point about Sealine S37 is the enormouse amount of room you get in comparison to say a Targa 37.

But be careful, the word on the street is that these boats can be difficut to sell on unless you are upgrading with Sealine. They are considered (harshly in my opinion) not to be good "sea boats"

I do not know what your budget is but a 1997 S37 with Mercs would sell I would think for around 90k and a similar with 42's around 100k. 1998 boats would begin to be fitted with Kad 44's and you woud expect to pay £110k plus.

This is a subjet close to my heart as I know exactly the decisions you are having to make but have a look at Targa 39's and Princess V40's.



chris

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[Guest]

The S37 is not fitted with shafts only outdrives. The flybridge 37 is fitted with shafts. My S37 is fitted with 42's and it performs well and all the comments about the expense of Volvo spares are valid. When I was looking for a S37 I tried one with the Mercruisers and found it under powered in comparison and also I think that the duo props give better control and acceleration. The comments about the accomodation are right there is more room in an S37 than a Princess V40, but as others have said its not the prettiest boat in the world. It is not a bad sea boat it is just not as good as some of the Fairlines and Princesses but IMHO not as bad as some of those either. If you like it go for it but I would always choose a Volvo engined boat.

 

[c_j]

Sorry but I cannot agree regarding more room than a V40
True as I have already mentioned certainly more room than a Targa 37 but IMHO slightly less than a V40.


The body colours changed around 1998 so that the greeny/blue decals were dropped and a more attractive IMHO white introduced.

But before Fred Drift really bites the answer is that boats with best engine speck sell better, go better and are more desirable therefore the question is not really about mercs v volvo, it is about that extra 20 hp.

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[byron]

I am quite happy to bow to superior knowledge on the matter of shafts/outdrives. All I want to know is what Sealine 37 am I thinking of because both of my mate's 37 are shaft driven. As regards "not being a good sea boat" this is one thing he is quite happy about. I still say it is a 'small' 37, compare the accomodation with say a Broom 37 and one will be forced to agree.

©2001
www.education-jobs.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by byron on Fri Oct 26 09:58:17 2001 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[DavidJ]

Thanks for your replies. Chris, within £5k you have the starting prices exactly right. I've not seen a 1998 with KAD44 below £130k so out of my league I'm afraid. 'Jelly mould'?, after my Sealine 240 the S37 seems quite conventional, I luv 'em. Colin, the control aspect of duoprop is interesting since I had not expected there to be too much inflence with a twin prop boat.
Seems like the Volvo's win
thanks and any further comments very welcome
David

 

[kimhollamby]

Byron, your friend has an F37, the flybridge version. Same as Calm Voyager and close relation of the F36 Missing Link that I took around Britain. Hull is the same as the outdrive sportscruiser S36/S37/Ambassador 360 and it works well at sea in both forms in my opinion.

It is, as you say, a much smaller volume model than 'equivalent' 37s and 38s...Broom 37 and Princess 360/380 being three examples.

 

[byron]

Thanks Kim for clarifying that. I was obviously misled by the prefix.

©2001
www.education-jobs.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[c_j]

Look, maybe I misunderstand but how can you compare targa style open sportsboat with a flybridge/aft cabin boat.

The statement "It is, as you say, a much smaller volume model than 'equivalent' 37s and 38s...Broom 37 and Princess 360/380 being three examples." is like saying to someone who is choosing between a 911 turbo and a Ferrari 355 that there is more room in VW Camper Van. It may be usefull for him to know that a Lotus ***** is more spacious, but not the camper.

David has obviously decided that a sports cruiser is what he wants and now he is trying to find out what the compromise is because you just get loads more space in a S37 than you do in a Fairline Targa 37. Not only that but you save 30 Grand as well, and if you go for the Merc engined you probably save 40k for what is actually a very good looking and spacious sports cruiser.

See you

Chris


CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[jfm]

Re: in support of Kim!

Kim was indeed telling the buyer of 355 or 911 that a camper van A is bigger than camper van B (though he was not "comparing" fb with sports cruiser as your 1st para accused) and was therefore fred drifting I spose. But hey, it was probably the slightest case of fred drift ever to have occurred in these parts. Considering what the rest of us do in the fred drifting department I hardly think we should flame him!!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Broom 37's were given their moniker before the industry generally agreed to name boats on their loa. If a Broom 37 were produced today it would be called a 42 or similar. Having owned both a S37 and Broom 37 I agree there is absolutely no comparison between them. Perhaps your mate has a F37? Despite its size this has a good reputation as a sea boat; just ask Kim Hollamby who took one around the UK

 

[c_j]

Flaming Kim

NO Flaming intended but

All I was trying to do was point out that the question was not Flybridge Vs Sportscruiser but Sportscruiser vs Sportscruiser. There is no harm in drifting, in fact many of my most pleasent memories (sorry thats another story) but if a post is written in an attempt to clarify the situation then I feel obliged to comment when IMHO it does not.

I did wrestle with this exact same problem and know exactly the issues David is struggling with.
I was pleased to see Deleted User join the fray because Mike sold an exceptional S37 a while ago and knows the boat and the market well.


Cheers

Chris (I flamed Kimhollamby) Suttle




CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[kimhollamby]

Re: Flaming Kim

Not even remotely singed this end...merely responding to Byron's comments about his friend's (F)37.

In fact there's a good argument for ignoring the flybridge Sealine (comment of course ignoring the fact that it was never on the agenda in the first place) and taking its sportscruiser equivalent if you want good cabin space. The second sleeping cabin on the flybridge F37 is small with no room to sit up in bed, even for someone of compact proportions whereas the S37 boasts a much larger second cabin that also plays host to a huge storage locker.

Driving for even greater focus on the original question, vast majority of Sealines (for the UK/near European market) fitted with Volvo Penta engines and alternatives are relatively rare. Some 360 Ambassadors were fitted with the Yamaha diesel sterndrive which was a great package but the Yen took prices out of bounds and that was that. Mercruiser made some inroads, but never seriously in terms of total numbers built. Boat markets always tend towards the common denominator, so the fact that Volvo Penta is the majority fit = less rare boat = easier sell = higher prices, sometimes even irrespective of performance considerations.

Has that brought my contribution back on track?

 

[c_j]

Re: Flaming Kim

Perfectly on track but I notice that this is a rare occasion on this forum when the Princess/Fairline/Sunseeker brigade of which I admit to being part of, do not wade in with comments regarding the Sea worthiness of their boats in comparison to Sealine. Does this mean that Gerard Wainwright at Sealine has increased the standing of the boats to an extent where this is no longer such an issue particularly with the S37 which is generally considered a good boat.

Chris

CJ
chris@stone.uk.com

 

[kimhollamby]

Re: Golden nuggets

Whilst it has been further developed in his era the 350/360/36/37 hull of course predates Gerard Wainright, so credit would have to be given to the original design team which included founding chairman Tom Murrant.

To a certain extent every manufacturer has its golden nuggets and in Sealine's case I'd put my vote on this hull for sure. Also recently used a 410 for two weeks and was very impressed with the way that handled some emotional conditions; bit hard to move back to the F37 afterwards but that is size and weight for you. Twice tried to climb inside Calm Voyager's cocktail cabinet thinking I was heading for the 410's aft cabin. Ho hum.

What are the golden nuggets in other manufacturers' ranges (Bayliner included, they have them too)? Subject for another thread perhaps?

Don't believe any manufacturer has the perfect range - some of course manage better consistency than others.

 

[hamadi]

Re: Flaming Kim

I have serious doubts regarding the reliability of Yamaha stern drives. My Gulf Craft Ambassador 36 is fitted with twin Yamaha ME 421stip. Drives build excessive metal debris from internal parts heavy wear. First "repair" under guarantee has been charged, dealer claims that internal parts are like new on one drive. 65 hours later (9 months later) same problem again. Local dealer in Tunisia (INDUSTRIA) is not concerned by guarantee since the drives were purchased from another dealer, Yamaha Motors in Japan (Mr. Tatsumi and Mr Nishizumi) just avoid replying to my mails. I'm taking legal action...

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[alpha]

Re: Flaming Kim

Why not buy an older boat with shafts and proper engines (ie without 'Volvo' on them)???

Choose wisely and you'll get more room, better sea-keeping, and nicer lines, and, of course, close-quarters handling that doesn't involve an insurance claim every time you try to raft up...

Only a thought...

(retires to safe distance...)

<hr width=100% size=1>