KAD 32 in a four winds, is it worth a buy?

[SolentPhill]

friend of mine looking at a Four Winns 248 Vista DIESEL anyone know good or bad about them, I know one of the smaller 32 or early 3 series engines had a problem but was it that one? May have been on bigger boats as it was not enough power for the boats they were put in.

any advice would be passed on

 

[scottie]

There was a 6cyl peugot engine that Volvo used in 70s that was not that great with top end use aq/md32 but I suspect you are referring to a later 4 cyl engine kad32a which most people would say is a great unit which is Volvo own marine only engine has turbo and supercharger.
Unfortunately Volvo also decided to marinise the d3 car engine about 8 years ago it must have cost them a fortune in warranty claims in replaced engines alone.

So early 32 now past sell by date ok in rev limited (3000) installations
Kad32 one of the best marine engines ever for sports boats about 25ft
D3 best have a spare waiting

Don't know about the mark2 d3

 

[rafiki_]

KAD 32 in a 4 winds sounds like a good prospect. Was the engine fitted OE or as a replacement for a petrol? If the latter, how good is the installation?

Neale of this parish fitted one to a Bayliner with a great deal of success, and so he might be able to give some pointers?

 

[beejay190]

D3 best have a spare waiting

Don't know about the mark2 d3

2 x D3 160 in my Bav 29 ( 360 hours ) ; 2 x D3 160 in the S29 berthed next to me ; 2 x D3
in a friend's Windy Ghibli - all three boats running fine.

Anyone know of a serious engine problem with a D3 recently ?

 

[Momac]

friend of mine looking at a Four Winns 248 Vista DIESEL anyone know good or bad about them, I know one of the smaller 32 or early 3 series engines had a problem but was it that one? May have been on bigger boats as it was not enough power for the boats they were put in.

any advice would be passed on

I have a similar sized boat ,Sealine S23, with the kad32 engine and it has been reliable over 500 hours with me. No engine or sterndrive parts required other than normal service items.
Service every 100 hours.
We are on fresh water.

 

[volvopaul]

friend of mine looking at a Four Winns 248 Vista DIESEL anyone know good or bad about them, I know one of the smaller 32 or early 3 series engines had a problem but was it that one? May have been on bigger boats as it was not enough power for the boats they were put in.

any advice would be passed on

I recently did survey of engine and drive and general check on one, he recently part exed it for a sealine t60 , massive jump with sun seeker, I wonderif it's the same one as there were very few about with the kad 32 fitted.

 

[SolentPhill]

I recently did survey of engine and drive and general check on one, he recently part exed it for a sealine t60 , massive jump with sun seeker, I wonderif it's the same one as there were very few about with the kad 32 fitted.

doubt it this is a one owner boat.

Thanks everyone will tell him the good news

 

[landlockedpirate]

I had the slightly bigger Four Winns 268 with the 5.7Gsi V8 petrol.

Excellent boat, no issues at all over 4 years of ownership since new. I agree with the others it will be a KAD32 if original installaton. Used the same engine in a Aquador 23HT, perfect application if a little noisy under the hard top.

I have 1 word of caution, having sea trialed a KAD32 powered 248 when they were new, they are not very 'sporty'. Performance was OK, but it really needed another 50hp to make it come alive. You do of course get huge benefits in running costs.

 

[[2068]]

KAD32 is an engine with a very good reputation. I have two of them, 800hrs+, nothing major has happened (yet).

Usual outdrive caveats apply: get VolvoPaul to check them out before purchase

 

[CX54WEK]

Another thumbs up for the KAD32. Ours has run many many hours under our ownership with no trouble what so ever.

Our boat is about the same size as what you are looking at (Sealine S23) so performance shouldnt be too disimilar. It isnt lightening quick but will cruise at 25 knots all day long (or until the fuel runs out) and tops out at 30 knots.

The only time we do struggle with ours is with we have it heavily loaded and the dinghy and outboard on the back. It could do with another 50 horse power for those trips but ordinarily it is a great engine and well matched to the size of boat.

Check it has been well maintained though and the drive as well. It is more likely the drive than the engine which will let you down.

 

[neale]

Yet another thumbs up for the KAD32. Fitted one to my 25 foot Bayliner so HP went from original 230 petrol to 170 diesel but boat still hit 30 knots flat out. Would cruise happily at around 25 knots at a tad over 3000 rpm, which is the most economical fast speed for this engine. Once you go above 3000 the fuel curve climbs steeply.

No problems with the engine in 6 years of ownership apart from a leaking water pump seal which was no biggie.

The only down side was the noise of the supercharger. It meant that you couldn't really cruise at anything between around 1200rpm and 2300 rpm from memory. So we were either going 8 knots or 18 knots. On the plus side the supercharger really improves pick up performance. I have a couple of AD31's now, the KAD32 without the supercharger, and the pick up is very slow in comparison.

 

[CX54WEK]

2 x D3 160 in my Bav 29 ( 360 hours ) ; 2 x D3 160 in the S29 berthed next to me ; 2 x D3
in a friend's Windy Ghibli - all three boats running fine.

Anyone know of a serious engine problem with a D3 recently ?

Would you count needing a new turbo after 100 hours use a serious problem?

ETA; Or a new engine sensor that started playing up on the Humber leading to a few issues?

 

[beejay190]

Would you count needing a new turbo after 100 hours use a serious problem?

ETA; Or a new engine sensor that started playing up on the Humber leading to a few issues?

Certainly a new turbo after 100 hours use is serious stuff. Are turbo problems restricted to D series engines?
All D series engines have sensors that may play up from time to time. Is that
not the same with cars?

As i intimated in my earlier post - i and two others have D3 engines of a 2004/2005 vintage in our boats that are running fine - so i object to the stupid remark by the poster
who stated "D3- carry a spare engine".

Oh yes, S23/KAD32 great little boat.