Looking at buying Sealine S23...any tips?

[Chi Man]

Hi All

Been boat less for 18 months or so and am now looking buying a Sealine 23, some viewings set up for next week. Any tips on what to look out for? Any known faults etc? They all seem to have same engine Volvo KAD32 , from the pictures I have seen just a case of which one has been best looked after and serviced etc prices seem to range £39,000 to £42,000. I would be grateful for advice/comments

 

[Montemar]

If it has been serviced and well looked after should not give any problems. The canopy may show signs of wear especially where the metal frame rubs on the clear plastic.

 

[SC35]

Mostly good boats.
No general faults apart from where someone has decided to drive it like an offshore racer into an F6 and generated some cracks, but this is easily found by inspection.
KAD32 is a great engine, I have owned three of them. Check the turbo housing and exhaust pipe is in good shape, DP Drive should have no emulsion in the oil.

It's all about the condition !

 

[QBhoy]

Hi. They used to be a little cheaper than that I’d think. Anything into the 40’s and I’d be wanting the newer s25 version of the same boat.
lovely boats. Nice finish and fittings. Great hull in rough chop, but down side of that is that the narrow deep v can also be a little easily unsettled by the slightest weight transfer or passenger movements/seating position within the boat and when under way. Tabs are frequently requiring constant adjustments.
Make sure the turbo has had a refurb at some point too. If it hasn’t…it will soon. Exhaust elbow should have or will need replaced too.
Make sure the supercharger is doing what it’s meant to also. If it has to stay engaged in a prolonged manner, or appears to re engage when getting on the plane…it’s a sure indication that the turbo is on its way out.

 

[Momac]

The s25'smay have the later d3 engine which I would avoid .

I moved up from a S23 which I had owned 6 years and did about 600 hours to a F33 (in 2014) so still have kad32 engines . The present twin engines are on about 970 hours total of which about 770hrs are down to me.
I had an intermittent electrical fault on the kad32 on the S23 which after much searching and wasted expenses was a simple and free fix.
The supercharger clutch on kad engines can pack up but I have not had that yet.

Since 2008 over two boats and 1500 hours
I had one raw water pump requiring a new seal - no big deal
One turbo refurbished - not so cheap
Hour meter displays replaced recently
Starter key switch replaced (which didn't cure the fault at that time)

No other engine or outdrive issues that I can think of.

I would suggest having a survey if paying that sort of money

 

[Frederick911]

The s25'smay have the later d3 engine which I would avoid .

Do you mean earlier D3 ? The later D3 (2012) from my experience has been superb last 5 years very economical, powerful and trouble free.

 

[Momac]

I meant the engine that was later than the kad32
So yes the earlier of two engines confusingly called D3
The S25 was not made in the same era as the 2012 onwards D3 which is completely different.

 

[Frederick911]

Makes sense. Annoyingly the D3 does get bas press, agreed the earlier version did have known issues, the later last version honestly for me has been great.

 

[Momac]

S23 Engine bay

 

[ontheplane]

Remarkably clean

Either a massively good sign - OR it's had to be extensively cleaned as there was an issue? I mean it looks like you could eat off that bilge

 

[Momac]

Remarkably clean

Either a massively good sign - OR it's had to be extensively cleaned as there was an issue? I mean it looks like you could eat off that bilge

I would not eat my dinner off the bilge as it would make a mess that would then have to be cleaned up.
There was no issue . It's just that I like to keep a clean engine bay .

Here is my present boats engine bay taken about a year ago

 

[SC35]

It's not just the engine bay, it's the coolant expansion tanks that contain green liquid.
As opposed to brown rusty liquid.

 

[Momac]

It's not just the engine bay, it's the coolant expansion tanks that contain green liquid.
As opposed to brown rusty liquid.

On the F33 as pictured I had removed and cleaned the expansion tanks and coolant replaced not too log before the photograph.

But yes staining of the expansion tanks is commonly seen on the kad32's . The expansion tanks have baffles inside that are effective in trapping crud so I think some staining is likely to be seen and is not necessarily indicating a problem other than possible lack of attention to coolant changes. I confess to having left it too long on the F33 . So I have spent a while flushing out the cooling system (with water) prior to the new coolant . So hopefully now have it all relatively clean. I will be paying attention to more frequent coolant changes in future.

 

[DavidJ]

I would not eat my dinner off the bilge as it would make a mess that would then have to be cleaned up.
There was no issue . It's just that I like to keep a clean engine bay .

Here is my present boats engine bay taken about a year ago
View attachment 149015

That is a thing of beauty and envy. Also you have a massive space in front of your engines. I’m surprised that the designers didn’t hog more of it for extra cabin space.

 

[Momac]

That is a thing of beauty and envy. Also you have a massive space in front of your engines. I’m surprised that the designers didn’t hog more of it for extra cabin space.

The Sealine F33 was designed to take 6 cylinder engines (AD41's) . The space is really useful for access for any work and really helps with keeping the engine bay clean. A quick wipe over takes only a few minutes . I am sure there are some grubby bits in those inevitable hard to reach spaces .

 

[DavidJ]

The Sealine F33 was designed to take 6 cylinder engines (AD41's) . The space is really useful for access for any work and really helps with keeping the engine bay clean. A quick wipe over takes only a few minutes . I am sure there are some grubby bits in those inevitable hard to reach spaces .

Ah! makes sense
My S37 with KAD43’s is so close to the bulk head I had to cut an inch off my impeller puller to get it in. Also my excuse for having a grubby engine bay.

 

[Momac]

My S37 with KAD43’s is so close to the bulk head I had to cut an inch off my impeller puller to get it in.

While I can sit in front of the engines to replace an impeller

 

[Chi Man]

Hi All

Been boat less for 18 months or so and am now looking buying a Sealine 23, some viewings set up for next week. Any tips on what to look out for? Any known faults etc? They all seem to have same engine Volvo KAD32 , from the pictures I have seen just a case of which one has been best looked after and serviced etc prices seem to range £39,000 to £42,000. I would be grateful for advice/comments

Thanks for all your tips and advice, pleased to say I found a good example and picked her up today.

 

[ontheplane]

Photos ??? We need Photos !!

 

[Chi Man]

Made it back from Swanwick to Chi Marina yesterday, the only decent weather/wind window for a few weeks ! The boat performs well, around 20 to 23 knots averaged, needs a scrub so not bad. Trim tabs were not too responsive, may need looking at, few jobs to do and a generally good clean and valet. Will certainly look at bow thruster end of the year. My skipper/instructor was brilliant and I am having another couple of days tuition to get day skipper licence. He showed me quite a few tricks for close quarters manoeuvring, realised what I had been doing wrong for the last few years !