Marine diesel service intervals

[Richard.C]

I've just started looking to purchase a used motor boat. The short list currently has boats with mostly volvo diesels ranging from around 400 hrs up to 1200 hrs.

Is there minor and major servicing recommend on these at certain operating hrs and is there a resource to look up requirements for certain engine models.

Just thinking I might need to allow for this if a boat was due a costly major service on it's twin diesels.

Thanks

Richard

 

[Andy Bav]

Shafts or legs ?

We have legs on Volvo D4s and when we were in a similar position to you, we were told we should allow for a annual 100 hr engine service, and every second year an engine + leg service. The former from a main dealer was c£1500 last year, bumped up to around £2,000 including antifoul etc, the latter this year we were quoted well over twice that, but our warranties have now expired so a well respected / recommended local engineer, is doing the "big" 200 hour service (and antifoul) for c£2,000 including craneage.

 

[Richard.C]

It would be shafts so mostly engine servicing requirements is what I was looking for, the boats in consideration are a mix of 63P's, TAMD 74/75's, 122P's and D12. Obviously quite a mix, basically flybridges from 40 to 50 feet.

 

[volvopaul]

Engine require a service every year.
You will read many valuable posts on here how any marine engine needs to be looked after.
Volvos require new engine anodes every year , an oil change , inspection of various items , fuel pre filters etc . Not every service item needs changing every year . It depends on usage and the engine in mind . I find them all different , the lad series for example always need new air filters simply because they suck in belt dust. Others like the D12 , 63/74/75 air filters are good for 2 years . Depends on how many hours you do.

 

[volvopaul]

Shafts or legs ?

We have legs on Volvo D4s and when we were in a similar position to you, we were told we should allow for a annual 100 hr engine service, and every second year an engine + leg service. The former from a main dealer was c£1500 last year, bumped up to around £2,000 including antifoul etc, the latter this year we were quoted well over twice that, but our warranties have now expired so a well respected / recommended local engineer, is doing the "big" 200 hour service (and antifoul) for c£2,000 including craneage.

Legs every other year? You need anodes every year and because Volvo have changed clip supplier I'm finding clips rotted away in less than 12 months now. Beware leaving drives for more than 12 months as you will get water in the drive bellows which leads to massive££££.

 

[Richard.C]

Thanks Paul, I've found a couple of threads on this site about 74/75's and D12's, mostly referencing valve clearance checks as a major service item at around 800hrs. Is that a fairly common number of hrs across the Volvo range for a major service?

Will depend on the boat I guess as to how much dismantling is required and that could drive up the cost of a major service. Is it really only valve clearances or are there other items to be done once you get to around 800hrs?

I'm assuming right now it's probably around double the cost of normal yearly service, is that a good approximation?

Thanks

 

[Momac]

I have Volvo kad32's. The engine service interval is 100 hours or annually whichever comes first.
I am fairly sure the same is true for all Volvo Penta diesels.
Unless the boat comes with detailed receipts for the previous service you should assume a service is required fairly soon after purchase.

A 40 foot flybridge is big and a 50 footer is very big as a first motor boat.

.

 

[Andy Bav]

Legs every other year? You need anodes every year and because Volvo have changed clip supplier I'm finding clips rotted away in less than 12 months now. Beware leaving drives for more than 12 months as you will get water in the drive bellows which leads to massive££££.

Cheers. To be clear my definition of a leg service = leg off and bellows replaced in addition to the anodes changed every year and inspection of jubilee clips etc as per your advice. Not sure if you recall we had a brief e.mail exchange about a year ago as one main dealer was saying an oil changes in the legs was required at the 100h service and another said leave them alone..... I went with your advice and went to the dealer who changed the leg oil.

Actually you have made me very sensitive to the clips issue. I insisted that the VP dealer inspect them last year, and this year we are having the bellows done for the first time. After a sea trial and a week back in the water, she is being shipped to Spain and I have asked the local VP agent to meet her on arrival and double check the clips before being launched. I reckon she will need a late season / early winter lift (SCM) and scrub and I will get another inspection done again, as, as you say failure of a small component could be £xp£nsive£, so a few 10's of Euros call out for an inspection makes sense.