Mercruiser Diesels

The fact is that both Merc and Volvo have had more than their fair share of problems, most of which should have been eliminated at the design stage.

E.g. Merc Bravo III dissolving/exploding drives, leaky cylinder heads, turbo problems on the 1.7.

Volvo Dissolving DP-H propellors, DP-H steering rams, etc.

But given the choice, I would still choose Volvo, mainly cos of stability (no failed joint ventures), numbers, availability of spares, and I prefer green to black as I can see any leaks.
 
Elessar said:
You keep spreading the same bollox Paul, but it remains bollox.

You are however not alone. So the price of merc boats remains lower. So buy right bearing in mind resale value.

Parts prices are better if you buy from the states. You can't buy Volvo (or Yanmar) parts from the states as they operate restrictive practices that would be illegal in the EU.

I've just bought my 4th big boat, the first with volvos. The parts prices are eye watering.

Buy mercs with your eyes open. Get an engineer who understands them like mercuryman of this forum. Buy at the right price and expect to hear "black junk" noise when you sell.

I really don't understand why when volvo market stuff that is unfit for purpose, like steering rams that dont steer for long, and prop that don't propel for long, yet it's never volvo's fault in the eyes of some.
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Elessar this thread is 3 years old, though it seems you obviously have a problem with my input on this forum over Volvopenta in general , yet you have just sold your merc powered sealine to buy a Volvo engines boat, hmm I don't quite understand your reason for having a go at me , had it been the other way around had you been 'updating' to mercs.
Volvoparts are cheaper if you know where to go for them, you don't have to go to a v p dealer for parts all the time. I can remember you contacting me for the bravo 2 drives I had as you wanted them for spares, I can't recall any of my Volvo customers wanting Volvo drives to carry as spares. How many times did you have your engines out of disconnected last time we spoke sorting out your leaking transom shields and worn out steering arms that mostly require the engine out to remove the steering arm and swivel. I rest my case, I have also re engined a few brooms that had 4.2 mercs in as they were worn out at 1000 hours, smoking breathing and poor starting. For what it's worth Richie bought a sealine s 28 with kad 32 engines in in surveyed the motors and drives and continue to service it.

Bollox isn't what I contribute to this forum, it's help to people who don't know and want the best for there money , which can be looked st from many angles to do with initial outlay and resale value, and of course the ease of resale at the end of term.
 
volvopaul said:
Elessar this thread is 3 years old, though it seems you obviously have a problem with my input on this forum over Volvopenta in general , yet you have just sold your merc powered sealine to buy a Volvo engines boat, hmm I don't quite understand your reason for having a go at me , had it been the other way around had you been 'updating' to mercs.
Volvoparts are cheaper if you know where to go for them, you don't have to go to a v p dealer for parts all the time. I can remember you contacting me for the bravo 2 drives I had as you wanted them for spares, I can't recall any of my Volvo customers wanting Volvo drives to carry as spares. How many times did you have your engines out of disconnected last time we spoke sorting out your leaking transom shields and worn out steering arms that mostly require the engine out to remove the steering arm and swivel. I rest my case, I have also re engined a few brooms that had 4.2 mercs in as they were worn out at 1000 hours, smoking breathing and poor starting. For what it's worth Richie bought a sealine s 28 with kad 32 engines in in surveyed the motors and drives and continue to service it.

Bollox isn't what I contribute to this forum, it's help to people who don't know and want the best for there money , which can be looked st from many angles to do with initial outlay and resale value, and of course the ease of resale at the end of term.
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+1 how anybody can say you are talking bo-----s after all the sound advise you have given is beyond believe. Just goes to show how some peoples opinions are formed. Keep your advise coming it is appreciated
David
 
+2

Bit harsh to call vp's inputs bollox on a thread three years old! Most of VP's advice on this forum is both incredibly helpful and re-assuring to many of us who know little about the green lumps and drives

The advise continues via pm /email and in person

A very generous guy imho
 
+1 VP is a major benefit to this forum and essential when you consider the number of Volvo Penta engines in use by forum members. VP - Thank you

harstonwood said:
+2

Bit harsh to call vp's inputs bollox on a thread three years old! Most of VP's advice on this forum is both incredibly helpful and re-assuring to many of us who know little about the green lumps and drives

The advise continues via pm /email and in person

A very generous guy imho
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I have owned Cummins-mercruiser 4.2L D300 for the last 7 years, 8 seasons.

They have been a pleasure to own.

Smoke free even on start up.
Appear more economical than boats of similar size.
Easy start.

Now I did have an issue with one engine after 5 years and cummins sorted it out under the 72 month warranty (thats a 6 year warranty).

I have just had an issue with a gear box (gone 8 years without incident) which didnt want to go forwards after astern (I will post about as soon as I get time) Col sourced the parts and I asked him to totally rebuilt it with new clutch plates, seals etc he rebuilt it and dyno tested within two weeks so I dont think parts are much of an issue.

Fleetguard now make the oil/fuel filters, the air filters are washable ( dont need to buy new each service), fan belts are readily available so I cant really understand anyone suggesting parts supply is an issue.

I accept that green engines are favoured above all others.
This is because historically they have been more reliable but recently they have been forced to make their engines cleaner and the new breed appear to be suffering the same as the earlier BMW/Mercruiser /VM .

I would buy another boat with Mercriuser diesels in .
I would also buy a Volvo penta engined boat .

I wouldnt wish to cross the atlantic with a single engined boat of either make as neither are perfect.
 
Wow hadn't expected this thread to resurface. As VP says I did go on to purchase an S28 (with Volvos in) and I must say VP was a great help through the whole buying process (as was this forum with threads like this) and ongoing VP has been great with general advice and keeping the boat serviced.
And a top bloke to have a beer with too!
 
Interesting thread, have been looking at a twin Mercruiser 170 diesel from the mid 90s & it's interesting to hear the pros & cons..
 
My personal experience having had both types of engine from new is that the Volvo's have been more reliable & the service from Volvo main dealer has been better. Only local experience however, I'm sure it varies.
 
Richie said:
Thanks for the feedback folks, opinion seems a bit split - maybe I also need to give more thought to resale value even if the engines are sound.

Yes engines were incredibly smooth on start up, but then I've been used to the rather more agricultural thrum of 30 yr old Ford Mermaids the past few years. In fact reminded me more of a straight 6 petrol than a diesel I was that impressed.

Either way I suspect I'd need a marine engineer with some knowledge of these engines to check them over for me. I expect with VP there'd be no shortage of expertise, be good to know if there are any recommendations for somebody with Merc Diesel expertise in the Southampton area?
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Tom @ Tompa Marine,

He recently did engine survey and subsequent work when I purchased an S37.

Fantastic guy, hard working and reliable and knows his stuff, so good were getting him down to Brixham to do our servicing in the spring!
 
My take on this would simply be as invariably the buyer of older boats and who tends to actually use them a lot,I need to know that I can get bits quickly for a 30 year old engine and can get them reasonably locally at a sensible price .There are a plethora of dealers supplying both OEM and pattern parts in UK for virtually every engine ever made by Volvo.
When was the last time you ever saw a Mercruiser in a fishing or other commercial boat ?
 
To be fair, the engine types discussed here are generally for high speed planing boats. Not many of these either green or black are fitted to commercial vessels.

Tom at Tompa has also given me some excellent advice, although unfortunately, he is too far away from Raf to support economically, although there are no problems with parts or support for my Mercs where I am.
 
" Not many of these either green or black are fitted to commercial vessels. "


Volvos would normally be supplied de-rated to lower max horse power on commercial applications where extended or continous use cycles are expected..
 
oldgit said:
" Not many of these either green or black are fitted to commercial vessels. "


Volvos would normally be supplied de-rated to lower max horse power on commercial applications where extended or continous use cycles are expected..
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Normally? I think that there are several choices of engines for commercial vessels, of which VP is one. My point was comparing apples with pears, can you compare the performance of a drive train specified for a fast planing boat with a displacement commercial?
 
I could be wrong but I did hear that VP had an excellent marketing plan that helped them get established and sell buckets of engines into the commercial and leisure boat industry which proved hard for Merc to replicate due to limited financial resources. VP would deliver the engine for install but the dealer didn't have to pay for it until the boat was sold. Now assuming this is true, it was one hell of an incentive for any dealer to supply and fit VP’s over Merc’s!!!
We all know that financials are by far the strongest motivations and so explains why there are so many more VP's out there regardless as to whether they're better or not.
 
Sheppy said:
I could be wrong but I did hear that VP had an excellent marketing plan that helped them get established and sell buckets of engines into the commercial and leisure boat industry which proved hard for Merc to replicate due to limited financial resources. VP would deliver the engine for install but the dealer didn't have to pay for it until the boat was sold. Now assuming this is true, it was one hell of an incentive for any dealer to supply and fit VP’s over Merc’s!!!
We all know that financials are by far the strongest motivations and so explains why there are so many more VP's out there regardless as to whether they're better or not.
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Does that not imply a larger support network etc as a natural result of there being more VP engines in need of service etc. Therefore the better customer service / parts availability experienced by some would make sense.
 
rubberduck said:
Does that not imply a larger support network etc as a natural result of there being more VP engines in need of service etc. Therefore the better customer service / parts availability experienced by some would make sense.
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It's not a suggestion of better support or better engines just an explanation as to why there are more VP's out there than others. I have no personal experience with VP's but I get the impression on the forums that they can be more troublesome but that's mainly because there are more of them therefore more problems and more threads. As someone said before, all engines have their pros and cons, but VP certainly have better marketing :)

The largest supplier any product shouldn’t be necessary assumed as the best. Just look at MS Windows, linux is far better, Dyson - they're cr*p etc etc. Only there seemed to be an attack earlier on Mercruiser and yes they’ve had their problems but no less than VP. Mercruiser didn’t have the financial might to crack/compete in the commercial market but that doesn’t mean they’re any less worthy but it has meant that they’ve resigned themselves to the leisure market I guess. All interesting stuff but I wonder where the likes of Vetus fit in here?
 
Sheppy said:
Only there seemed to be an attack earlier on Mercruiser and yes they’ve had their problems but no less than VP.
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Mercruiser brought out their smoke free (meets current emission standards) engine in 1983 ish. It was very modern at that time.

Volvo at that time were pedalling 1960's engines, of course they were not going to suffer teething problems .

About 10 years ago Volvo were forced to stop selling their old reliable 1960's smokers and they too started to develop a smoke free engine to meet current emission requirements , which they did but Volvo penta reliability has been a joke over the last 8 years, a total disgrace and all they do is re badge the same old carp as the all new re designed DSP version IX or SPI version XVVII.

Mercruiser / cummins / cumins mercruiser / VM had sorted their engine and got it reliable by 2000 , just as volvo released their new engine which appears to be suffering reliability issues.

I cant imagine the Volvo D4 and D6 range of engines being found in any commercial fishing boats even if derated to 150hp !

Time will tell.
 
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