Petrol Inboards

[Cassey]

Looking at a new (to me) yacht with a Volvo Petrol inboard. I have many (probably unreasonable) bad feelings about petrol inboards. I was wondering if anyone can either put me right or confirm my darkest fears!

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[happyfish]

Hi not much to say about petrol exept I am also looking at a boat with petrol
in board and have the same worries.
But I am starting to think that petrol is not that bad. other than they use more fuel.

1 easier to repair and maintain
2 usually better at starting
3 quieter
4 less vibration
5 smaller means less weight

But then I could be wrong.
good luck
eddy

<hr width=100% size=1>Sunset smells of Dinner I Must end my tales see you the next quiet place
I furl my sails

 

[longjohnsilver]

Would agree with 3, 4 and 5. As for 2, you have all those lecky bits which are prone to the damp which also means that diesels are generally more reliable and need less maintenance. Not much on a diesel to go wrong.

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

I got slaughtered for this on MOBO forum, but...... petrol has no place on a boat. Other than having to store a tank full of highly volatile fuel, they have electrical bits which will get damp on a yacht.

Also the whole torque curve on a diesel is better suited to low revs cruising, unlike a petrol unit which needs a good kick of fuel to get any power out.

If I am wrong, then wonder why 95% of inboards on yachts are diesels?

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[AndCur]

I tend to agrree with Jools. I do have a petrol outboard which in in a cockpit well but would not have considered a boat with an inboard petrol as any leak/fumes will
fill the cabin in seconds. Mind you any petrol onboard should be treated with extreme care.

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[BrendanS]

Coming from the dark side (petrol powerboater) there is nothing inherently wrong with petrol engines. They are safe enough in boats - USA is a very litigious society, and they produce petrol driven boats in vast numbers. If they were given to continually blowing up boats due to petrol fumes exploding, they would have been sued out of existence by now.



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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

That said Brendan, which would you rather be trying to plug at sea, a petrol or diesel leak. Which one would give you the willies the most. I know mine would be petrol.

I treat my little 1 gallon outboard container with as much respect as my gas bottles, it scares me enough that it is up front in the anchor locker (big lockers, protected from the chain etc.)

I understand and agree partially with what you are saying, but given the choice, most yachts choose diesels and it is not because of the pump price. 1/3 ltr per hour is not breaking the bank.

Another example, a few weeks ago I saw a petrol eberspasher on Ebay, I had never seen one before, never knew such I thing existed. It would scare me to death running it as opposed to my diesel eber. Maybe I am a little brainwashed.

Show me a commercial trawler with a petrol engine?

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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[happyfish]

I totaly agree that desiel is the better choice. if you have a choice.
but my point is that petrol aint all that bad if your on a budget like I am.
So what I am saying is, that if you have the chance of getting on the water for a few quid less because the boat has petrol then stop listening to the people that say dont get a boat with a petrol engine and look for the good things about them.
I know more about petrol than desiel (pesonaly) and so does your dad your brother or joe public.
Every thing that we use every day of our lives that is run on petrol is surrounded by electrics.
cheers

<hr width=100% size=1>Sunset smells of Dinner I Must end my tales see you the next quiet place
I furl my sails

 

[supermalc]

Ask yourself this question....how many diesel boats have you heard of that go BOOM when you turn the key, or the gas fridge comes on.

<hr width=100% size=1>Malcolm.
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[oldsaltoz]

One flash and your ash

avagoodweekend

Old Salt Oz /forums/images/icons/cool.gif Growing old is unavoidable. However, growing up is still optional.

 

[BrendanS]

There's an huge amount of myth around this issue, and people seem very sensitive to it. I go out on a petrol engined boat all the time, and the last thing I'm concerned about most of the time is the boat exploding. There are other more immediate concerns. Petrol is quite safe on boats if you take simple care.

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[richardandtracy]

I don't have an engine in my boat yet.
I do have a petrol 2CV engine in the garage going spare - the only thing I need convincing of is that a normal float carb will work reliably when being bounced around.

The safety issue is rather over-rated I think. How many petrol stations blow up? That's right it's rare with the right precautions. The fuel is flammable and heavier than air. So is propane - so what's new? The US Coast Guard has done a rather nice publication that covers petrol engines in boats. I can't remember where I found it, however if you do a search for 'yacht safety.pdf' or the document ref no of 'COMDTPUB P16761.3B' you should find it. It's also called 'Safety Standards for Backyard Boat Builders'. The recommendations are stringent, and probably explain why petrol is accepted on that side of the Atlantic.
If you look at a boat with a petrol engine, consider making a low offer because of the engine, then modifying it to meet the US requirements.

Problems with damp electrics & not starting.
If a boat's so damp that it affects the starting of a petrol engine, I suggest that the use of petrol is NOT the problem. Cure the damp. It must be horrible to live aboard for any period of time in a boat that wet.

Regards

Richard.


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[SlowlyButSurely]

So are you saying that if a boat only goes up in flames and fries the owner once in a lifetime that's OK because on average it's very rare?

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[BrendanS]

Just about everyone in my club has petrol engines. Mainly because they are on the whole ribs and sportsboats. None have had any petrol fires.

On the other hand, I know a whole bunch of people that have had or normally missed fires due to overheating exhausts etc - and those are as often diesel as petrol.

All this anti petrol stuff is mainly emotional and without foundation. If you don't want petrol on board your boat, fine. But why everyone has to propagate the myth that it's dangerous and do their best to put other people off, is totally beyond me

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[mickshep]

I agree totally. My last boat , 'Janina' was built in 1946 with a Stuart Turner petrol, nearly 60 yrs on and guess what? NO Fires, (and still starts 1st time every time) And as to that other constantly re-occuring myth about Stuart Turners; A good Stuart Turner engine is exactly that, A bad one is no different to any other bad engine. Going back to sleep now, Mike.

<hr width=100% size=1>My Mum say's I'm not a fat b@st@rd, just heavy boned.

 

[SlowlyButSurely]

Well, I owned a petrol engined (Watermota Sea Leopard, based on a 1600 ford engine) boat for 8 years. My experience regarding reliability was: it had recurring problems due to water in the fuel, the head gasket blew twice, the piston rings were worn out after about 1200 hours, the carburetter had to be replaced because of corrosion. It actually packed up at sea twice. Had it been a Volvo no doubt this would have been regarded as a good reliability record!

After I had sold the boat it did go up in flames in a most spectacular fashion. The owner had just filled it up with petrol and when he started the engine it burst into flames. He and his friends escaped with minor burns and singed hair.

So all things considered I wouldn't have another one.

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[SlowlyButSurely]

Mick,

I've no doubt that there are many fine boats with equally fine petrol engines, but I've seen enough burnt-out hulks lying in boat yards and burning cars at the side of the road to know that the risk of fire is no myth.

I simply think that if there is a safer and potentially more reliable (and economical) alternative why take the risk?

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[DogStar]

Petrol is harder to ignite than people believe. Its just that diesel is nigh on impossible to burn unless it is under pressure or pre-heated.

The only reason I wouldn't fancy a petrol engine on board is because of the damp issue. Sure, in America, or in certain states where the atmosphere is relatively dry, having a petrol engine might be OK. Here, though, I could imagine having to replace the points every time I wanted to go anywhere. Don't you find that a problem, Brendan?

There's just generally more to go wrong....

<hr width=100% size=1>I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy!

 

[BrendanS]

Nope. Kept at Lymington. Starts fine everytime. Gets heavily used as well, but sometimes with several months of none use. Serviced once a year. Not winterised because I use it year round. Never failed to start. Never broken down.

Never burst into flames either /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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[Jools_of_Top_Cat]

Brendan I don't think anyone is saying all petrol engined vessels 'will' explode at some point. The original question was by someone looking at a yacht with a petrol auxiliary with the view to possible purchase. People are saying it is an entirely avoidable risk. Much like removing a gas cooker and fitting a spirit stove.

Yacht auxiliary petrols are a mile away from a modern performance lump as found in your boat. They are usually (my limited experience) skanky old rusty lumps that have been dripped on with sea water all their lives. They are generally old fashioned and also generally old. Does any yacht manufacturer now install petrols?

As for the damp issue, remember the mini 850 A series, if it was raining the car would not start, that is not dissimilar to old boat petrols. Yes of course there are exceptions.

This guy is looking at a boat, he has a chance to walk away, he was not asking if he should retrofit a petrol. I would suggest he walks away, or negotiates a good price including an allowance for fitting a diesel lump. If he goes ahead and buys, fine, but it will be as hard to sell in a few years as it is now for him to buy....if that makes sense.

I actually have no problems with modern outboards. Like I said, most inboard yacht petrols tend to be antiques. I also maintain the diesel has better torque for driving a yacht.

<hr width=100% size=1>Julian

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