Petrol or Diesel in a small cruiser?

>Adjust Valve Clearances oh I am impressed, isn't that what an engineer does?

Errm, yes, this might be what Col gets asked to do. I didn't say I was actually going to do all this lot myself!
 
I've never been much good at predictions but I can't help thinking that petrol boats are about to suddenly become more popular to new boaters so the marinas are more likely to stock both fuels so they can sell more , but I'm biassed anyway /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif , although I think the newer petrol engined boats have got much better engines than they used to have , mainly because I think they just took car engines and converted them , without enough allowance for the different environment
 
Availability is one of the biggest argument in favour of diesel. The regulations governing the storage of petrol are much tighter than for the storage of diesel which is why so many marine fuel retailers don't sell petrol. There would have to be a large increase in the sale of marine petrol for it to be commercially viable for retailers to sell petrol and IMHO, that is'nt going to happen because of the other inherent advantages of diesel. IMHO, all thats going to happen when red diesel goes is that diesel sales will reduce but that won't mean petrol sales will go up. Basically people will use their diesel boats less or more efficiently
 
I ve had 18-24ft and petrol. As long as supply is easy, and for me thats Solent and Cornwall, and always has been easy, I cant see why anyone would bother with the expense and weight of a diesel-assuming you arent going to be chugging at 20knts, assuming you want some "sports". So, unless you think of doing 00's of miles of cruising, and assuming you are day boating and whizzing about-petrol.
 
At risk of sounding very negative unless i were very committed (or needed it) and had a fair wodge of disposable dosh each month I'm not sure I would actually buy either and certainly not new. Ever increasing legislation and economic uncertainty does not suggest that this is a good time to buy a new boat that might suddenly drop in value due to some (possibly unelected) political whim.

Otherwise as I'm not interested in waterski/toy toy towing and like to cover distance it would be diesel and the largest possible tanks. I'd also have a boat of the size that could be trailed to allow the use of supermarket filling stations if marine diesel costs became stupid.
 
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still strongly recommend diesel on safety and reliability grounds.

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Me too:

Petrol is too unpredictable.
It is not so easily available.
The engines are designed to rev higher to reach their power band so noisier too.
The engine is more like to conk out when return for berthing.

No petrols for me, no way, no how!!!

Why not look at a Aquador 23HT? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Hi Simon,

Agree with you, Diesel all the way mainly for the extra range and convienience, I'm a lazy git so wouldn't want to carry fuel to the boat, and besides when I got it to the boat I'd probably pour half of it into the briny. Plus as you say you get your money back more or less after a few years!!

Are you coming to Wokingham Thursday?? Could do with some fishing tips.... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Jez

I think for a like for like cruising speed, the GPH figures between petrol and diesel will be a little further apart than your prediction.

I swapped out a 230hp petrol for a 170hp diesel and at a comfotable cruise speed (22-23 knots), my fuel consumption is almost halved.

Availability if used for cruising will still be a big issue. In the Solent it won't be a problem, outside, petrol supplies can be sparse. With diesel the range is almost doubled so coupled with better availability, means the boat is much more usable for decent passages.
 
Cheers /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif you can buy me a beer Thursday if you like /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
What's the difference in servicing cost between the two engines?
Also the extra £9000 will cost more in interest (either through loan interest or lost savings interest) so that's £450/year @ 5%.
Petrol must be the best bet on a small day boat surely?
 
Depends if you try to use a small dayboat as more than just a small dayboat!!

The year I had a 21ft cuddy I did around 200 hours, this included a trip from Gosport to Falmouth, with a stop in Weymouth (who don't sell Petrol)

So based on 200 hours with something like a 4.3l petrol averaging say 6g/hr it would have cost me ~£5,400 where as if Diesel had been £1/litre it would have cost me (assuming 3g/hr) £2,700 which is a saving of £2,700 actual saving was a lot more as diesel at the time was alot cheaper!


For info when I sold it 18 months later I lost about 2k so the total cost was:

2k depreciation
1.5k fuel
.5k Insurance
1.5k services and antifoul
2.5k mooring

Total cost ~8k cost per hour ~£32 ok so I may have missed the odd bit but I don't think thats to bad!
 
Hi we run a petrol Sealine 215 out of Bristol, the biggest disadvantage in my view is the lack of places you can petrol!!
 
Personally, if it has an inboard engine I'd always go for diesel if possible. Just the smell of petrol in a confined space is enough to put me off. Being in a boat out on the water...er no thanks.
 
Diesel.
Why?
Availability
Safety
Easier resale, cos of the aforementioned, peeps still think diesel is safer.
The Yanks use loads of petrol boats so that kinda snuffs that one out (oops no pun intended) ref safety.
Mind you they've got pumps all over the place, so no need to muck about with cans.
Think your consumption figures might be wider than you think, especially if doing lots of playing about and skiing etc.
Not had a modern big petrol but running a big Mercruiser carb jobbie some Years ago, flip was on first name terms with every fuel vendor in the Parrish!
If availability is no prob and you ain't doing many hours, different story.
Still think resale will be easier even when all fuels are daft money.
Pros and cons of reliability and servicing with modern lumps, don't think there's much difference.
You might think You are saving some dosh buying a petrol jobbie.
Offsetting running costs and all that jazz, just think resale will be so much harder.
Again it boils down to availability.
Narrows Your potential customer base.
Feristance up ere it's friggin murder, only Conway and Pwllheli with facilities.
That's the biggest drawback!
 
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The Yanks use loads of petrol boats so that kinda snuffs that one out (oops no pun intended) ref safety.


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Without wanting to re-ignite (sic) the safety debate, having very nearly had my old petrol Sealine go up in flames I can't agree with that. This is especially true with older petrol boats where tanks/lines/seals may be a bit leaky.
 
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The Yanks use loads of petrol boats so that kinda snuffs that one out (oops no pun intended) ref safety.

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Mmm, the yanks think it's safe to have an arsenal of nuclear missiles with Dubya's finger on the button
 
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