Petrol v Diesel

[Micky]

Assuming the cost of Diesel is going to rise level with the price Petrol, do you think it will decrease the value of Diesel boats to the lower level of petrol boats, or do you think that the petrol boat prices will increase as there will be no disadvantages of owning a petrol engine boat due to the fuel prices being equal.

Also bearing in mind that the petrol engines are quieter/cleaner/easier and cheaper to maintain compared to diesel engines, i am wondering whether it would pay to take the gamble and buy a petrol boat, as there are some pretty good low price bargains to be found due to the fact, that at the moment, petrol is the most expensive fuel.



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[oldgit]

Would def advise that you rush out and buy every hard to sell unreliable and thirsty old petrol nail that you can find.You will be amazingly rich overnight and will then be able to pick up for a song a vast diesel gin place that most of the users of this forum will be desperate to offload on you with a grateful whimper of relief.
There that should be enough to convince you to start overborrowing this very instant./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

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[kindredspirit]

Diesel wins, although the metal lump costs more to begin with, because;

a; more economical consumption
b; availability of fuel

Incidentally why is petrol easier/cleaner/cheaper to maintain than petrol? I'd prefer diesel to maintain, over petrol anyday.

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[Elza_Skip]

I'd go for diesel. While potentially there may be a levelling of boat prices Diesel is much more widely available and the ease of storage suggests it may continue to carry some price advantage. Also, diesel engines are generally more economic and last longer on the whole

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[ari]

Plus diesel is a much safer fuel, and a diesel engine is a "tougher" engine and no delicate electrical system to fail.

Once a diesel is running then as long as it gets fuel and air and nothing vital breaks it'll keep going.

I think the only boats likely to be affected are small single engined sportsboats around 22-25ft where people will be reluctant to pay more take the performance trade off of a diesel given that the main advantage of reduced fuel costs will be much less.

But in a bigger twin engined boat the economy of a diesel will still offer big savings over (for example) twin V8 petrols even if the fuel costs are similar. Think 12 gallons/hour for a Fairline 33 Targa with 200hp Volvo diesels compared to probably double that for same boat with a pair of Volvo 235hp petrols.

Bear in mind too that because marine fuel suppliers with petrol are rare, the mark up for petrol is high compared with road prices. I think this'll be less previlent with diesel as there will be more competition.

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[BrendanS]

Ooh! Well you die within 60 secs of owning a petrol powered boat. This is why I'm posting from heaven.

WAVES!!!!

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Some diesel engines do need electric power

Not quite true that modern diesel engines only need fuel, air (and oil of course). The stop solenoid is usually positively energised in the out position and if power is cut to the solenoid it will drop in and stop fuel reaching the engine. I experienced a faulty alternator on one engine recently which totally discharged one set of batteries.which caused the stop solenoid on the other engine to de-energise and cut the fuel to the engine
Apparently, current safety regulations require that stop solenoids are wired in this way in order to fail safe
Then, there is the other issue of electronic management and control systems. Anyone know if the engine keeps running if these fail?

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[Landale]

Re: Some diesel engines do need electric power

If like a car, take the solenoid out.

Those of us with proper diesels however don't have solenoids!

We still use proper injectors, not glowplugs and common rail!

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[ari]

Re: Some diesel engines do need electric power

"Apparently, current safety regulations require that stop solenoids are wired in this way in order to fail safe"

Thats a brilliant idea. So if your batteries or charging system malfunction when you're 5 miles out you lose your engines.

Wonder which H&S executive came up with that one!

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[longjohnsilver]

Re: Some diesel engines do need electric power

Thank goodness I've got an older engine which doesn't have these solenoid thingies, a good old fashioned pull to stop handle does me just fine!!

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[longjohnsilver]

Heaven or hell??!!

You!! In heaven!! Haha!!

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[BrendanS]

Re: Heaven or hell??!!

Waves agin!! Hi there. Just testing out the new wings!?

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: Some diesel engines do need electric power

I guess the reason is that, in the event of a fire which would probably knock out the electrical system, it's safer that the fuel supply to the engines is shut off
But, this particular feature caused me a lot of grief this summer and it took 3 engineers to suss out what was happening on my boat

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[BarryH]

Re: Some diesel engines do need electric power

I'm glad someone has pointed this out for once. Diesels of old would run if the leccy went. Nowdays diesels use the same, if not more, in the way of leccy systems to make them run.
As far as a drop of water getting on a petrol engine and making it stop is a fairy tale. I've had my engine swimming in water recently and it kept running.

Diesels seem a lot more fuel sensitive now too. How many posts are we getting re the "bug" etc. Again get water or a bit of "crud" in petrol and it'll keep running. I'm not "dissing" diesels and not madly pro petrol. Each has its place as marine motive power. I just get a bit peeved with all the "petrol is a floating bomb" rubbish that keeps cropping up everytime this question gets asked. Its getting as boring as the "stinkie/raggie" rubbish that rears its head on a regular basis.

There you go, I've had my rant.

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[kindredspirit]

Re: Some diesel engines do need electric power

The latest tractor and lorry engines are covered in electronics. If something goes wrong it has to be taken to the main dealer to be plugged into their computer thingymagig.

They can't be fixed in the local garage anymore!

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[robind]

Re: Some diesel engines do need electric power

A rib in Brighton had to have the Volvo engineers in to sort out its new Volvo engine installation, using a computer set up system. local specialists didnt have kit to do it. it took weeks to get it done properly.
Rob

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[KevB]

I don't think petrol will ever be as widely available as diesel due to the expensive licence required for marina's to store the stuff. For safety reasons (petrol far too flammable especially petrol vapour) can't see myself wanting to own a petrol boat again. As for the leccy bits, modern diesels have almost the same amount of electonic gizmo's as current petrols but petrols still need the additional bit to make the spark. Lastly the torque characteristics of a diesel engine suit larger boats much more than petrol. IMHO.

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[gjgm]

some good posts for you here.. but what size boat are you talking about? Petrols at full chuck swallow one hell of alot of fuel. But if your annual distance isnt that great, and you ve boated long enough not to need to have throttles full open all day long, yea, there are some cheap twin petrols about. tend to be older models though, so styling etc may look a bit dated.

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[PhilF]

Petrolvs Diesel
would make a good Harry Hill .....Fiiiiight

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[TonyBrooks]

Where did the bit about cheaper to maintain come from?

As long as you look after the diesel and ensure your fuel stays dry, all you have to do is to change/clean the oil, oil filter, air filter, fuel filters, drive belst and Jabsci impeller. On all the smaller diesel units no spark plugs, no electronics (at least none that can not be easily overridden with safety)

If you are truely compentent to maintain a petrol unit, diesel is a doddle and no worries aou making a mistake and being propelled oevrboard with great haet and force.

The only petrol boat i woudl buy would be one with a very small outboard.

Tony Brooks

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