Prestige 30S -underpowered with single D4 260?

thejonesey

thejonesey

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So, after reading the MBY article on boating costs we decided that we couldn't justify keeping our Prestige 46. With the kids growing up it is time to do other things as well as boating and they were missing out on summer sun amongst other things!

We want to go do to around 30ft (or less) with one engine (d4 preferred) and while we are taken with the Jeanneau Leader 805 I have also found a Prestige 30 with a single engine. The boat weight is 4300kg so would a 260hp diesel still give fun performance or would it struggle. The quoted figures are 28knots max and 22 cruise but...

I also wonder about resale eventually?

What do people think?
 
A lot of Prestige 30's were fitted with twin D3 190's, giving 32kts approx.
28kts from a single D4-260 sounds a bit optimistic, as does the cruise speed: that D4 will be working quite hard most of the time.
Also, the handling around the marina with a single outdrive boat can be "interesting". Bow thruster required.

Having said that, you'll only be burning 30 litres an hour or so on the plane, maintenance costs will be waaaay lower than with a twin engined boat, and maybe speed is not everything?
A single D4-300 would be more sprightly, but I don't see any fitted with it.
 
I think you echo all my concerns! It would seem a better match with the smaller boat. Not too worried about marina handling as it has a bow thruster but am worried that it will struggle with a family, fuel and weed growth.
 
I recently sold my Leader 805 with D4 260. It was a 2006 model and had 180 hours on when I bought it in 2010. I sold it with 895 hours in December. When clean at full whack 3,600 revs with 3 of us and full fuel and water tanks it could do 28 Kn and cruising around 22Kn @ 2,900 revs. I used around 25LPH cruising. It was a fine boat and gave me very little bother and the only reason I changed is we want to do some more cruising around the Aegean and maybe a bit further so want more range and space at a more leisurely, economical pace. I had an oil pressure sensor problem twice which restricted the revs and I know another D4 owner who had a similar problem. After the second time I carried a spare on board for peace of mind as it was easy to replace.
 
A 30S isn't really the boat for 'fun' handling anyway is it? I suspect 28/22 is a touch optimistic. My ACM Elite 31 with a 230hp Yanmar and a semi-displacement hull could do 24/18 - with a planing hull and a slightly lighter boat and more hp I'd reckon 26/20.
 
thejonesey said:
I think you echo all my concerns! It would seem a better match with the smaller boat. Not too worried about marina handling as it has a bow thruster but am worried that it will struggle with a family, fuel and weed growth.
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I think you hit the nail on the head there. 28 knots is okay, but if that's 'perfect world' then as you say, load up the family, a dinghy on the back and a bit of summer slime and suddenly you're flat out trying to do 25 knots.
 
Irish Rover said:
I recently sold my Leader 805 with D4 260. It was a 2006 model and had 180 hours on when I bought it in 2010. I sold it with 895 hours in December. When clean at full whack 3,600 revs with 3 of us and full fuel and water tanks it could do 28 Kn and cruising around 22Kn @ 2,900 revs. I used around 25LPH cruising. It was a fine boat and gave me very little bother and the only reason I changed is we want to do some more cruising around the Aegean and maybe a bit further so want more range and space at a more leisurely, economical pace. I had an oil pressure sensor problem twice which restricted the revs and I know another D4 owner who had a similar problem. After the second time I carried a spare on board for peace of mind as it was easy to replace.
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I should have mentioned I had 100M of chain in the bow as well plus the anchor so probably a combined 170KG approx.
 
ari said:
I think you hit the nail on the head there. 28 knots is okay, but if that's 'perfect world' then as you say, load up the family, a dinghy on the back and a bit of summer slime and suddenly you're flat out trying to do 25 knots.
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Depends on how you like to cruise. A bigger boat lends itself to a more relaxed cruise - there's more space to enjoy - it's enclosed normally so suddenly cruising at 20 knots+ isn't so important. I've owned plenty of smaller boats that would cruise at 30knots+ and was concerned that 18 knots would be pedestrian. You change the way you enjoy boating with the type of boat you own I think. Having since borrowed a RIB and blasted out at 35 knots for lunch arriving with wind-swept parents isn't so appealing now. I'd be happy with 26/20 on a 30' boat fully loaded - maybe a seatrial is in order?
 
Fair comment, but the OP mentioned a requirement for 'fun performance'.

I guess it depends on your definition of 'fun performance', but a boat that struggles to reach 25 knots maybe isn't in that category.
 
I guess the top speed figure is a perfect world figure with a light boat ,clean hull,no headwind,waves etc.

Real world top speed will probably be a few knots less.

If you can live with the real world speed then it sounds good.

I have the same engine in a 25 footer, and itll do 42knots with a clean hull,minimal fuel,no water,no kit,2 people etc. In the real world,with full fuel,water,kit, family, top speed drops to 38 knots.

The engine itself is mostly good, smooth,economical on fuel. A bit expensive on parts once they get past 5 years old, but mostly reliable, its never left me stranded (touch wood)
 
Having enjoyed bigger boat cruising the key is to do something a little different so we don't hark back to the "good times." In truth we will probably cruise at 20kts most of the time but the ability to tow ringos, open her up or explore in and out of the Jurassic coastline will make it a little different. I think the D4 might be a better match for the 805 (for what I want anyway) and would love to have a sea trial in the Prestige but boat buying doesn't work like that does it!
 
We had a Bavaria 30 sport with a single D4 300 , very similar layout to the Prestige but probably slightly less beam , would hit 32 knots clean with half fuel and overall was very economical and seaworthy for its size . ( there seems to be some with comedy swim platform extensions available in the med ) Good luck with the hunt .
 
I think a 30ft would be massively underpowered with a single 260. I had a single 260 in my 27ft Monterey, and would top out at 28 knots with weed and a reasonable load. It was nice and torquey for manoeuvring, but it seemed to let me down top end.
 
jcwads said:
I think a 30ft would be massively underpowered with a single 260. I had a single 260 in my 27ft Monterey, and would top out at 28 knots with weed and a reasonable load. It was nice and torquey for manoeuvring, but it seemed to let me down top end.
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That's the nature of a diesel engine. If you have a 27ft boat a single 300hp outboard would be a better choice.
 
thejonesey said:
Might come back Trevor if they can find us a space!
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When I bought my Corvette I had to rough it for a few months, but not too many hops before they settled us back in, and my current berth is great - easy to get in and out of, right next to power and water and not on the main stream so less risk of theft. There are a few gaps here and there at the moment.
 
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