River boat engines

[mudkipper]

Hi guys
Having had to take an enforced absence from boats due to ill health for some time I am looking to restart albeit changing from sail to motor.
We are taken with a displacement boat, shaft drive with twin Volvo MD31 62hp but have concerns as it has only been used at slow speed on an inland river for the last 5 years. 1500rpm seems to have been the cruising revs.
Should I be worried?
The boat is in Worcestershire, does Volvo Paul operate there, I seem to recall he is Midlands based ?
Many thanks in advance for advice

 

[Momac]

If there is good service history I think you may be over concerned . It's a relatively low powered engine so will not have been under utilised quite as much as many boats based on inland waterways .
However a pre purchase engineers inspection may well be money well spent.

 

[rafiki_]

Hi guys
Having had to take an enforced absence from boats due to ill health for some time I am looking to restart albeit changing from sail to motor.
We are taken with a displacement boat, shaft drive with twin Volvo MD31 62hp but have concerns as it has only been used at slow speed on an inland river for the last 5 years. 1500rpm seems to have been the cruising revs.
Should I be worried?
The boat is in Worcestershire, does Volvo Paul operate there, I seem to recall he is Midlands based ?
Many thanks in advance for advice

VolvoPaul is Midlands based. You might also try Alan Stafford at SoS Boat services. He works mainly on the river Severn, Upton and Tewkesbury. Super bloke, knowledgeable and very reliable.

 

[oldgit]

There are around 8000 boats on the non tidal Thames, possibly that number again on non tidal waters of the South East.
Some with engines capable of moving an ocean liner trudging around at 8 KPH for long periods.
You will search long and hard for any "Bore glazing has ruined my boat engine" postings anywhere on the interweb .
There are mulitple reasons why a boat engine might suffer problems but its not going to be wear in the cylinder bore.
Far far more likely to be lack of use and poor/ non existant maintenance of the cooling or fuel systems that will give grief.

 

[Greg2]

As has already been said, not something to be unduly concerned about. I would be far more interested in how they have been looked after and how they run.

 

[mudkipper]

Hi guys
Apologies for delay in thanking you for your welcome advice but for some reason I was unable to access the forums till now!
Mind now at rest
Thank you all
John

 

[westernman]

A 70 foot, steel wide beam barge typically has a single engine of about 60hp (with a very big alternator, 175A or more for battery charging).