Sealine S28 Engine Options Advice Please?

[puddleduck]

Thinking of buying an S28. In the 2001-2003 age range. What are the advantages/disadvantages of the different engine options? The majority seem to be fitted with the twin kad32's, however we have seen a very very nice one which has had one extremely fussy owner and has a single Kad44. Its not any cheaper than the twin k32 boats of same age and we're wondering should it be? Apart from the obvious safety of having two engines, and the obvious maintenance savings of having one, does anyone know about the power, economics differences? We have been told both are good engines.
many thanks

 

[[2068]]

You'll get 34kts from twin KAD32's - it's the most popular and desirable option by some margin. Upsides are ease of manouvring, additional safety margin of second engine (although you'll be down to 8kts if you lose one). Fuel maybe 40L/hr at a fast cruise.

Nothing wrong with a single KAD44, but probably not quite the same "grunt" to get it onto the plane when loaded up. Upside is only one engine/outdrive to service and lower fuel costs - maybe 30L/hr?

Service costs could be £600 per engine. Half that if you DIY.

Cost of running aground is roughly the same in both: KAD44 really needs SS props, so £900 for two new props vs about the same for four aluminium props on KAD32 /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

dv.

 

[Firefly625]

Hi,

Sorry, this probably does not help much as i don't know fuel consumption on Kad32's but I was looking at sharing a boat fitted with twin kad44's a while back and this is the consumption given by Volvo on an Anatares 10.80, the figures below are for one engine, perhaps may be a bit thirstier being a single engine setup on the S28 as working a bit harder;

rpm speed litres/hour
700 4.5 1.1
1000 6.1 2.4
1500 8.3 5.4
2000 10.7 14
2500 17.1 21.5
2800 21.3 27.5
3000 23.5 28.5
3200 25.3 37
3400 27.1 40
3634 29 50

This is advice I am sure you already have thought about, twin engines are far more manoeuvrable than single. Twin engines also give you the peace of mind of getting you home if you have an issue with one. However always hard to walk away from a well maintained boat. It still amazes me how many boats are used and abused...

 

[puddleduck]

Thank you S28. Top speed we're not too worried about as we're happiest skipping along at 20-24knots. low down torque would be more important and the worry is the 44 won't push her up on to plane quickly enough? The kad44 boat is fitted with a bow thruster so that would help with berthing etc. I think the duo prop fitted is bronze(??) At the moment we're leaning towards the twin 32's, however the single engined boat is just soooo clean, like a brand new boat it even smells new. We've looked at everything in our budget and thought we had decided on a sea ray 315 until we saw the S28 and fell in love with the looks, the quality and the layout. Another thing is we've been used only to single engine boats - our last 26 footer having a D4. Still I'm sure we wouldn't mind the learning curve of the twin engined model Oh, the dilemma! Thanks for your help.

 

[cloud7]

Sounds like you have found a very nice S28 ' like new' , get
a sea trail that will make your mind up.
Good luck /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Jonmendez]

The single engine boat will probably be quicker - not so much horsepower but much less weight and less drag, economy about the same, and with a bow thrudter will be easy to handle. However the big issue is that twin engined ones were made in the ration of 98 twins to 2 singles, so the twin option was by FAR the most popular, not an issue except that the singles are much harder to sell and hence attract lower prices, so you takes your choice....

 

[alt]

Is the S28 in Northern Ireland??

I'm in the exact same boat (no pun intended) as you - I've pretty much decided on an S28 for next boat, but don't know whether to go twin or single - Seatrial of both will be the only way to determine

 

[puddleduck]

It IS alt. Is on Apollo Duck. The price is similar to the twin engined versions on the net, some cheaper, some dearer, and not knowing anything about them we assumed therefore that single engine was the most desirable, however from what everyone says on here, the boat should be cheaper? (the twin engined one in particular we are looking at having radar too and a 'motivated seller'.) The problem with sea trial is that the boat is on hard standing in the middle of about 20 yachts and would have to be craned in and at our expense. bit much if we decide she's not powerful enough

 

[Pendana]

I know everyones not the same and that you pays your money and takes the choice but for me, twin engines and 340hp tick more boxes than single engine and 260hp.

Eddie

 

[CX54WEK]

[ QUOTE ]
I know everyones not the same and that you pays your money and takes the choice but for me, twin engines and 340hp tick more boxes than single engine and 260hp.

Eddie

[/ QUOTE ]

Suppose it depends how you are going to use it and how much spare cash you have for servicing and running twin engines and outdrives.

 

[[2068]]

[ QUOTE ]
The single engine boat will probably be quicker

[/ QUOTE ]
Wrong!

A KAD44 powered S28 with 260hp is not going to overtake a S28 with twins and 340hp+. If anybody wants to try, I'm up for the challenge /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[DavidJ]

[ QUOTE ]
....however the single engined boat is just soooo clean, like a brand new boat it even smells new.

[/ QUOTE ]
Used boats like this are very hard to come by, I know I looked and looked before buying new just to get that 'new' feel.
Totally irrational and emotive but, for the reasons above, I would go for the KAD44 but only after a sea trial testing what it's really like to get on the plane. Take a few mates along to get some weight in it to test it's "grunt"

 

[puddleduck]

Thats true; I think we could manage the servicing, we know a good guy who looked after last boat and is not hard to pay - all parts are doubled of course. the difference of say 10 litres per hour running costs we could probably handle too. The difference might be even less at the lower cruising speeds we like to travel at. The extra engine would indeed give peace of mind on longer trips. The fact too that if both boats can be got for the same price and all is equal surely the twin version is a much better bargain? We are going to see it at weekend, according to broker it is also immaculate with fussy owner. all your help and comments are much appreciated and have helped my confusion

 

[alt]

I showed interest in that same boat, but I haven't had her on sea trial. TBH she's priced too high in this current climate for a single engined S28 (Having said that, I haven't tried haggling with the owners... yet)

I'm in the same situation as you, paying for a crane in/out could be an expensive lesson if she's not up to much power wise

 

[Nick_H]

I think i'd prefer the single engine in a 28 footer. It'll obviously be cheaper to purchase, service and repair, and have better fuel economy. I think it'll plane just as quickly, as there will be less weight in the stern, and I doubt there'll be much in the top speed either. You also get more space in engine bay for servicing or storage, and i'd expect it to handle better with less stern weight as well.

The trade off is you don't get the redundancy of a second engine, so it depends how important that is to you. On most of the UK south coast it's not much of an issue, just keep the engine well maintained and get a Sea Start membership, and in the worst case you have exceptional emergency services to call on, but it may be different in more remote areas

 

[Pendana]

Well, for me, KAD 32's like the KAD 42's are a doddle to service. Sterndrives aren't difficult either. Provided you don't mind oily hands, arms, legs..face /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The other advantage the KAD 32's have over the KAD 44 is the they don't have the self destruct 24 valve cylinder head. The 30 and 40 series engines were always regarded as bombproof until the 44 and 300 came on the scene.

Eddie

 

[Jonmendez]

Actually probably not S28 with 2 x KAD 32 does 34/35 knots S28 with a KAD 44 I have had 36 knots both on sea trails, where the single falls down is if the boat gets weedy, then it can struggle if heavily laden.

 

[BartW]

Without any doubt I would go for a twin engine boat,
I used to have a few single engine boats, my actual boat is a twin,
this gives an extra source of exitement to the boating, and thats what it's all about IMHO.
If you can afford such a boat, I am sure you can handle the extra cost in maintenance. A little extra fuel consumption is almost neglectable

 

[[2068]]

No excuses about weedy bottoms, duff props, wrong type of water etc etc.. Challenge still stands /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

(S28's / KAD32 as standard are underpropped a bit. Stick a set of A7's on and... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif )

(Thinks: O crap: how quickly can I get all that bumpy antifoul off and polish the hull?)

dv.

 

[Gemini]

A mate of mine had the S28 with KAD44, once slight weed appeared he had trouble getting on over the hump and on the plane, moored in Brixham slow motor around to Dartmouth lift and clean back in all fine seems to be boarderline on the HP Twin KAD32 are the best option.