Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
My first car was a Herald reg 3760 JN. Have not a clue what the number of my current wheels is
Looking back, I think It might have been better if my father had bought me a dodgem car.
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Should I be concerned with this Volvo Penta MD2020 engine?
- Thread starter Men a vaur
- Start date
Looking back, I think It might have been better if my father had bought me a dodgem car.
Rappey
Well-Known Member
I think i would be more concerned if it had a brand new coat of paint over everything as you may then wonder if they are trying to hide anything whereas its presented in honest condition in the pic.. The engine room itself appears quite clean and very uncluttered..
People are assuming the rest of the boat must be in poor condition, Why ? It might not be.
I do understand where most are comming from about being presented with an immaculate engine versus one that is dirty.. but mine has had injector pump and injectors reconditioned as i didnt like what i read about the damage bio diesel can do and even changed the cam chain only because its a british engine so parts are cheaper than chips.. £260 for all of the above... but they may not have needing doing at all.
My tatty looking engine has probably had more love and attention than others who polish their engines ?
If its service history and track record can be proven then i dont see much of an issue..
Only reason i posted is because everyone seems to be of the opinion that if it looks tatty then its safe to assume the rest of the boat is an old dog, but thats not always true..
Men a vaur
New Member
Thanks for the input everyone, really appreciate the different perspectives and advice! The engine has been replaced around 18 years ago hence the mounts looking odd. The boat is not the best conditioned version on the market and is priced at a discount to others listed/recently sold but I don’t think the discount is enough so will probably look at a better maintained boat as I‘d rather go sailing than risk having a bunch of things unexpectedly go wrong and need repairing.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
Thanks fore posting your conclusion Men a Vaur.
I was one of the doom merchants - but simply looking at the engine - having a decent professional service is not going to cost much and most remedial action needed is actually likely to be relatively cheap (and you can learn about engine servicing at the same time). If you are looking at 'that' vintage of yacht you really do need to have the basics of engine maintenance. As an example it is possible the exhaust elbow needs a replacement - but that will happen with any well used 20 year old engine (whether rusty or not). Its really easy to do (check and replace the elbow), though new elbows command an amazing price.
If you like the boat - make an offer that reflects the remedies needed, by a professional (and maybe add a contingency
). But find friends who have owned yachts and have them have a look, other than the engine. Or post here (with photos) of areas that you think are questionable or you do not understand - that's but one reason there is this forum. I note you are a new member - if we knew where you are located (or the yacht in question located) someone here might be 5 minutes away and for a bottle of wine would be more than happy to cast an eye over this boat.......but I'm making suggestions that will unlikely impact me, unless you also live at the other end of the known world
I also make the suggestion having no idea of the implications of lockdown - excuse my ignorance, its one constraint we don't have to contend with.
Most others also looking at the boat are going to come to the same conclusion as you, many will walk away, some will make a lower offer.
Jonathan
I was one of the doom merchants - but simply looking at the engine - having a decent professional service is not going to cost much and most remedial action needed is actually likely to be relatively cheap (and you can learn about engine servicing at the same time). If you are looking at 'that' vintage of yacht you really do need to have the basics of engine maintenance. As an example it is possible the exhaust elbow needs a replacement - but that will happen with any well used 20 year old engine (whether rusty or not). Its really easy to do (check and replace the elbow), though new elbows command an amazing price.
If you like the boat - make an offer that reflects the remedies needed, by a professional (and maybe add a contingency
). But find friends who have owned yachts and have them have a look, other than the engine. Or post here (with photos) of areas that you think are questionable or you do not understand - that's but one reason there is this forum. I note you are a new member - if we knew where you are located (or the yacht in question located) someone here might be 5 minutes away and for a bottle of wine would be more than happy to cast an eye over this boat.......but I'm making suggestions that will unlikely impact me, unless you also live at the other end of the known world I also make the suggestion having no idea of the implications of lockdown - excuse my ignorance, its one constraint we don't have to contend with.
Most others also looking at the boat are going to come to the same conclusion as you, many will walk away, some will make a lower offer.
Jonathan
dom
Well-Known Member
Smart move IMHO.
Referencing what might unexpectedly go wrong; hard to be sure, but there may even be a risk of that engine crashing off its botched looking mounting in a knockdown with potentially severe consequences.
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
After eighteen years it would probably have fallen off already if it was going to.
tillergirl
Well-Known Member
I am a bit surprised nobody has ever suggest asking if the seller has the receipts for the servicing of the engine or such as filters, impeller, oils. That is far more telling than external appearance.
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
A Knockdown ??? Well i have had water half way up the cabin windows, ( on purpose to prime the raw water cooling) but I do not think I have ever suffered one of those, except for when I was b..gering about being silly in a race in my early 20's.
But if the OP is considering crossing the pond in the near future I suppose !!!!
Has any one sailing locally, actually suffered a knockdown, - as opposed to a bit of heeling- I wonder??
Might make for an interesting thread
Rappey
Well-Known Member
Yes ! Was sailing along Southsea seafront on a summers day, fairly calm and around 13 knts wind.
Next thing is this random but very powerful gust hit the boat and the spreaders touched the water. We just clung on as the boat came back upright somewhat shocked at what just happened and looked around to see many others looking at us from their boats in amazement as this freak gust didn't affect any other boat.
Mine is a very heavy beamy boat !
Dipper
Well-Known Member
There's a lot of force exerted on engine mountings if the boat's heeled over at 25° whilst beating into a heavy sea.
Goofeyfoot
Member
Well I can tell you that in the states the parts are not inexpensive. Just to give you a flavor, a US dealer will sell a single injector for about $400. I know you can get them a lot cheaper elsewhere but I’m just saying in the US the prices are unreal.
Tranona
Well-Known Member
Volvo do not make the injectors and alternatives at lower cost are freely available from alternative sources. It is a Perkins engine used widely in small tractors and agricutural machinery.
Rare to ever need a new injector anyway - should last the life of the engine.
Bristolfashion
Well-Known Member
Fortunately then my little yacht was located in Australia. The injectors showed no sign of needing replacement after nearly 20 years
Baggywrinkle
Well-Known Member
IMO .. a very sensible conclusion. I saw the pic and thought "Run Forest, RUN!!!"
It takes a special kind of masochist to take on a project boat. ?
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
I have a 2020
Changed my injectors after 4500 hours & the difference was marked. As it was done by a Volspec service engineer, as a part of other work, I ended up having Volvo ones @ £ 148 each. ( plus labour). They did refund £ 30-00 each, 14 days later, after the old ones were returned. I could have had the existing ones refurbished locally ( 60 miles away so 120 miles round trip) at £ 75-00 each & fitted myself.
I do have the knowledge that a decent Volvo engineer did the work, sorted my other bits & an engine that I thought was due for replacement is now running like a sewing machine.
Changed my injectors after 4500 hours & the difference was marked. As it was done by a Volspec service engineer, as a part of other work, I ended up having Volvo ones @ £ 148 each. ( plus labour). They did refund £ 30-00 each, 14 days later, after the old ones were returned. I could have had the existing ones refurbished locally ( 60 miles away so 120 miles round trip) at £ 75-00 each & fitted myself.
I do have the knowledge that a decent Volvo engineer did the work, sorted my other bits & an engine that I thought was due for replacement is now running like a sewing machine.