dpb
Well-Known Member
This advert I found interesting for two reasons.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/sea-ray-2...7417361?pt=UK_Power_Boats&hash=item4ae446ae91
First because I used to have a boat like this up till 2006 and it remains one of the favourite that I have had. Mine had a 5.7l V8 though and being raw water cooled was rotting from the inside and I eventually put the money I was spending on repairs each year to a loan on a brand new boat.
Secondly, because I have been pondering the fate of old, big engined boats, like the Sea Ray, and like my current Portofino, where the cost of repairs and maintenance, and eventual replacement is disproportionate to the boats value. To the extent that if you can afford the repairs and eventual replacement, you can probably afford a newer dearer boat in the first place.
Another issue is that as the boats get older, little things need fiddling with more often, but the access arrangement in many, maybe most boats is such that access to carry out even simple jobs, like removing a starter motor are made difficult, or painfull or both, as is the case on the Portofino.
So take my Portofino.
When the time comes, and I suppose it is when, where a repair or replacement is needed that is financially unviable, what do I do? Sunseeker have had a boat like mine, with new engines installed priced to reflect the value of those engines, for sale for at least the last four years. I think it is still for sale.
So would I do as the Sea Ray in the advert, convert to low power (say 50hp) single diesel, that could be done relatively cheaply, and would result in a cheap to run and maintain, and easy to work on boat that would be attractive to buyers in that budget? The Sea Ray looks like a tidy job though I do wonder about the exposed prop in the river environment.
Another idea that came to me is that my DIY jobs would be so much easier if there was only one of the existing engines sat in the middle, and such jobs would become enjoyable rather than a bind as there would be room for a little seat each side of the motor! I think doing such a conversion would be relatively easy.
Also playing with a couple of online power / size / speed programmes, even with one 200hp engine my Portofino would probably, if re propped, still get a top speed of 25k, well we don’t push her hard these days so cruise between 20 and 25 anyway at the moment. Ok, the single engine would work harder, but I’d have a good source of spare parts from the removed engine....unless it was sold to finance the project.
As you can see I do not reach a conclusion, nor have any particular plans at the moment, but would be interested in seeing other’s views on this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/sea-ray-2...7417361?pt=UK_Power_Boats&hash=item4ae446ae91
First because I used to have a boat like this up till 2006 and it remains one of the favourite that I have had. Mine had a 5.7l V8 though and being raw water cooled was rotting from the inside and I eventually put the money I was spending on repairs each year to a loan on a brand new boat.
Secondly, because I have been pondering the fate of old, big engined boats, like the Sea Ray, and like my current Portofino, where the cost of repairs and maintenance, and eventual replacement is disproportionate to the boats value. To the extent that if you can afford the repairs and eventual replacement, you can probably afford a newer dearer boat in the first place.
Another issue is that as the boats get older, little things need fiddling with more often, but the access arrangement in many, maybe most boats is such that access to carry out even simple jobs, like removing a starter motor are made difficult, or painfull or both, as is the case on the Portofino.
So take my Portofino.
When the time comes, and I suppose it is when, where a repair or replacement is needed that is financially unviable, what do I do? Sunseeker have had a boat like mine, with new engines installed priced to reflect the value of those engines, for sale for at least the last four years. I think it is still for sale.
So would I do as the Sea Ray in the advert, convert to low power (say 50hp) single diesel, that could be done relatively cheaply, and would result in a cheap to run and maintain, and easy to work on boat that would be attractive to buyers in that budget? The Sea Ray looks like a tidy job though I do wonder about the exposed prop in the river environment.
Another idea that came to me is that my DIY jobs would be so much easier if there was only one of the existing engines sat in the middle, and such jobs would become enjoyable rather than a bind as there would be room for a little seat each side of the motor! I think doing such a conversion would be relatively easy.
Also playing with a couple of online power / size / speed programmes, even with one 200hp engine my Portofino would probably, if re propped, still get a top speed of 25k, well we don’t push her hard these days so cruise between 20 and 25 anyway at the moment. Ok, the single engine would work harder, but I’d have a good source of spare parts from the removed engine....unless it was sold to finance the project.
As you can see I do not reach a conclusion, nor have any particular plans at the moment, but would be interested in seeing other’s views on this.
