ricky_s
Well-Known Member
Is it still better to go with a diesel boat or a petrol?
Discuss......
Discuss......
Time to ask again. Petrol or Diesel?
- Thread starter ricky_s
- Start date
paultallett
Well-Known Member
I think all the usual stuff still applies................
ian38_39
Well-Known Member
Pro's and Cons are the same as they have ever been except if you were about to buy one.
Safe money now has to be on petrol, whatever happens there will either be restrictions on use through fines or the cost of use is going through the roof if you buy diesel.
Who is going to pay 10k more for the same boat with a diesel engine in if the chances are the fuel for it will be more expensive per litre than petrol by this time next year?
Safe money now has to be on petrol, whatever happens there will either be restrictions on use through fines or the cost of use is going through the roof if you buy diesel.
Who is going to pay 10k more for the same boat with a diesel engine in if the chances are the fuel for it will be more expensive per litre than petrol by this time next year?
PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
What colour diesel ?
Shell or Esso petrol ?
Shell or Esso petrol ?
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
Yes, no change for me. Small (sub 23 foot) sports boat, or river cruiser (sub 28 foot) petrol is fine, although riskier for fire, particularly river cruising.
Anything over 25 foot on the sea really needs to be diesel for economy and residual value.
............................runs for cover.
Anything over 25 foot on the sea really needs to be diesel for economy and residual value.
............................runs for cover.
scottie
Well-Known Member
Why are all sailing boats diesel?
Can't be fuel cost so is it safety or lack of petrol engines.
Can't be fuel cost so is it safety or lack of petrol engines.
Mymobo
Well-Known Member
I run a 27 foot Searay on petrol, with no problems but I think 27,28 foot is max size you want to be in petrol for sea work. I also run a single v8, twins would drink more.
maby
Well-Known Member
Sailing boats do not use much fuel, so the price difference does not enter into the calculations. Diesel engines are more reliable than petrol, and diesel fuel is more widely available (though mostly the wrong colour!).
ian38_39
Well-Known Member
Ours works at 34' loa with twin V6's giving around 1.5mpg at 20/22 knots. Having said that if we were at sea 100% even with the possible worst case scenario fuel costs in a diesel boat would still be less. As we have split use sea/river for me it is the right solution.
Still think it depends on use but what is definite is the differences between the two fuels are closing very quickly, can't see petrol boats going up in value so the alternative is the equivalent diesel boat comes down.
IMHO if anyone is buying today the smart money would be on petrol.
Still think it depends on use but what is definite is the differences between the two fuels are closing very quickly, can't see petrol boats going up in value so the alternative is the equivalent diesel boat comes down.
IMHO if anyone is buying today the smart money would be on petrol.
PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
Whilst the gap in price might be closing, diesel is still generally more economical in terms of MPG. It's also much easier to get in coastal marinas, there is hardly anywhere on the East Coast to get petrol.
oldgit
Well-Known Member
No change.
People who can afford to buy a diesel boat..... do. ..... Simples Innit !
Those who cannot ....and buy...... petrol .....generally end up spending their time on here interminably justifying their choice,mainly cos they cannot actually afford to go anywhere in their boat.
People who can afford to buy a diesel boat..... do. ..... Simples Innit !
Those who cannot ....and buy...... petrol .....generally end up spending their time on here interminably justifying their choice,mainly cos they cannot actually afford to go anywhere in their boat.
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maby
Well-Known Member
seems unlikely to me that the prices will ever tip to the point where the fuel cost difference will be an overwhelming consideration - if you can't afford the diesel to keep your floating gin-palace moving, I suspect that you will find the petrol difficult to cover as well! Availability is the bigger consideration - few marinas seem to stock petrol - though few stock diesel that we can take across the channel either
rafiki_
Well-Known Member
No change.
People who can afford to buy a diesel boat..... do. ..... Simples Innit !
Those who cannot ....and buy...... petrol .....generally end up spending their time on here interminably justifying their choice,mainly cos they cannot actually afford to go anywhere in their boat.
Made me chuckle too.
My first 2 mobo's were petrol. All I could afford at the time.
ian38_39
Well-Known Member
You are right as I said the diesel boat will still have lower fuel costs even on pure white but there is not going to be the gulf there was.
Petrol on the east coast at Gillingham, Chatham, Burnham, Bradwell, Levington and I am guessing there will be a few more places with it soon too. It is very true though that if you own a petrol boat you know all the marinas with petrol on the pontoon and even get to know the places where petrol is close to a marina. With a diesel you just pull up at any marina and expect it to be there.
One thing you will not get with petrol is a fine in Belgium, having said that we have curtailed our Belgium trip this year due to fuel prices escalating so maybe OldGit is right.
PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
seems unlikely to me that the prices will ever tip to the point where the fuel cost difference will be an overwhelming consideration - if you can't afford the diesel to keep your floating gin-palace moving, I suspect that you will find the petrol difficult to cover as well! Availability is the bigger consideration - few marinas seem to stock petrol - though few stock diesel that we can take across the channel either
Perhaps what we really need is an extra tank in all marinas, for red petrol
Spi D
...
If you can or will not pay the fuel to make the gin-palace move, it doesn't matter if it is petrol or diesel as you're going to spend your time moored up at the pontoon.
That can be done with even the smallest engine, so go for a big, fancy boat with the least engine and get more boat for the buck.
That can be done with even the smallest engine, so go for a big, fancy boat with the least engine and get more boat for the buck.
Swordfish
Well-Known Member
Last winter I changed from a 5.0 liter V8 Petrol to a 2.8 litre Diesel. I am very happy with the resulting running costs.
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oGaryo
Well-Known Member
there was an interesting question I used to have to check out interviewee's attitudes to change when interviewing.. it was along the lines of "what would life be like if everyone were in wheelchairs" those that didn't get the job described at great length the hassles of getting up stairs, getting in and out of cars etc... those that did stated that it'd be great, the world would be geared up for wheels, no stairs, drive throughs at every store etc etc.
same goes for this.. if Petrol were to be the fuel of choice I am sure every marina would change.. or lets say, every fuel berth that had the foresight to want to stay in business
PaulGooch
Well-Known Member
As far as i know, no petrol between Levington and the Humber, at least.
EugeneR
Well-Known Member
I'm really happy with petrol for our boat and usage. We're based on the South Coast where availability is good with perhaps the rare trip across the channel having to go via Cherbourg.
Given our small size, consumption is low enough not to be painful and since I don't have to read threads about red diesel or worry about getting stopped by the Belgians I probably save more in time.
The only reason I would go diesel, regardless of how much duty I pay, is to get a longer range without refuelling.
Given our small size, consumption is low enough not to be painful and since I don't have to read threads about red diesel or worry about getting stopped by the Belgians I probably save more in time.
The only reason I would go diesel, regardless of how much duty I pay, is to get a longer range without refuelling.
