grumpy_o_g
Well-Known Member
In my opinion, the cost of 'servicing' the two boat will actually be very similar. You mention injection pump and turbos, but these are not what I would call 'service' items. The drives will be pretty much the same to service, and the engines will be almost the same with the diesels probably needing more oil but the petrols needing spark plugs.
The point you are trying to make is not so much servicing/maintaining, it's fixing. Now it was mentioned above that your usage would amount to £2700 per year more in fuel for the petrol boat. A turbo can be had for about £800*. To recon a 290dp drive maybe £1500*. My point is that the savings in fuel should pay for any extra maintenance quite easily, and you still benefit from easy to obtain fuel and a higher demand, higher price, easier sale when the time comes.
Having said that, you appear to have your mind made up, so you should go with what your head is telling you and not listen to us old boogers.
ps. one last point. a paid of mistreated 10 year old drives will be a worse proposition IMHO that a pair of 30 year old well maintained drives. How you find out the reality of their whole life treatment is the difficult thing. Good luck with whichever way you go!
*http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Origi...647984?hash=item237be7dbb0:g:lPAAAOSwEzxYV~ui
*http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-Pen...276312?hash=item4b0af37bd8:g:yV0AAOSwk1JWb9U5 ( I assume there may be some parts on top of this)
Evinrude already offer a 7 year warranty on their new outboards and have just done a promotion that allows you to extend to a 10 year factory warranty. Even at £20K+ for a 250hp motor the costs you're talking about above make them seem quite an option for a new boat, especially for people like me who don't like nasty surprises hitting their rainy day fund. How they can do a warranty like I have no idea...