Volvo Aqad 41 or Volvo KAD 42 ?

BrianCarr

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I am looking at two identical boats. One with a 5 year old AQAD 41 and the other with what I think is an original 13 year old KAD 42.

Can anyone help with advice on whether one engine is better than the other ?
 

CaptainThames

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I thought the KAD was a newer engine than the AQAD and that reversing the age would make more sense, i.e. the AQAD 13 years old and the KAD 5 yrs. I have a pair of AQD 40s which are 20 yrs old and the AQAD followed them. I'm sure the KAD is a much newer model - but I could be wrong. Anyone else any thoughts ???????
 

KevB

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What boat is it? The extra 30bhp per engine may make a difference. If it's not so crucial I'd go for the newer engined boat as long as the service book is OK.
 

KevB

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Personally for me, all other things being equal, I'd go for the newer engine. Basically the same engine except the KAD42 has a supercharger and 30 more bhp. The KAD42 will get you on the plane a bit faster and maybe a knot or two faster top end. The Aqad is bullet proof and has less to go wrong.

At 13 years old the kad42's must be one of the earliest, I have heard rumours of oil feed problems to the head and pistons going bang on early 42's, but it's only info I have heard on these forums.
 

Piers

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I had an early pair of KAD42 on a Princess V39 in '95. Problems encountered were overflowing coolant bottles (2 new types of expansion bottles may have cured this), squealing compressor belts (epensive new pulley and tensioner designs may have cured this), plastic inserts between the exhaust trumpets and engine to prevent different metal corrosion and hence failure of the fitting (horrible conversion to do if space is limited, and needs to be inspected regularly to check on integrity and prevent potential sinking!), and a blown turbo (but I don't think this is a common fault).

Which would I choose now? KAD42 for the extra power but be ready to spend to bring them up to speed with the mods, but if power was needed, the AQADs since in your case they are much newer and as an engine, bullet-proof and reliable. So, if the need for the extra power was not needed, the AQADs.
 

Vagabond

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I wouldn't buy a boat with KAD 42's.

Bit harsh but I've know of 2 people that have had the engines blow up on them. In one case both engines! Tends to the oil problem on Piston No 6 I believe.

Isn't that why they ended up called them KAD 43's because the 42's had such a bad rep.?

The 42's are the 41's with a supercharger bolted on ... plus obviously a bit of tweaking.

Maintenance does count for a lot though. Which boat/engines have the best service history?
 

tamarind

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Considering what generally the thoughts are on the 42's which I have had simular exp, the 41's are the engine to go for. Less complicated, only a turbo, well proven engine, Volvo still make it that says something, they don't make 42's, 43's maybe but they modified the engine. Best of luck
 

oldgit

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Have got the early version of the ADQ41.2.500 hours and climbing.Reliable old unstressed plodders and cheap to maintain.The newer 42s produce more power for whizzing tho.However suspect that how the engine has been maintained is more important so well sorted 42 may be better bet than neglected 41.
Would consider that by now anything that was gonna fail on the 42 would have done so by now.
It is always gratifying to know that all us poor souls at the bottom of the boat food chain benefit from the first owners having most of the debugging grief.
 
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