Volvo penta 32dp

[Doublerum]

Hi all.
I am a newbie to boating and have already found out about the dig in your pocket again bit.
We bought a Sealine 285 Ambassador fitted with twin Volvo KAD32 DPs and had a survey done to make sure all was ok before purchase.
The first time we took her out we discovered that the port engine would only rev to 1500 and the starboard would surge at anything over 2000
According to the Volvo engineers at the marina, (who will remsin nameless for the time being) there is a problem with the port turbo and the stsrbosrd engine is surging to compensate.
As far as I can see, that must surely be impossible because both engines have their own fuel system and throttle and reading through the handbook, you can run on just one engine.
I have been around diesels all my life as a truck driver and when a turbo goes you get a lot of black smoke as the engine is over fueling.
If i run at 1500 revs on both engines by matching speeds on the throttles i can make about 7 knots and both engines sound sweet but port throttle lever is at max and starboard is about a third.
My suspicions are that the port linkage is faulty somewhere and is not opening the pump as it should.
Fuel filters have been replaced and made no difference.
Any suggestions please

 

[volvopaul]

Hi all.
I am a newbie to boating and have already found out about the dig in your pocket again bit.
We bought a Sealine 285 Ambassador fitted with twin Volvo KAD32 DPs and had a survey done to make sure all was ok before purchase.
The first time we took her out we discovered that the port engine would only rev to 1500 and the starboard would surge at anything over 2000
According to the Volvo engineers at the marina, (who will remsin nameless for the time being) there is a problem with the port turbo and the stsrbosrd engine is surging to compensate.
As far as I can see, that must surely be impossible because both engines have their own fuel system and throttle and reading through the handbook, you can run on just one engine.
I have been around diesels all my life as a truck driver and when a turbo goes you get a lot of black smoke as the engine is over fueling.
If i run at 1500 revs on both engines by matching speeds on the throttles i can make about 7 knots and both engines sound sweet but port throttle lever is at max and starboard is about a third.
My suspicions are that the port linkage is faulty somewhere and is not opening the pump as it should.
Fuel filters have been replaced and made no difference.
Any suggestions please

Sorry but you are way off with the linkage .
How long ago did t you have your survey , do you have the data recorded by your surveyor from the sea trial , how long after the sea trial and purchase did you find these faults ? If the boat has a lot of growth on the bottom then the speed and rpm will be reduced .
The boat has obviously been re engined at some point so it’s possible it has the wrong size props fitted to match the power and boat weight etc .
If the turbo is worn it won’t boost up to give the desired power therefore the super charger will run constantly within its parameter of revs that’s the surge .
Now you could have a slipping prop on the starboard engine that’s why it’s revving more as it has less load on it , the port engine is bogged down as it’s taking the load through the good props .
If you have a good dealer on the job they should know all this .
It beggars belief these days so many people with problems with boats that use main dealers and have to come on here, volvopenta victims On Facebook and Newly created Volvopenta owners also on Facebook , it’s full every days with problems , often most of which the answers are in the handbooks .
id be keen to hear who surveyed the boat and who the dealers are if of course Your in the uk ., you can use the private message service if you wish .

 

[Doublerum]

The survey was done on 16 July and the report was received on the 31st. The surveyor did not tske it for a sea trial as he claims he would not be covered by insurance. The report says that the engines were seen to be complete and in serviceable condition with minimal corrosion.
They started easily from cold with a fair amount of blue smoke which disappeared once the engine had warmed up.
There was no undue vibration knocking or misfiring. Engines were engaged and the drives functioned correctly wih no concern.
His conclusion was engines were "in good serviceable condition"
The boat was re engined in 2005 along with 2 new Volvo outdrives and the plentiful service records show nothing that would indicate mismatched props were ever a problem. The vessel is known to the volvo dealership as they have done plenty of work in the past..

 

[volvopaul]

The survey was done on 16 July and the report was received on the 31st. The surveyor did not tske it for a sea trial as he claims he would not be covered by insurance. The report says that the engines were seen to be complete and in serviceable condition with minimal corrosion.
They started easily from cold with a fair amount of blue smoke which disappeared once the engine had warmed up.
There was no undue vibration knocking or misfiring. Engines were engaged and the drives functioned correctly wih no concern.
His conclusion was engines were "in good serviceable condition"
The boat was re engined in 2005 along with 2 new Volvo outdrives and the plentiful service records show nothing that would indicate mismatched props were ever a problem. The vessel is known to the volvo dealership as they have done plenty of work in the past..

Really so how can he have surveyed the boat then , no sea trial no full survey .
I could sit and write you a long list of the things he has missed by not carrying out a sea trial , for a start his insurance he is required to have will cover him to sea trial the boat , so I’d question his Insurance level straight away .
It sounds like you have been short changed by a long way clearly by the performance issue for a start , how do you know the drives are in good order with no clutch slippage , vibration under load , prop hub slippage , steering issues, trim pump and ram issues , the list goes on .

I would be getting a report from a dealer straight away along with a sea trial , then contact the surveyor and ask him for his indemnity insurance to recover the costs of making the boat good .

As for his excuse Not to sea trial in any case either the owner or broker must sea trial the boat for the buyer otherwise the survey is inconclusive , unless of course you didn’t ask for a sea trial , if you can add more Information as to where you purchased the boat and who from , the surveyor etc more advice can be given .
The mere fact he has stated they are in serviceable condition is clear misrepresentation of his survey as they clearly are not.
Were you advised to use the surveyor from the broker or another forum ?