Volvo Penta kad32 or AD41 - which is the most reliable /trouble free ?

Momac

Momac

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I thought the Ad41 was the simplest and most bullet proof of the six cylinder VP range. But it seems not. Another post suggests they are prone to valve issues.
Is the 4 cylinder kad32 the more reliable choice?
I guess what I really would like some feedback on is ...
Given the coice between twin ad41 and twin kad32 in a 10 or 12 year old boat - which would be the better option with regard to reliability (and hence reduced risk of surprise engine repair bills) ?
 
MartynG said:
I thought the Ad41 was the simplest and most bullet proof of the six cylinder VP range. But it seems not. Another post suggests they are prone to valve issues.
Is the 4 cylinder kad32 the more reliable choice?
I guess what I really would like some feedback on is ...
Given the coice between twin ad41 and twin kad32 in a 10 or 12 year old boat - which would be the better option with regard to reliability (and hence reduced risk of surprise engine repair bills) ?
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Martyn , in my view there is virtually nothing between the two, the kad has more belts so service costs slightly higher , but the 41 has more torque but not much as the kad is only 20 odd hp less and the power to weight ratio is better.

Tell me the boats and ill give you a better answer, as a bigger boats isn't always good with the kads in where the 6 pot engine may be better., if your only using it on the rivers then I'd go for the kads and disconnect the chargers as the whining will be intrusive and you will end up with an engine bay of black belt dust.
 
volvopaul said:
Martyn
Tell me the boats and ill give you a better answer,QUOTE]

Paul
The boat I have in mind is a Sealine S34. I suspect the boat is a little more stable with the extra inertia of heavier engines and presumably six cyliders are smoother/quieter running than 4 cylinder? Having said that most S34's comewith kad32's so availabilty/condition/price may be the deciding factors when the time comes to buy.

Regards
Martyn



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superheat6k said:
Just my opinion, of course, but unless either has a shaft attached AVOID, as the Outdrive is where up your real trouble will start.
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S34 is not a shaftdrive boat, so that isn't helpful.

KAD32 works really well on an S28, but is a bit underpowered on an S34 for my liking, although most were made this way.
Ideal engines on an S34 are KAD43 or D4-225, but these aren't as easy to find. AD41 should work well too, but this is an old engine now.
 
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MartynG said:
volvopaul said:
Martyn
Tell me the boats and ill give you a better answer,QUOTE]

Paul
The boat I have in mind is a Sealine S34. I suspect the boat is a little more stable with the extra inertia of heavier engines and presumably six cyliders are smoother/quieter running than 4 cylinder? Having said that most S34's comewith kad32's so availabilty/condition/price may be the deciding factors when the time comes to buy.

Regards
Martyn



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If its in farndon I have worked on it. Was it moored near to sanity?

If so I have rebuilt the drives last year
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FlowerPower said:
S34 is not a shaftdrive boat, so that isn't helpful.

KAD32 works really well on an S28, but is a bit underpowered on an S34 for my liking, although most were made this way.
Ideal engines on an S34 are KAD43 or D4-225, but these aren't as easy to find. AD41 should work well too, but this is an old engine now.
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We thought that would be the case but have since changed our minds after this years Norfolk trip with a KAD32 powered S34. It was way quicker than our S23 with a single KAD32 despite being more than twice as heavy. It seems to work well as a combination.

There are a few cheap S34's about for sale at the minute Martin.

On the downside there are a glut of S23/25's as well so you need to make yours stand out from the crowd!!

Personally I would have had it on the sales pontoon. We were up at Farndon last weekend to look at a boat but didnt see yours which isnt a great start for people who are boat hunting!!
 
CX54WEK said:
We thought that would be the case but have since changed our minds after this years Norfolk trip with a KAD32 powered S34. It was way quicker than our S23 with a single KAD32 despite being more than twice as heavy. It seems to work well as a combination.

There are a few cheap S34's about for sale at the minute Martin.

On the downside there are a glut of S23/25's as well so you need to make yours stand out from the crowd!!

Personally I would have had it on the sales pontoon. We were up at Farndon last weekend to look at a boat but didnt see yours which isnt a great start for people who are boat hunting!!
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A nice s 23 will always sell, a great british starter boat with a diesel, you cannot go wrong.
 
volvopaul said:
A nice s 23 will always sell, a great british starter boat with a diesel, you cannot go wrong.
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I agree but at the moment there are plenty for sale. The brokerage at our marina for instance has six S23's and one S25 for sale a few of which are very nice boats but they dont seem to be shifting at the moment.
 
CX54WEK said:
I have never really understood that theory. If someone wants a boat they will buy it whatever the time of year.
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Suspect that most new entrants to the boat market will be looking for a sports boat of some sort.The urge to buy probably as a result of being out on a warm sunny summers day and thinking...I fancy some of that ...as somebody whizzes past.
Those buyers will not be wandering along an ice coated Essex pontoon,mid February with an freezing North wind and the light fading fast at 3.30pm. :)
 
oldgit said:
Suspect that most new entrants to the boat market will be looking for a sports boat of some sort.The urge to buy probably as a result of being out on a warm sunny summers day and thinking...I fancy some of that ...as somebody whizzes past.
Those buyers will not be wandering along an ice coated Essex pontoon,mid February with an freezing North wind and the light fading fast at 3.30pm. :)
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We must have been slightly odd then :D
 
oldgit said:
Suspect that most new entrants to the boat market will be looking for a sports boat of some sort.The urge to buy probably as a result of being out on a warm sunny summers day and thinking...I fancy some of that ...as somebody whizzes past.
Those buyers will not be wandering along an ice coated Essex pontoon,mid February with an freezing North wind and the light fading fast at 3.30pm. :)
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+1
 
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