Volvo, Yanmar or Nanni?

[rgsmg53]

At the risk of provoking strongly-held views, which engine make has the best reputation?

I'm thinking about down-sizing to a used 25 foot-ish single-engined MoBo, say something like a Merry Fisher 805, with less than 1000 hours on the clock. Many examples of this type currently for sale seem to be fitted with Volvo, Yanmar or Nanni diesels of around 150+ HP.

What are people's views on these makes? I've never owned a Yanmar but I've always had a feeling they were a cut above the others in terms of reliability, efficiency, etc.

 

[About Time]

I think you name 3 good brands. I have been happy with Volvo for years myself but know of people with Yanmar and they have been happy too. Nanni is not that famous here in Scandinavia - I think you see them more often in the Med. What would matter to me will be the availability of parts... Both Volvo and Yanmar you can get easily - with Volvo (still) being priced less expensive. Reliability is often linked to your maintenance.... sorry to say....If you do not look after these engines in a harsh environment they will all break down quite rapidly.

 

[ctva]

To my mind and experience, Yanmar are simpler, cheaper and easier to maintain and just work.

Also, I like the silver colour over the green VP.

 

[Portofino]

Yanmar .As said maintenance and in some respect the instal and usage pattern all help the decades and hrs pass uneventfully .

 

[Greg2]

Worth noting that Yanmar have a pricing structure for parts that is very expensive - eye watering if you need major works done!

 

[alandalus11]

Yanmar all the way. My last two boats had Yanmars and that was why I bought them apart from the boat of course. In my mind they are bomb proof and easy to maintain. Parts may be expensive but I have no experience of other engines so can't compare but easy to get and you don't always have to go down route of Yanmar manufactured parts.

 

[Rickard]

The Volvo 41P is a very good engine and would be my choice
Yanmar are great engines but in this case we are looking at a 4 cyl and the sound and extra vibrations is no fun compared to the Volvo 41 6 cyl
The Volvo 41 has sleeves if you would end up overhauling the engine(not very likely on a 41P in this boat though). I don´t think the Yanmar has sleeves
Nanni I have no experience of

 

[westernman]

Some Nannis are based on John Deere tractor engines. John Deere also offer marinised versions of their engines, but the Nanni marinisation parts are reputed to be better quality. (Lugger also used to do marinised John Deere engines - used, in particular, by Nordhavn. But I think they no longer do this).

Other Nannis have Kabota or Toyota base engines so parts should be easy to get and reasonably priced.

 

[Greg2]

The Volvo 41 has sleeves if you would end up overhauling the engine(not very likely on a 41P in this boat though). I don´t think the Yanmar has sleeves

Your are right - a major problem if things go pop with a Yanmar.
.

 

[oldgit]

Buy the boat you like and on condition.
Always go for the most well maintained engine you can find preferably with the seller waving a big big file of outrageously expensive main dealer invoices as proof.
All the engines mentioned have their advantages and disadvantages.
Would personally in this size of boat be attempting to avoid anything with a turbo charger/supercharger combination or complicated electronic control system.
As with anything boaty .KISS.

 

[volvopaul]

To my mind and experience, Yanmar are simpler, cheaper and easier to maintain and just work.

Also, I like the silver colour over the green VP.

Cheaper , you got to be joking .
Look at the price of genuine parts .

 

[jon and michie]

Volvo wouldn't be my first choice to be honest

 

[volvopaul]

Volvo wouldn't be my first choice to be honest

you wouldn’t want a black outdrive

 

[jon and michie]

@volvopaul - you've obviously seen my anti foul paint question lol.
To be honest volvo engine block seem really good - it's the bolt on bits that seem to be made from chocolate - and while there generally is a good supply of parts - that maybe the reason ie volvo cashing in on the spare parts 10 times over.

I am sure other manufacturers engines / drives etc have their issues but to be honest the majority of issues posted on here involve volvo.

 

[westernman]

@volvopaul - you've obviously seen my anti foul paint question lol.
To be honest volvo engine block seem really good - it's the bolt on bits that seem to be made from chocolate - and while there generally is a good supply of parts - that maybe the reason ie volvo cashing in on the spare parts 10 times over.

I am sure other manufacturers engines / drives etc have their issues but to be honest the majority of issues posted on here involve volvo.

Google Yanmar Heat Exchanger corrosion.

The bits which touch sea water seem to have their issues with all the engine makers.

 

[Rickard]

@volvopaul - you've obviously seen my anti foul paint question lol.
To be honest volvo engine block seem really good - it's the bolt on bits that seem to be made from chocolate - and while there generally is a good supply of parts - that maybe the reason ie volvo cashing in on the spare parts 10 times over.

I am sure other manufacturers engines / drives etc have their issues but to be honest the majority of issues posted on here involve volvo.

Well now we´re talking about the 41P and shaft. Not a D4 and DPH for example...

 

[oldgit]

Google Yanmar Heat Exchanger corrosion.

The bits which touch sea water seem to have their issues with all the engine makers.

First thing OG did before buying any boat was a interweb web search for engine grief.
A pair of Yanmar engines will need 2 x sets of these at the usual daft OEM prices, £108.00 each set.


Knock offs at around £80.00
However as any Volvo Penta owner do kno , research will produce the fact that, those Pencil anodes screw into those Brass holders and can be purchased from after market smelters at around £8.00 each.
Impellors can also be sourced at similar prices as can oil and filters, belts etc etc.
Major components are eye watering , heat exchangers etc, but very comparable with VP and other major manufacturors.
Having had to sort couple of VP heat exchangers and oil coolers, am well aware .

Yanmar downside , no where close to near the number of VP dealers able to supply bits at short notice.

 

[Parabordi]

First thing OG did before buying any boat was a interweb web search for engine grief.
A pair of Yanmar engines will need 2 x sets of these at the usual daft OEM prices, £108.00 each set.
View attachment 145371

Knock offs at around £80.00
However as any Volvo Penta owner do kno , research will produce the fact that, those Pencil anodes screw into those Brass holders and can be purchased from after market smelters at around £8.00 each.
Impellors can also be sourced at similar prices as can oil and filters, belts etc etc.
Major components are eye watering , heat exchangers etc, but very comparable with VP and other major manufacturors.
Having had to sort couple of VP heat exchangers and oil coolers, am well aware .

Yanmar downside , no where close to near the number of VP dealers able to supply bits at short notice.

pukka Nanni ones are only £14

 

[volvopaul]

@volvopaul - you've obviously seen my anti foul paint question lol.
To be honest volvo engine block seem really good - it's the bolt on bits that seem to be made from chocolate - and while there generally is a good supply of parts - that maybe the reason ie volvo cashing in on the spare parts 10 times over.

I am sure other manufacturers engines / drives etc have their issues but to be honest the majority of issues posted on here involve volvo.

The high amount of posts Volvopenta related is more likely the fact that Volvopenta have pretty much sewn up the marine leisure market for the last 30 plus years , look how many dealers there are in the UK alone , compare that to the competition, have a look at boatbuilders specifications relating to engines available in models , most builds specify just the one make , sometimes in two hp versions but that’s it , there is a reason which is the back up , the South coast of the UK is very well supported but it needs to be with about 80% of boats with green engines .
Not to mention the amount of ex dealer independent companies that also specialise in Volvopenta, without us the dealers would not cope.

 

[awol]

Doesn't the choice depend on which way you want the boat to kick in reverse?