Would you buy another with edc ?

[Muxey]

If you had or still have a edc type control motor would you buy another ?

 

[petem]

If you had or still have a edc type control motor would you buy another ?

You need to be more specific about what you mean (are you talking about all electronically controlled diesels from 1998 to 2025?). VP or all brands?

 

[Muxey]

You need to be more specific about what you mean (are you talking about all electronically controlled diesels from 1998 to 2025?). VP or all brands?

Mainly VP d6 44, are they as troublesome as some posts make out,or are the cummins better?
Or just stay away from electronic control?

 

[Sticky Fingers]

D6 is EVC isn’t it, not EDC?

 

[sharpness]

For most / lot of boats, Volvo is the default option fitted. Therefore your choices are limited.
There must be literally thousands of Volvo engines with EDC units out there fitted, so law of probability says faults are bound to occur and these will get posted by unhappy owners looking for a solution. You won’t hear from the huge amount of happy owners who have no faults to report cos us humans don’t write a post saying…….Boat is ace, over 20yrs old and engines are still running perfectly .
I personally have no issue that an error or fault can occur with 20 year old machinery, but until recently hearing that Volvo were not supporting these older EDC engines with spares was unacceptable. Thankfully I understand the supply / support of parts has improved, and there is also an independent who is on the forum (I believe he’s called Norsk) who can repair faults with the EDC module.
So to answer your question, Yes I’d buy another with the EDC system

 

[aerobat]

In fact after tasting the smoothness of electronic controls , electronic syncing , perfectly stable idling and an impressive hole shot on my KAD44 i,m not sure if i want to look back at mechanical .

I,ve testrun a similar size boat with AD41 . Dependable , great engines - but the KAD44 outperforms them dramatically , no comparision at all .

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I’d never voluntarily go back to mechanical controls.

 

[julians]

I wouldnt have a boat with mechanical controls, too agricultural once you've had electronics.

 

[rafiki_]

I’d never voluntarily go back to mechanical controls.

RAFIKI has electronic levers driving cables to the throttles and gearboxes.

 

[Nessy]

In my former 31 ft boat I had 2x VP AQAD 41 DP, with a Bosch rotation injection pump.

With the engines and the engine control I had never any item.

The z-drives needed every two years some repair or maintenance.

My current boat has 2 VP D4-225 with shafts.

At 570 h the ECU of the starboard engine needs to be renewed, 3.500€ incl. diagnostics,

and every year underway in the channel and the Atlantic we catch something into the props.

As „an old mechanic“ I would prefer mechanic injection and shafts.

Cordially! Stefam

 

[Sticky Fingers]

RAFIKI has electronic levers driving cables to the throttles and gearboxes.

Yup, was that standard from new or retrofitted? It’s very slick regardless, no obvious delay or clunkiness.

 

[superheat6k]

Nothing wrong with electronics on engines, just avoid Volvo Penta with such devices. Sufficient other makers out there for most boats, you just have to be selective when buying.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Well, that’s fair enough but as @sharpness says there’s thousands of boats with VP, and in many cases only VP were offered in the Uk on that model. My P460 being an example. IIRC they sold a very few in the US with Cats.

 

[rafiki_]

Yup, was that standard from new or retrofitted? It’s very slick regardless, no obvious delay or clunkiness.

Standard. Same on the Azi 39.

 

[Muxey]

In my former 31 ft boat I had 2x VP AQAD 41 DP, with a Bosch rotation injection pump.

With the engines and the engine control I had never any item.

The z-drives needed every two years some repair or maintenance.

My current boat has 2 VP D4-225 with shafts.

At 570 h the ECU of the starboard engine needs to be renewed, 3.500€ incl. diagnostics,

and every year underway in the channel and the Atlantic we catch something into the props.

As „an old mechanic“ I would prefer mechanic injection and shafts.

Cordially! Stefam

I don't have a problem with the o.d school stuff it's electronic that worries me I can't fix that.

 

[petem]

Nothing wrong with electronics on engines, just avoid Volvo Penta with such devices. Sufficient other makers out there for most boats, you just have to be selective when buying.

Depends on what you're after. The vast majority of sub 60 foot models from Fairline, Princess, Sunseeker and Sealine are exclusively Volvo.

As I've always said, VP may not be the most reliable engines, bit there's safety in numbers and there will always be a large and profitable market for aftermarket parts if and when VP stop supplying them.

Like others, I'd never go back to mechanical controls.

 

[jon and michie]

@Muxey - just out of curiosity have you had issues with electronic controls or just doing homework for a possible purchase?
My first boat had a kad 300 electronic with no issues on that front.
My current boat has the Tamd 75's - touch wood hopefully the same
Both has/had the ecu which are prone to give up - but which has been mentioned @Norsk of the forum can repair.
From what I have heard mechanical obviously is less likely to be troublesome as there is no electronic devices fitted but this comes with less power / efficiency as opposed to electronically controlled engines

 

[ari]

Same as many others above, I wouldn't go back. You have 'fly by wire' throttle in your car (unless it's VERY old), it's no different.

 

[Greg2]

Perhaps I am risk averse but I would be very wary of buying a boat with older VP engines with EDC based simply on their approach in discontinuing supply and only reinstating it after being pressed to do so.

That said, this is influenced by being firmly in the used boat sector and having D13s on our new (last year) boat at work, like others, I am a big fan of the electronic controls. Simply streets ahead of mechanical and with new stuff the ongoing supply risk is a way off yet.

On our own boat I installed electronic throttles with mechanical interface via actuators and whilst it went against my instincts to install what might be a slightly higher risk of failure I am absolutely delighted with them
.