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08-11-2016, 10:53 AM
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#1
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Veteran Member
City: Clinton
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 99
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just getting starting but a question
Just started looking at boats in the 36 to 32 ft range.
I Like Island Gypsy, Mainstay, Grand Banks and Ranger tug, so far.
Some priced under $75k.
If the boat has twin diesel engines and you are going at a
slower pace. Can you just run 1 engine to save diesel?
Do 2 diesels running at slow pace burn 2X the gas or does
the one running work twice as hard.
Thanks for any help
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08-11-2016, 11:44 AM
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#2
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TF Site Team
City: California Delta
Vessel Name: FlyWright
Vessel Model: 1977 Marshall Californian 34 LRC
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 13,728
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If you use the search link at the bottom of my post, you'll find a plethora of discussions about that very topic. Grab some popcorn before you start...you've got a lot of reading ahead of you.
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08-11-2016, 12:19 PM
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#3
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Veteran Member
City: Clinton
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 99
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if and when the gas engines get old, can they be
replaced with diesels engines, or this just impossible?
I know the cost would be high.
I'm watching a 42 ft Bluewater and it looks like a very nice
boat, but the engines are gas and I know most people
on this forum prefer diesel.
Thinking of trying the loop and later wintering in FL from Iowa.
Thanks
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08-11-2016, 01:14 PM
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#4
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Guru
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 22,553
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if and when the gas engines get old, can they be
replaced with diesels engines, or this just impossible?
They coukld be but it would be a big looser.
Most gas engines are in faster boats that have zero ocean pretensions.
A 300hp gasser is pretty cheap ,as a brand new crate engine
300hp diesels would weigh 2x or more and cost 3-5X as much .
There are few displacement gassers in GRP , but yes it could be done .
The rational to do it is not undrestandible tho.
Diesel costs more , way more for maint and is far louder than gas.
A 45 ft displacement boat will probably cruise at 60 hp ,,,5 GPH on gas at worst and 3 or 4 GPH at very best in diesel.
At perhaps 200 hours a year , you do the math.
With no ocean crossings in mind the gas will be cheaper and easier to live with
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08-11-2016, 01:16 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: Memphis
Vessel Name: Ivory Lady
Vessel Model: 46 Jefferson
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 275
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I'd suggest finding a boat with what you want engine wise and sticking with it. Trying to retrofit an old boat will likely not be very cost efficient. Also, most boats in the range you are looking at (32 to 36) will be single engine.
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08-11-2016, 01:49 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Owings, Md
Vessel Name: Graceland
Vessel Model: Mainship 34 MK1
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,381
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In addition to the cost of the engines themselves, the transmissions and running gear needs to be replaced in most gas to diesel conversions. Diesels turn slower with more torque to provide the same power that a gas engine would with higher rpms at less torque so the prop shaft diameters usually have to be increased to support higher pitch and larger diameter props. So new props, new struts, new cutlass bearing, new shaft log, new stuffing box and hull work to accommodate it all.
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08-11-2016, 02:04 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Cape Cod
Vessel Name: Slip Aweigh
Vessel Model: Prairie 29
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,219
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I have a headache. You are looking for a 'cheap' 32-36' boat. But fixate on a42'. Okay. They are nice boats. But...
I'll share what I learned looking at them. Blue water 42's.
First off; I was looking at them when the economy was really in the tank. They had two distinct production runs. Pre 1993. And post 1993. The boats Pre '93 are prone to bottom delamination, poor stringer construction and no aft end access. And use balcor.
Post '93 they switched to a different hull layup facility that corrected the issues. And went to airex foam core.
But. You will see the prices from 'before and after' reflecting this. (Now you know why.)
I gave up because I found out I couldn't get a mooring to fit a 42' anything for a reasonable price in Cape Cod. Slips are outrageous. On the order of 7500 to 10k per season. I still love the flush deck salon, and the huge flybridge. But can't fit one into my locality.
A mechanic on another forum affectionately called them: flexible flyers. The bottoms flexed so much!
I opted for a solid glass single engine trawler. Diesel.
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08-11-2016, 04:47 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Between Oregon and Alaska
Vessel Name: Charlie Harper
Vessel Model: Wheeler Shipyard 83'
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 3,023
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People here prefer diesels for many reasons, probably covered here many times.
If you plan to cover ocean distances, diesel reliability and economy is important. Talk to mechanics or owner/mechanics. Look for reliable engine recommendations. Pick a boat with those engines. If money is tight, pick an older boat with the right engines if you're handy.
I have a big, older boat that would burn 20 gallons an hour with most engines at the speed (10 knots) I prefer to run. Instead, because of the Detroit engines I burn 8.5 gallons an hour. No repairs at all in the last 5 years. No injectors, no fuel pumps, no water pumps, not even impellers.
I prefer twins because of handling and backup. They make docking easy. Twice, 35 years apart, I have come in on one engine. Both times because of crab pot buoy lines some a-hole tossed overboard. I didn't want to dive in 50°F water to clear the prop. Twins do not use twice the fuel at reasonable speeds. Using one engine I get 40% of speed with half the fuel. I could get better economy, but prefer 10 knots.
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08-11-2016, 04:58 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
City: Memphis
Vessel Name: Ivory Lady
Vessel Model: 46 Jefferson
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 275
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lepke
No repairs at all in the last 5 years. No injectors, no fuel pumps, no water pumps, not even impellers.
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No matter what engine you end up with, I'd suggest you change your impellers on a regular schedule.
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08-11-2016, 05:06 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Gig Harbor
Vessel Name: Kinship
Vessel Model: North Pacific 43
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 9,046
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lepke
No repairs at all in the last 5 years. No injectors, no fuel pumps, no water pumps, not even impellers.
I prefer twins because of handling and backup.
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With that maintenance schedule, I would prefer the redundancy of twins as well.
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08-12-2016, 07:13 AM
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#11
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Veteran Member
City: Clinton
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 99
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Most of my main traveling will be from Clinton Iowa on the Mississippi
down the Tenn Tom to winter in Fl. So some fresh water and salt.
Around 1500 miles one way.
The reason I am asking about a 1986 Bluewater 42, with twin gas engines,
it is for sale in my marina and appears well maintained. Price mid $50s
Also it drafts less than 3 feet, which is helpful on the river for summer use.
I can see this boat, ride in it and probably stay overnight if I asked the
owner for a trial .
I have no trawlers in this area and other than surfing Yachtworld or
boat trader, no way to conveniently check them out.
The survey is 4 years old, should I get a new one?
250 gal of gas, best guess, range in miles at a 7 kn speed?
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08-12-2016, 07:43 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: Windsor
Vessel Name: Keeper IV
Vessel Model: 44 Viking ACMY
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,350
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dhays
With that maintenance schedule, I would prefer the redundancy of twins as well.
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He did mention he has Detroit's.
The only serviceable part would be the impeller. Pumps are all gear driven unless he's running 300 plus hrs a year in a salt environment he's probably fine. With the exception of the impeller.
I'm in fresh water and only average 50 hours / yr . Change my impellers every 3-4 years.
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08-12-2016, 08:32 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
City: Memphis
Vessel Name: Ivory Lady
Vessel Model: 46 Jefferson
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 275
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I have neighbors with Bluewaters as you describe and they seem to like them. One took his from Memphis to New Orleans and then back up the Tenn Tom, so it's fairly capable. To me, its a houseboat with a pointy bow, but it has lots of room on one level if that's what you're looking for. When buying a boat, I'd always get my own survey from the pickiest surveyor I could find.
You aren't that from from the Great Lakes, which is a great place to find freshwater boats. I'd suggest walking on several different types of boats before you just settle for the one for sale nearby.
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08-12-2016, 12:50 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Fort Lauderdale. Florida, USA
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 21,449
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If the boat you like most has gas engines, then go with gas engines but don't plan on trying a change to diesel. For Loop boating, for inland river cruising, for short hop coastal cruising, there's nothing horribly wrong with gas engines. We lived on an inland lake. I had 30 years with gas engines before ever seeing a diesel.
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08-12-2016, 01:19 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Madisonville, LA
Vessel Name: Sea Star
Vessel Model: 2004 Cruisers Yachts 50SS
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 906
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ctbarbarian
Most of my main traveling will be from Clinton Iowa on the Mississippi
down the Tenn Tom to winter in Fl. So some fresh water and salt.
Around 1500 miles one way.
The reason I am asking about a 1986 Bluewater 42, with twin gas engines,
it is for sale in my marina and appears well maintained. Price mid $50s
Also it drafts less than 3 feet, which is helpful on the river for summer use.
I can see this boat, ride in it and probably stay overnight if I asked the
owner for a trial .
I have no trawlers in this area and other than surfing Yachtworld or
boat trader, no way to conveniently check them out.
The survey is 4 years old, should I get a new one?
250 gal of gas, best guess, range in miles at a 7 kn speed?
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We have a 47' 1982 Bluewater coastal cruiser with gassers. We originally wanted Diesel engines but at the end of the day, for what we are realistically able to use our boat for at this stage in our lives, the gassers will do. The boat ticked off most of our must haves and we love it.
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08-12-2016, 02:37 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Southern Maine
Vessel Model: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,717
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Personally, for your use, I see nothing wrong with gas engines. Repairs, maintenance and replacement (if necessary) will be significantly cheaper. Fuel availability will not be a big problem. You'll be running the boat enough to keep the fuel fresh. Operations costs will be comparable. I don't see any down side.
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08-12-2016, 06:56 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
Vessel Model: Integrity 386
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 13,331
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ctbarbarian
...The survey is 4 years old, should I get a new one?...
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Yes, a lot can happen in 4 years. Get a mechanical survey too,especially check the safety aspects of the fuel system.
__________________
BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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08-12-2016, 07:05 PM
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#18
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Guru
City: Houma, Louisiana
Vessel Name: M/V LUNASEA
Vessel Model: 45ft Bluewater Coastal
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 529
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Cappy
Your right on the pre 93 BlueWaters. I bought my boat knowing the stringer were bad and I changed all of them. Had a mill make the correct size for ea. and set them in fiberglass.
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