Maybe not technically a Trawler, but thoughts? Silverton motor yacht

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Drummer79

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It's gas, not diesel, which I don't know any more, with fuel prices like they are i'm half tempted to go with another sailboat anyway, but very roomy inside, and my intent is to live on it. Another bonus, it's 15 minutes away, so no flying to new jersey or florida to go look at it.. and price range is low enough that I'm comfy with it being what it is, although for the right trawler i'd spend way more. thoughts on this boat? https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1988-silverton-37-motor-yacht-8026138/
 
Forget the fuel difference. You will win every time buying a gasser . The big concern should be heating and the entry door. Getting on off the boat needs to be convenient in all weather and you will need good heat . That boat has a lot of area and windows
 
Greetings,
Mr. D. Exactly what Mr. A posted. Consider frozen/snow or ice covered decks and navigating those narrow side decks and ladders in February @ O-dark 30.

That being said, for the price, you can hardly go wrong BUT, get a good survey! I know you may be tempted to save the $$ a survey will cost but one leaky fuel tank or faulty through hull can really mess up your day.


Also consider the availability of a live aboard slip. They're becoming fewer and far between.
 
It will consume huge amounts of gas on plane, but if you run it at trawler speeds it won’t be horrible. The access during the winters for a liveaboard would be an issue. I would get it shrink wrapped to keep snow and ice off the decks and have them put in a zippered door for access. It will also save a huge amount of heating. Have it wrapped in white and you will still get a lot of light into the boat.
 
Arc said:
Forget the fuel difference. You will win every time buying a gasser . The big concern should be heating and the entry door. Getting on off the boat needs to be convenient in all weather and you will need good heat . That boat has a lot of area and windows
Click to expand...

RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
Mr. D. Exactly what Mr. A posted. Consider frozen/snow or ice covered decks and navigating those narrow side decks and ladders in February @ O-dark 30.

That being said, for the price, you can hardly go wrong BUT, get a good survey! I know you may be tempted to save the $$ a survey will cost but one leaky fuel tank or faulty through hull can really mess up your day.


Also consider the availability of a live aboard slip. They're becoming fewer and far between.
Click to expand...

In NC frozen decks would rarely be a problem, and yeah it gets cold here and there, but rare for it to get to freezing and stay there all day let alone for weeks at a time. The dock that it's already sitting at, 15 minutes from current home, allows liveaboards, whether officially or not, they allow it. So those aren't issues really. A survey is a must, I've bought an old sailboat before and restored it, or tried, til a storm damaged it too far gone to keep chasing that dream, so yeah I know all about being sure to buy a solid boat to start with.
 
Arc said:
Forget the fuel difference. You will win every time buying a gasser . The big concern should be heating and the entry door. Getting on off the boat needs to be convenient in all weather and you will need good heat . That boat has a lot of area and windows
Click to expand...

Now that you mention it, the only entry does appear to be awkward as far as moving groceries, etc..aboard. climb up and out, then back down to dock..that could get annoying. I've got some feelers out for trawlers that i'd actually prefer, so yeah that's a good point. Thank you.
 
I'd expect fuel burn to be similar to my boat with twin 454s. Figure on 1.2 - 1.3 nautical miles per gallon at 6.5 kts (about 1300 rpm for me). Maybe a little better if you're lucky Figure 0.5 - 0.6 nmpg at a good planing cruise.
 
This is about as far away from a sailboat as you can get:)

Is the door large enough to get a new sofa or fridge in, or do windows need to be removed? I agree with others about issue is less related to gas than general livability (unless you rarely go out).

Resale will be slower - perhaps much slower even if you reduce price greatly just to get it to sell (I'm tempted to use the phrase "fire sale" but since she's a gasser.....)

Current sellers' market is highly unusual so easy to overlook that owning a boat has at least one similarity to marriage - easier to get into the deal than out.

Regardless, good luck and thanks for sharing.

Peter
 
Looks to be in reasonable shape. Nice and roomy, boarding will be a PITA. I fell down that companionway just looking at it.
And strap down those batteries. Good luck!
 
I agree with those mentioning poor boarding access. And those narrow side decks with only partial length rails (and low ones at that) are pretty useless. There are plenty of good boats in that category (cheap, gas powered, in that size range), but I'd pass on this one just on design / layout alone.
 
Agree on the poor boarding access, and that would be a show stopper for me, for a live aboard.


The gassers would be a show stopper for me also, unless it would never leave the dock, which is not my cup of tea.


And because it's butt ugly would be another show stopper.



There's a TONS of better options out their for not much more money but a huge amount of better value. Lots of old trawlers with a diesel (or two) with much better access also. And that's what I'd shop for. And would really look hard for someone that had refurbished their old trawler and now wants out.


However, we all have different wants.



YMMV
 
Seevee said:
The gassers would be a show stopper for me also, unless it would never leave the dock, which is not my cup of tea.
Click to expand...


The gassers will be thirsty, but in my mind, that's the only big concern with them. Other than appropriate safety precautions for a gasoline boat, of course. The old school low output 454s are about as durable as gassers get for a boat and they're pretty simple engines. So it's not hard to keep them reliable.



Diesels would be nice, but in a boat of that size range and type (planing hull motoryacht), the gas powered ones are so much cheaper to buy that I wouldn't consider it a dealbreaker.
 
Very nice Looking gas cruiser.

But I’d suspect there’d be “issues” or the price would be higher.
 
rslifkin said:
The gassers will be thirsty, but in my mind, that's the only big concern with them. Other than appropriate safety precautions for a gasoline boat, of course. The old school low output 454s are about as durable as gassers get for a boat and they're pretty simple engines. So it's not hard to keep them reliable.

Diesels would be nice, but in a boat of that size range and type (planing hull motoryacht), the gas powered ones are so much cheaper to buy that I wouldn't consider it a dealbreaker.
Click to expand...

Good points, but YES the 454s are a maintenance headache compared to a diesel.... no comparison. While they are not the worst engine that Merc made, all of the gassers are relatively high maintenance and short lives. Just look at the ads, rarely to you see one with much over 6 to 800 hours.. they just don't last. And, they're NOT simple. Plugs, manifolds, cooling issues, etc. And reliable to a point, but a lot of work.

I've had some 15+ gassers (IO or inboard) boats and not one was as reliable or low cost per mile compared to my diesels. Never again. Yes, deal breaker and I'd bet for most of us.


There's a reason it's so cheap.
 
Seevee said:
Good points, but YES the 454s are a maintenance headache compared to a diesel.... no comparison. While they are not the worst engine that Merc made, all of the gassers are relatively high maintenance and short lives. Just look at the ads, rarely to you see one with much over 6 to 800 hours.. they just don't last. And, they're NOT simple. Plugs, manifolds, cooling issues, etc. And reliable to a point, but a lot of work.

I've had some 15+ gassers (IO or inboard) boats and not one was as reliable or low cost per mile compared to my diesels. Never again. Yes, deal breaker and I'd bet for most of us.


There's a reason it's so cheap.
Click to expand...

That boat has crusaders, not Mercs. But realistically, my Merc 454s just work. Change the plugs every spring, risers every few years (manifolds are in the coolant loop) and they just run.

The ones dying at low hours are mostly bad owners. One of mine was replaced a few years ago after an oil line failure. The replacement now has about 300 hours on it. The other engine has about 1800. They run identically, the older one still has good compression, etc. So at 1800 hours, all signs point to plenty of life left.

I also don't understand the unreliability thing. Any decent gasser installation with good maintenance is not unreliable. I think the previously mentioned oil line failure is the last time my boat had an engine shutdown for an engine related reason. I've only had 1 shutdown since I've had the boat (about 250 running hours). And that wasn't for an engine issue, but a trans issue. No point in keeping the engine running because the trans wasn't providing any drive.
 
I noticed it is missing an anchor and there doesn’t appear to be a windlass. Given the size of the boat, having to drop and retrieve an anchor by hand would be a dealbreaker for me as well.

I also think it was a wise comment by mvweebles about taking into consideration of trying to sell it later. It is a unique design that isn’t desirable.

The egress as a liveaboard is the other dealbreaker, regardless of price.
 
Man is that boat spacious! Odd, but sure takes advantage of 37 ft.. Anyway, I can see the appeal but others are right about access. Everything, including interior space, comes at a cost.

More than the gas engines, I worry about the gas genset. It’s got to be done right with exhaust fumes, especially at anchor. I’d hate to need the Genset with a winter wrap.:eek:
 
rslifkin said:
That boat has crusaders, not Mercs. But realistically, my Merc 454s just work. Change the plugs every spring, risers every few years (manifolds are in the coolant loop) and they just run.

The ones dying at low hours are mostly bad owners. One of mine was replaced a few years ago after an oil line failure. The replacement now has about 300 hours on it. The other engine has about 1800. They run identically, the older one still has good compression, etc. So at 1800 hours, all signs point to plenty of life left.

I also don't understand the unreliability thing. Any decent gasser installation with good maintenance is not unreliable. I think the previously mentioned oil line failure is the last time my boat had an engine shutdown for an engine related reason. I've only had 1 shutdown since I've had the boat (about 250 running hours). And that wasn't for an engine issue, but a trans issue. No point in keeping the engine running because the trans wasn't providing any drive.
Click to expand...


454s are 454s... basic Chevy block, Merc or Crusaders. Sure, you can get life from an old gasser, but I wouldn't call it close to reliable. And 1800 hours, just starting in a diesel. And most gassers don't come close to that.


Disagree about the "bad owners"... it's just hard to keep old gassers running for most any owners.



You can keep them, not for the rest of us. And there's a REAL reason they are so cheap and not popular.
 
The problem with many gassers is old bad gas. Need fresh fuel to keep them reliable.
Silvertons are well made boats.
Make sure it’s an inboard not an I/O if you’re going to be in salt water.
 
Last edited:
Gas engines

Run from gas engines. They are inefficient and can be dangerous.
 
My neighbors live aboard a 43’ Silverton & a 43’ Meridian. They make very comfortable homes, and are terrific for balling around local waters. From a safety perspective I do not like Petrol on boats, but that’s no reason to pass if you’re ok with the risks.
 
Gas does work (with some luck and effort), but in these boats there are SO many with diesels for little more. Seems like a no brainer to me.
 
Seevee said:
454s are 454s... basic Chevy block, Merc or Crusaders. Sure, you can get life from an old gasser, but I wouldn't call it close to reliable. And 1800 hours, just starting in a diesel. And most gassers don't come close to that.


Disagree about the "bad owners"... it's just hard to keep old gassers running for most any owners.



You can keep them, not for the rest of us. And there's a REAL reason they are so cheap and not popular.
Click to expand...


Mountians of diesel bias and prejudice here IMO.
 
nice live aboard padlocked to the slip.

Drummer79 said:
It's gas, not diesel, which I don't know any more, with fuel prices like they are i'm half tempted to go with another sailboat anyway, but very roomy inside, and my intent is to live on it. Another bonus, it's 15 minutes away, so no flying to new jersey or florida to go look at it.. and price range is low enough that I'm comfy with it being what it is, although for the right trawler i'd spend way more. thoughts on this boat? https://www.boattrader.com/boat/1988-silverton-37-motor-yacht-8026138/
Click to expand...

===================================
have been looking for a trawler x last two years as age starts to be an issue, as you after seen the prices for "real" diesel trawlers I was attracted to the gas option.
Am still open-minded knowing the longevity and easier maintenance differences however like previously noted,I fell down :dance:trying to visualize going down on those steps !!!
Also, not sure if I will make it to the bow to anchor without going overboard! on a moving boat without real grabbing places.
Prefer same level salons with cockpit or no more than couple steps tops. dealbreaker for me, both.
sorry.
PS
now, if you will be using it ONLY for live aboard and Occasionally day trips and NO anchoring, and having a workout on those steps is not an issue, then, should be ok.
 
Do I prefer diesels, absolutely. However having said that there isn’t really anything wrong with gas engines if you buy one with the knowledge that there will be more maintenance and cautions. You have to be careful with fumes. We actually wanted a boat with gas engines when we bought our current boat last summer. I wanted to be able to have a mechanic work on the engines instead of me doing the work. But there are no marine diesel mechanics in our area. We also wanted a smaller boat but we ended up with a bigger boat with twice as big diesels…. Oh well. I wouldn’t be afraid to buy gas engines but just be aware that there will be more maintenance and you will have to be more careful as to gas fumes. Good luck.
 
Seevee said:
Gas does work (with some luck and effort), but in these boats there are SO many with diesels for little more. Seems like a no brainer to me.
Click to expand...


I dunno about the "for little more" part. In the upper 30s to low 40s size range, gassers are usually really cheap, even if the boat is in great condition. Particularly for older boats, as there are just so many older gas powered motoryachts out there and not all that many people who want them. Most of the decently likeable diesel boats in that size range either have a bigger target market or they're less common than the gas powered versions, so they sell for a lot more.


As an example, I'd be hard pressed to sell my boat for $50k, let alone more. But I'd have a hard time replacing it with something comparable and diesel powered for under $100k.
 
Deano said:
The problem with many gassers is old bad gas. Need fresh fuel to keep them reliable.
Silvertons are well made boats.
Make sure it’s an inboard not an I/O if you’re going to be in salt water.
Click to expand...

It's got ignition issues, besides the weird boarding, I have elderly parents that will want to see any boat I choose, this one doesn't fit that bill. I have my eye on one right now, ideal boat, if it works out. Fingers crossed but I know my luck, so if it happens it happens, if not, not meant to be
 
Price isn't low enough to compensate for unknown engine issues. Could be a simple fix, maybe not. Worst case, new starter and new electronic ignition if it isn’t already done. But the motors themselves are basically good. High maintenance? Oil changes and impellers are the same as diesel. The only additional for gas engines are spark plugs. Run a diesel out of fuel and you have a major task getting it going. With gas, put in more fuel and it goes. Stay on top of the fuel system, open the hatches before starting as well as running the blower, and make sure the sniffer system works.
 
Okay Okay, that's enough from the spark plug haters! I currently own two 454's and two Perkins. That being said I love them all (except when I stop for fuel). Reliability wise I don't see any difference. If maintained they each serve well. You pay the maintenance for gassers a little at a time more frequently, but farther spaced out in bigger chunks for the tractor engines. It's a wash for me when you consider lower aquisition vs maintenance. I agree with everyone as the first thing I noticed was the egress situation. But I see you have already come to that understanding. Good luck with your search.
 
Been involved in the aftermath of death and injury from a gas boat explosion. It was horrible. Leaves a mark, more on the injured than anyone, forever.
I won`t say "no never" to anyone looking to buy a gas boat,but I learn from experiences. Proper care and maintenance should see you safe, but it`s a layer of risk diesels don`t carry.
 
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