I'm looking for a trawler to do the Great Loop and also an Alaska run on the inside passage. Do any of you folks have any experience with this make? She's powered by Volvo engines, which does not like my fire, but I did own a sailboat with one and never had any problems with it. That said, it was a sailboat, so the engine did not get a lot of use, but when I needed it, it was there. There being no sails on a trawler, I'm breaking new ground for me and am paying much more attention to all things engines. Your comments are appreciated.
Nova Marine Sundeck trawler??
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CPD
Veteran Member
Have a 1989 Nova Marine with twin Volvo TMD41As (big, no electronics, 6-cylinders). Like you I had heard the cost of Volvo parts...but after six ~50 to 100 hours per summer we haven't needed a single new part, other than a rebuild of one coolant water pump. Engines are now approaching 3000 operating hours. OEM and Alternate filters are plentiful, and trivial money once you add up all the other annual boat expenses.
Comodave
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The Volvo engines are ok until you need some parts and find out that it may take months and cost a small fortune. I don’t even look at boats with Volvos, had one and learned my lesson.
I hear you folks about Volvos and parts, but unfortunately, this is what is available. The engines only have 3,000 hours, so hopefully not many parts would be needed. We'll see.
Beyond the Volvo thingy, do you folks have any other comments about the boat itself, the design, performance, ability to handle varying sea states, etc?
Thanks
Beyond the Volvo thingy, do you folks have any other comments about the boat itself, the design, performance, ability to handle varying sea states, etc?
Thanks
BruceK
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One issue is how the design affects access, for people and pets. While obvious, and a product of the valued aft cabin design, it`s worth consideration in context of anticipated docking locations, boarding while at anchor, etc. Riviera molded stairs into the transom of the Riv 40, but that`s a one off.
Endeavor GB 32
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We had a 36 Nova Sundeck for a short while. The aft cabin is very generously sized, as are the sundeck and flybridge. The salon was tiny. The reason that we sold it after a short ownership was that the side decks are very high from the dock. My wife has short legs and coming and going from the marina was challenging for that reason. There being no cockpit, the vertical ladder on the transom was not really an option. The boat was in nice shape and we didn't have any issues with the boat or the Volvo's. Just the layout. YMMV! Good luck.
Regards,
Scott
Regards,
Scott
Don't get caught up with numbers. If that boat is +/- 40 years old, 3,000 hours could be good or bad news.
I could not agree more, which is why the boat will be surveyed by a professional surveyor and the engines and genset inspected by the best mechanic I can find.
ranger58sb
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Several members in our other boat club have biggish Volvos, usually from date range approx 1995-ish I think (or at least 2000), with no huge issue about parts and service. Maybe depends on locations, but they're scattered all over. Maybe useful to get on the service folks' radar early in ownership...
-Chris
-Chris
what engine,what parts. for example volvo d2-55/75 engine new drop block cost under 4000€ my today CAT 3406 cost over 200000 € per engine with propulsion 400-600K maybe over if somthim hapen. if somthing hapen i can say Catepilar engine must avoid,i still say Catepilar is good engine.
PS primary i search boat with 2 x volvo penta IPS around 500 hp best engine,lot parts if needed in EU supermarket on evry corner
ancora
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We've owned our 36' Nova Sundeck for 25 years doing coastal cruising in Southern California. As a DIYer, I found the boat and engines easy to work on with no access problems. Volvo parts cost three times more than Cat or Cummins, but they are available. The boat has top hamper and does roll in a beam sea. We have contended with 6 to 8 foot seas and it was not fun. Cruising speed is 8.5 knots at 2460 RPM, burning 5 gallons of diesel an hour. As an aside, it seems that Taiwan boat builders have no concept of color coding. They use whatever wire is on hand, although the gauging is correct.
I will see the boat in a couple of weeks. I preemptively contacted some rebuilt Lehman shops to get a feel for what re-powering would cost me. The broker swears this is a great boat in excellent condition. I'll know if that is true shortly, and we'll go from there. Thanks to everyone for your comments. They are appreciated.
Comodave
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Doing a repower on an older Taiwan boat will be way out of line. The repower will cost more than the boat is worth. If you love the boat and the condition meets your needs then buy it and live with the engines.
if my boat neptunus 56 fly in perfect condition ,need 1 turbo change on easy engine in world for repower is for garbage. CAT dealer say for bring in CAT service intervat (1900 hours have now) 80 000 to 120000 € simply new heat exschanger every 6 year or 20000 hour. Rebulid forget if engine work have good compression dont touch
ps next year i clean heat exschanger only rubber gasket is around 10000€ from USA not orginal part ,
this shiping company have minimum 1 bilion $ here and hire cadet to clean heatexschanger not buy new parts and install new.
i ask colege with CAT engine on boat can sell me couple rubber seal,he say not chance for 1 new seal he must return old seal. and he not change all new seal only if leeking. also changing oil is on hour bases or 2 year not every year.
Also you simply if you like boat must gamble. if you dont like gamble buy new under waranty and sell boat after 5 year like all rich guy do or every year what rich german do with car.
this shiping company have minimum 1 bilion $ here and hire cadet to clean heatexschanger not buy new parts and install new.
Also you simply if you like boat must gamble. if you dont like gamble buy new under waranty and sell boat after 5 year like all rich guy do or every year what rich german do with car.
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All marine parts are now expensive, even Ford Lehman. This is my second boat with straight 6 cylinder Volvo's TMD 40's and they are much more "efficient" than my other boats with Cats. I get 2 NMG at 8 knots with the Volvo's and the parts are available and reasonable in my opinion. Just bought a Circulation Pump rebuild kit for $150. Also just bought a new Raw Water pump for $160. Gaskets and full engine rebuild parts available around the world and not that much money when compared to other makes. I've had really good reliability out of the Volvo's. The new high HP, electronic Volvo parts are expensive but I'm finding these old mechanical motors are fine.
Comodave
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It isn’t just the cost, it is sometimes waiting months for the parts to arrive. Here in Michigan with a 6 month season waiting 3 or 4 months for a part kills the whole season. I bought a brand new boat with Volvos in it. Every time I needed a part it took months for it to come. The only thing that saved me was that I sold boats for the dealer part time so they would take the needed part off a new boat and wait for it to come in. Sometimes they would sell that boat before the part came in so they would get the part from another new boat. The record was 4 boats were stripped for the part. No more Volvos for me. Maybe parts are available more easily now but I will not take that chance with our short season.
ancora
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I get my parts from Marine Parts Express
Thank you very much for sharing that.
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2nd that on Marine Parts Express. Also, note that Volvo is still making some parts for my TMD 40. Lastly, eBay is a great source for lots of parts new and used.
Phyrcooler
Senior Member
I’m a little late to this discussion, but since the OP originally also asked a more general question in regards to this brand, I thought I’d weigh in. Most of the responses were in regards to the Volvo engines.
I did quite a bit of research and pretty carefully crawled through several in the past. I have NOT owned one, so these are just my observations.
First, understand that these are similar to other “Taiwanese trawlers”, with their pros and cons. You can find plenty here if you search. My impressions were that the later ones (late 90 - early 2000’s) are fairly decent, with less issues than many from the 80’s.
Typical issues need to be well assessed by a surveyor. Primary concern are of course soft decks, followed by water intrusion/rotting under leaking windows & port lights. Hull blisters were an issue which has often been discussed and argued about herein. As someone else mentioned, they can be a bit rolly in anchorages. Bottom line, I wouldn’t pass by a clean, well maintained boat. They have lots of livable space for their length. I hope to go east for a great loop experience, and a clean one with a single Cummins would be high on my shopping list. I hope this helps. Good luck.
I did quite a bit of research and pretty carefully crawled through several in the past. I have NOT owned one, so these are just my observations.
First, understand that these are similar to other “Taiwanese trawlers”, with their pros and cons. You can find plenty here if you search. My impressions were that the later ones (late 90 - early 2000’s) are fairly decent, with less issues than many from the 80’s.
Typical issues need to be well assessed by a surveyor. Primary concern are of course soft decks, followed by water intrusion/rotting under leaking windows & port lights. Hull blisters were an issue which has often been discussed and argued about herein. As someone else mentioned, they can be a bit rolly in anchorages. Bottom line, I wouldn’t pass by a clean, well maintained boat. They have lots of livable space for their length. I hope to go east for a great loop experience, and a clean one with a single Cummins would be high on my shopping list. I hope this helps. Good luck.
gorjes
Member
I've had great success getting Volvo Penta parts from Sweden Marine Parts. They have a compressive web page with OEM and aftermarket items. For example, I purchased an OEM Borg Warner turbo charger for a few hundred more than a Chinese knockoff or rebuild, had it in 5 days, air freight was $25. Had one issue (not really their fault) and customer care was sensational. Now get all my VP parts there and recommend them.
