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On 18 Dec 2004 16:30:57 -0800, wrote:
First, thanks a lot to everybody for the advice!
I am looking at two boats now, one with a
Volvo MD7A, the other with an Atomic 4.
Besides the different engines I would say that
they are in about equal condition.
I'd be interested to hear comments on the Volvo,
as I am leaning towards the Diesel.
Volvos are reliable until they break, at which point they become as
expensive as anything manufactured by unionized Europeans.
Atomic 4s are still common (in fact, replacement blocks are being
cast), the fuel (gas) is most common, and they are easy to service.
There is a huge aftermarket for parts and upgrades and the owner base
is active and extensive...lots of free advice.
I never took shop nor owned a car or anything above a chainsaw and
moped when I bought an Atomic 4-equipped boat: now I have rebuilt two
successfully. Getting a rebuild is four grand, a diesel rebuild can be
twice that.
Caveats include raw-seawater cooling thinning out the block, the kind
of wear common to old gas engines (blowby, gaskets, fouled plugs,
gummy carb, etc.). One converted to closed fresh-water or coolant/heat
exchanger cooling is going to be in much better condition UNLESS it's
lived all its life in fresh water, like the Great Lakes.
But if you are reasonably mechanical, you will likely find an Atomic 4
easier and cheaper to service and better suited to daysailing (short
periods of running the engine followed by five days of being docked).
In general, gas engines will not suffer from short bursts of
occassional use. A diesel by its higher compression pressures will. A
diesel run frequently and sufficiently long to fully warm up will last
a lot longer than "cold start-run slow to get out of marina-off" that
is most people's sailing.
Finally, if it's a 27 footer, you might just consider a 9.9-15 hp
four-stroke on a transom motor mount if the inboard ever dies. Unless
you want to do extensive passagemaking, that's the simplest solution
of all, and without a shaft and prop, you will sail a little faster.
R.
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