Info Kelsall Suncat 30 ??

[laforge24]

I am looking at a kelsall suncat 30,
who has any sailexperience with this model
it has a single engine with twin proppeler hydraulic? experiences
seaworthyness, atlantic crossings
anything to determine the sale
thanks

[Dulcesuenos]

No exp with that one but have heard there were many headaches with others with the same set up. Hydraulic leaks lots of valves, lots of whinning noise. Have you operated it yet? Would it be difficult to repower maybe an ob instead?

[laforge24]

Originally Posted by Dulcesuenos

No exp with that one but have heard there were many headaches with others with the same set up. Hydraulic leaks lots of valves, lots of whinning noise. Have you operated it yet? Would it be difficult to repower maybe an ob instead?

That was what I expected to hear from y'all, also heard it is a nice cat if you don't overload/charge it, so re-motorization comes with other issues!
No tries yet, saw photo with outboard and thought huhh??

[Dulcesuenos]

Boat has nice lines. I saw pics of the one with an ob. Looks good.

[ohdrinkboy]

I was reading the other night about single engine with twin hydraulic screws. The guy said something to the effect that it sounds good, and looks good on paper. However, in reality the system was clumsy, and leaked.

[Jimbo485]

Originally Posted by ohdrinkboy

I was reading the other night about single engine with twin hydraulic screws. The guy said something to the effect that it sounds good, and looks good on paper. However, in reality the system was clumsy, and leaked.

I wonder why it is clumsy and leaked? Poor maintenance?

All heavy machinery effectively has the same system and runs without problems. Fishing boats use the same system for all their winches and they work almost 24/7.

Plenty of cats have twin hydraulic steering without problems, so the screws should just be a bigger version of the same. I saw an Outremer with that system in France. The diesel was under the salon table, so when you lifted off the cover you could walk around it for excellent access and maintenance.

If you were going to go that way, it makes sense to make the anchor winch hydraulic as well.

[Cheechako]

I would guess you have two hydraulic motors, valving systems etc. You would think a system like this would be reliable and good, I've often wondered why it isnt used more in monos.... (put the engine where you like and drive the prop with a Hydraulic motor....) However, the reality of hydaulics is they tend to seep some oil. The maintenance manager that worked for me used to tell me "if it aint leakin', it aint hydraulic". All our big hydraulic machinery powerplants had drip trays under them and they all had some oil in them most the time.... it still bugs me though. Power steering on cars doesnt leak much!

[laforge24]

My technical inside tells me there is a big difference turning a steering wheel hydraulicly,
some left some right, in comparison to 2500Rpm continue, another issue is mentioned earlier; if the engine way forward the hydraulics would slowly go to the sides of the hulls to the props, this model has the engine on the back deck and the hydraulics would have to make a huge angle.
I also think it is not hydraulic but maybe mechanic which also needs loads of maintenance, the seller still not contacted me

[laforge24]

my mistake, yes twin hydraulic system, anybody any photos of comparable system??