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11-09-2012, 05:24
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sant Carles, S Spain
Boat: 30ft Catalac 900 "Rubessa"
Posts: 876
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New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
Am helping a friend of mine secure a new cat' and looks like he's going for a new 400 S2. I've reccomended him to stay with the standard Yanmar engines as i've heard too many bad things about the Volvos but stay with the standard 29bhp or upgrade to 40bhp?
Be interested to hear from any 400 owners and their opinion of their own engine choice (Volvo or Yanmar), does it need the extra power, it's just over 2k to do it but is it a false ecconomy not to?
__________________
Previous owner of a 1994 Catalac 900, now sadly SOLD
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12-09-2012, 03:27
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Boat in Greece
Boat: Lagoon 400
Posts: 1,430
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
I can't compare engines as I have only one type and did not experienced anything else.
What I can report is that the Yanmar engines on our Lagoon400 work excellently. Never had a tiniest problem during the 18 months of use and they look and work as new.
I do have the 40hp version and they feel right for the boat, not overpowered. The 29hp may be fine, but as said above, I do not have the experience of using them.
So, with the caveats stated above, I would venture to say that the 40hp Yanmars are good choice.
__________________
Mark, S/Y Bat-Yam
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12-09-2012, 13:45
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Florida
Boat: Hunter 50 CC
Posts: 174
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
We had the 40hp engines on our 400 and I would not have wanted the 29hp ones.
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12-09-2012, 14:21
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Boat: Mahe 36, Helia 44 Evo, MY 37
Posts: 5,731
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
simonmd,
Go with the 40hp. That will allow your friend to motor using only one engine.
With 20hp he will always have to use both engines.
As far as Yanmar ( grey) and Volvo ( green) engines are concerned.
Do not believe everything you think.
I have had both engines and the only difference between them is the color ( grey) and ( green)
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12-09-2012, 18:08
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sant Carles, S Spain
Boat: 30ft Catalac 900 "Rubessa"
Posts: 876
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
Many thanks for your insights so far, looks like the 29hp option is indeed a false ecconomy, i'll advise him to go for a pair of 40's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cotemar
I have had both engines and the only difference between them is the color (grey) and (green)
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Not entirely true, grey ones are £2500 less than green ones.
__________________
Previous owner of a 1994 Catalac 900, now sadly SOLD
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12-09-2012, 18:27
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Boat: Mahe 36, Helia 44 Evo, MY 37
Posts: 5,731
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
Yes the 29hp grey ones are £2500 less than the 40hp green ones.
Worth every penny.
Ask your friend if he wants a Ford Pinto or a Ford Mustang
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12-09-2012, 18:33
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,108
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by simonmd
Not entirely true, grey ones are £2500 less than green ones.
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Is that correct - a 40hp Yanmar is £2500 less than a 40hp Volvo? That is quite a difference, and more than I expected.
Definitely get the 40hp engine over the 30hp.
If he goes with the Yanmar, he will get the SD50 saildrives, which have notorious problems with their clutches, shaft bearings and after sales support. Not to mention the saildrive service intervals are more frequent and their main boot replacement schedule is almost impossible to meet with a cruising boat. I would go with the Volvo just to get the much better and rugged saildrive. Even if it meant spending £5000 more to get it - he will make up that difference in maintenance and headaches.
Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com
You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
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13-09-2012, 00:28
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#8
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Marmaris
Boat: FP Orana 2010, Hélia 2013, Catana C 47 2013, Nautitech 46 Fly 2018
Posts: 1,345
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
30 HP on 40 ft catamaran is the lower limit with fixed props. If folding props are considered, then 40 HP is the way to go.
We have had hundred of engines in our charter fleet and didn't see anything to suggest that one is better than the other. With Yanmar we have had some transmission issues on monohulls and with Volvo on 55 HP saildrive on Salina. Both engines are OK if properly maintained.
Cheers
Yeloya
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13-09-2012, 18:07
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: New Zealand
Boat: Lagoon 400
Posts: 12
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
I now own Lucky Larry's 400 and agree the 40's are worth it. In July there were a couple of instances when we were driving into 20+ knot headwinds, 4-6 foot seas and barely moving with the 40 hp Yanmars working hard.
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20-09-2012, 04:00
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Melbourne Australia
Boat: FP Elba 45
Posts: 406
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
I am very happy with my choice of 40 HP Yanmar's. One point not mentioned is resale value, more attractive with the 40 HP fitted in my view. Regards Peter
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20-09-2012, 05:00
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2007
Boat: Mahe 36, Helia 44 Evo, MY 37
Posts: 5,731
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
I was in 28 knot head winds last weekend and still acheived 5 knots over ground with only one engine running. I should have snapped a picture of it. I was very impressed.
We have the VP 30hp with 3 blade folding props.
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20-09-2012, 11:54
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#12
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cruiser
Join Date: May 2011
Boat: Hitchhiker, Catamaran, 40'
Posts: 1,827
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
I have the 30 hp Volvo's which do fine (40 footer) but the real question here is what is the difference in weight? Also there are saildrives available now to fit Yanmars, Volvos, Betas, I think they are made by Hurth, so you might want to check into that. But the weight issue could be a big deal, The engines in saildrive cats are always pretty far aft and weight aft makes a huge difference in the motion of the boat (pitching) as well as sailing performance. (you want your transoms above the waterline). Unless you want to motor most of the time you should rethink this.
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20-09-2012, 14:16
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Presently on US East Coast
Boat: Manta 40 "Reach"
Posts: 10,108
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Re: New 400, engine upgrade worth it?
The OP's friend is ordering a new boat, so he only has certain options - all of them engines with saildrives.
One would not want to put a different saildrive on a new engine in a new build - warrantee issues would be a nightmare.
The boat under consideration is designed for engines far aft - in fact, his particular model has the engines as aft as possible. Yes, this is not good, but the boat hulls are designed with that in mind.
Mark
__________________
www.svreach.com
You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
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