Volvo D2 vs Yanmar 3JH4E

[malikalalu]

If u have the option between the Volvo Penta D2 40hp and the Yanmar 3JH4EI 39 hp which engine would u choose? and why?
this is for a 40 footer catamaran.
thanks!

[seafox]

This will get Wheels going

[seafox]

This will get Wheels going

[Alan Wheeler]

You would be better answering this Darryl. Youv'e had both.

[never monday]

Where are you know? what are your expected crusing grounds for this boat?
How long do you plan on keeping the boat?

[malikalalu]

Originally Posted by never monday

Where are you know? what are your expected crusing grounds for this boat?
How long do you plan on keeping the boat?

hi!
I'm planing to sail around the world for a few years minimum....
I dont have the boat yet.. I'm in the process of purchasing one...

[never monday]

Both engines will be well suported in most areas of the globe.
THe Yanmar makes almost 20 NM more torque than the Volvo. THe Volvo burns .2GPH less than the Yanmar at fast cruise.

Loonngg term, the Yanmar should be less expensive for parts based on the history of Volvo.

Given the above, it's crap shoot, both would serve you well.

[colemj]

Might also want to consider the drivetrain. If saildrives, a lot of people are having bad experiences with Yanmar cone clutches. Looking at websites of boats with Yanmar SD's (Voyage, Catana) there are many stories of bad saildrive issues. Looking at sites of Volvo-equiped boats (Manta, HRassy), saildrive issues are rare. Interestingly, Lagoon offers a choice and on its owners website, there are reported problems with Yanmar SD's, but not Volvo's.

All of this is emperical and not statistical. I would definitely defer to someone like Pat who experiences these types of things in a much more statistical way.

Mark

[Alan Wheeler]

Maybe not the issues with the Volvo saildrive, but the specified maintenance schedule is higher and very expensive. If you applied the same maintenance schedule to the yanmar, I suggest it would not give problems either.
My personal oppinion is go for a Yanmar. But Darryls D2 runs sweet and is economical and does not smoke, unlike his earlier Volvo experiance. Volvo parts are rediculousely expensive.

[seafox]

I think with any boat parts and products it is a lottery.

[AnchorageGuy]

Yanmar! Or Yanmar!

[AnchorageGuy]

Yanmar! Or Yanmar!

[colemj]

Originally Posted by Alan Wheeler

Maybe not the issues with the Volvo saildrive, but the specified maintenance schedule is higher and very expensive. If you applied the same maintenance schedule to the yanmar, I suggest it would not give problems either.

I don't know about the Yanmar saildrive maintenance, but the Volvo maintenance schedule is changing the oil every few hundred hours, zinc as needed, shaft seals as needed (mine are going on their 9th year with no issues) and rubber boot every seven years. The oil is the same price whether the saildrive is Volvo or Yanmar, the zincs are US$13 (boatzincs.com), the shaft seals are US$15 each (need two) and the rubber boot costs a newborn and a right arm. In changing the zinc, you will need to replace a lock washer (US$0.93) and, although it is not recommended in the manual, I think it is a good idea to replace the bolt (US$2.95).

I use a recent purchase for determining those prices, and the maintenance schedule is from my Volvo saildrive manual.

While it is possible that the Yanmar drive could save money by going longer without an oil change, the cost of zincs and shaft seals can't be much different. Could be a good bit of cost savings on the rubber boot - I don't know the Yanmar price. If the sole determining factor in reliability is the difference between $20 of oil spared over several years on the Yanmar, then if I had a Yanmar, I would be sticking to the Volvo maintenance schedule.

All in all, I don't think the emperical evidence I see for reliability issues with Yanmar saildrives has to do with service interval differences.

I do, however, defer to someone with more experience with both drives or someone like Pat whose business is knowing this stuff.

Mark

[colemj]

I knew I remembered this from the forum:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tion-1666.html

Looks like Yanmar's service interval is 100hrs for oil change and 2 years for the rubber boot.

This service interval is far more frequent than Volvo's and if that rubber boot costs as much, it is going to be far more expensive.

Mark

[Alan Wheeler]

the zincs are US$13 (boatzincs.com)

Don't let Seafox see this. He'll have a kitten ;-)