volvo penta vs yanmar

[Tincatinca]

I am looking at two identical 50 ft centre cockpit yachts, circa 2000/2001, one with a Volvo Penta TAMD31 130hp 4 cyl diesel , and the other with a 79hp 4 cyl Yanmar turbo diesel. The power difference is considerable, but each will probably give a maximum speed of around 8 knots. Would welcome comments of the difference, as well as upkeep and reliability of these two power trains.

[skipperpete]

Welcome to the forum Tincatinca. I’m a Yanmar guy and even more relevant.... not a great fan of volvo marine engines but I‘d actually go for the Volvo in this instance .....and only if I’d thoroughly established that the volvo was in perfect health first. These are both turbodiesels and there are a number of very quick assessments you can make about the condition of both these engines. If the Volvo is clean, healthy and with low hours, and the Yanmar is tired,high hours and shows signs of age, definitely choose the Volvo but if the situation is reversed, you really don’t want a sick Tamd31.

[Tincatinca]

Both engines have done less than 2000 hours

[George_SD]

I would go for the one that is maintained better. Volvo has more power and having extra power doesn't hurt at all. It can be useful in many ways.

[CaptNemoO2]

No personal experience in ownership, but helping others, I would veer away from the Volvo. But if all things were equal between the two, the extra power may be a deciding factor depending on your expected use.

I have a 50 foot, 36000 lbs, typical 90s production boat hull form with an 80hp perkins, non turbo. I think the boat would be much better with a 100 hp. In flat seas it's more than fine, and I burn on average 1.2 gph. But in a 30+ knot headwind, or in rough seas, it could use a bit more power. Granted the motor is 30 years old and has 2500 hours, some of those ponies may have escaped the corral. It could use more power to get up and over the waves, or punch through them. I've had a few waves that almost complete stopped forward travel. I'm not talking about big waves, maybe steep 6 to 10 footers getting out of an inlet. It would also be nice to have more power with following seas. It's completely adequate, and never left me worried, but having a bit more oomph at times would be great.

[Bill O]

Sail drives in either?
From my minimal look into them, it appears the Volvo SDs last longer than the Yanmar's even though they use the same SDs.

[Tincatinca]

Originally Posted by Bill O

Sail drives in either?
From my minimal look into them, it appears the Volvo SDs last longer than the Yanmar's even though they use the same SDs.

No, both are shaft driven props.

[Madehn]

If you plan on staying in the same area ask others around about the best shops dealers in your area and go with that brand.

[Shaneesprit]

Originally Posted by CaptNemoO2

No personal experience in ownership, but helping others, I would veer away from the Volvo. But if all things were equal between the two, the extra power may be a deciding factor depending on your expected use.

I have a 50 foot, 36000 lbs, typical 90s production boat hull form with an 80hp perkins, non turbo. I think the boat would be much better with a 100 hp. In flat seas it's more than fine, and I burn on average 1.2 gph. But in a 30+ knot headwind, or in rough seas, it could use a bit more power. Granted the motor is 30 years old and has 2500 hours, some of those ponies may have escaped the corral. It could use more power to get up and over the waves, or punch through them. I've had a few waves that almost complete stopped forward travel. I'm not talking about big waves, maybe steep 6 to 10 footers getting out of an inlet. It would also be nice to have more power with following seas. It's completely adequate, and never left me worried, but having a bit more oomph at times would be great.

Based on this I would go with the Yanmar and would manage with the correctly sized power plant rather than something with near 40% more power. I am thinking. Choosing a sail boat based on engine choice is a strange decision- are there no other basis or differences?

Either way both are quality manufacturers.

[Slacktime]

In my opinion, Volvo Penta is very difficult to deal with. Expensive and difficult to get spares, and if electronic, proprietary software for diagnostics. Yanmar is better, but I would prefer Cummins.

[GreenWave]

Obviously the choice is influenced by the condition of each engine. However, on the more power thing... I say just the opposite. Go with the smaller engine. Diesels like to be run hard, not babied. Too many sailing diesels get used at very low RPMs and that creates issues down the road, especially for Yanmars.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by GreenWave

Obviously the choice is influenced by the condition of each engine.

I would be much more influenced by the condition of the rest of the yacht, particularly with only 2000 hrs on the engines. A replacement engine isn't cheap, but neither will a set of sails for a 50ft yacht.

Pete

[Tincatinca]

There seems to be considerable aversion to the Volvo Penta engines amongst sailors. I am not sure why, given their widespread use. Is it more than the very high prices of spares, or is there some other fundamental reason? What goes wrong with VP's that doesn't with other makes? Unfortunately I have no experience with marine VP engines, having only re-ringed a tractor/TLB Volvo engine which had done 12 000 hours...and then ran flawlessly.

[Tanqueray]

Originally Posted by Tincatinca

There seems to be considerable aversion to the Volvo Penta engines amongst sailors. I am not sure why, given their widespread use. Is it more than the very high prices of spares, or is there some other fundamental reason? What goes wrong with VP's that doesn't with other makes? Unfortunately I have no experience with marine VP engines, having only re-ringed a tractor/TLB Volvo engine which had done 12 000 hours...and then ran flawlessly.

I think that part of the aversion is the cost of parts for anything Volvo.


Greg

[Bycrick]

My first boat (ca. 1975) had an older Volvo. I found a mechanic who specialized in only-Volvo. He did all my work until 1999 when I started looking for a new boat. When I asked how about motors, he told me "Avoid Volvo motors."