Yanmar vs Atomic 4: Cost Difference ?

[um saudade]

I was never recommending that anyone tear out a perfectly good anything and replace it with an Atomic 4. My point is that I would not pay lots of extra dollars for a converted boat just because it is a diesel.

If a little A-4 were no longer rebuildable I would certainly go for the diesel upgrade, if it would fit. There are issues with engine replacements too and how and who did the work must be considered. A lot of replacement engines have terrible shaft alignment to the point where they can’t be aligned without pulling the engine and starting over on the ways.

Then there is the consideration of instrumentation. This is can be a big issue also.

You could only compare if you could say that one Pearson 30 has a newly rebuilt atomic 4 and the other Pearson 30 has a newly rebuilt Yanmar and the rest of the boat is identical. This scenario will never happen so you have to judge each and every boat on its own merits.

Um Saudade

[meyermm]

I think the majority agree on Diesel. There are always people who like to be different for many reasons some just to be different. Usually if you follow the majority it works out cheaper in the long run. The minority will always come up with reasons for their decision. Note carefully the points being made about ethanol and petrols storage life vs Diesel they are valid.

[jzk]

In the same boat, the diesel is well worth $5k more than the Atomic 4. That is just the reality of the market place. If you prefer the Atomic 4, then you might as well negotiate a discount.

[Chief Engineer]

Or am I to understand that the requirements for safety are just cost prohibitive to comply with the Regs?

Originally Posted by never monday

U.S.C.G. Regulation

[speedoo]

Originally Posted by um saudade

You could only compare if you could say that one Pearson 30 has a newly rebuilt atomic 4 and the other Pearson 30 has a newly rebuilt Yanmar and the rest of the boat is identical. This scenario will never happen so you have to judge each and every boat on its own merits.

Um Saudade

Actually, the reason I asked the question in the first post in the thread was because I was looking at a Yanmar-equipped Pearson 30 and an A4-equipped ODay 27. The ODay was $2k cheaper, but clearly the P30 was the better buy as it was the bigger boat with a diesel. So you are right that precise comparisons are not possible, but it is possible to make rough comparisons that are helpful.

You rarely see boats on the used boat market with "newly rebuilt" engines of any kind. Most likely sellers figure that buyers would rather have the choice of rebuilding or repowering, but I'm not sure that's a wise selling strategy especially in this market. It seems that boats with any kind of significant issue, like a bad engine, are very difficult to sell and usually end up going for ridiculously low prices.

[never monday]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Or am I to understand that the requirements for safety are just cost prohibitive to comply with the Regs?

then why do we still get gas in stink pot's?

IIRC, the were outlawed as sailboat aux power. It's been a few years since I read the code.

[Chief Engineer]

I don't think they are outlawed........It is just that no one makes them anymore.

[Opie91]

I never saw the reg myself. I think that manufactures are just giving people what they want. How many people do you think would order a new boat with an A4 today? How about zero, Ok maybe Um Saudade would buy one... LOL

[Chief Engineer]

How about a small block Chevy........two 4 inch exhaust holes in the transom.

A sailboat suddenly on plane????? That would give people nightmares!!!!!!!!!!

[Opie91]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

How about a small block Chevy........two 4 inch exhaust holes in the transom.

A sailboat suddenly on plane????? That would give people nightmares!!!!!!!!!!

I'll take one if you can get the fuel burn down to .3 gal/hr....

[never monday]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

How about a small block Chevy........two 4 inch exhaust holes in the transom.

A sailboat suddenly on plane????? That would give people nightmares!!!!!!!!!!

I've threatened putting a 7.4 in a Catalina 27

[Chief Engineer]

Let us know when you post the youtube video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!