Replacing AQAD40 Volvos- Any suggestions

[Moreton Ray]

Hello, With my pair of 165hp diesels and outdrives on borrowed time at 40 years old, I’m considering Re powering to get me through the next 15 years. To replace these 2 with D4 Volvos I’ll be looking at 80k. I just thought I’d put it out there to see if anyone knows of an alternative to Volvo that may shave some cost off this. FYI boat is also 40 years old but suited to our needs for the long term.

 

[ranger58sb]

Any overriding reason to stay with Volvos?

I've read remanufactured Cummins Bs (with warranties) could be a good deal. Dunno factoids, nor whether those might be available in your area...

-Chris

 

[sunchaser]

What is the boat?

The dimensions and fit in the ER space combined with the out drive transom fit will determine the unit options. A diesel and out drive combination are tightly engineered as a unit which is why Volvo is common place. Mercruisers small diesel out drives have become less common.

With so many applications in this size now with gas outboards the diesel alternatives to Volvo are few.. More common than diesels are gas engines and out drives for weekend lake play.

Maybe a complete rebuild of your current units is the best alternative.

 

[rslifkin]

For a diesel / sterndrive combo, I think the choices are pretty much between Volvo, Yanmar, and Mercruiser. I don't think any of the other builders offer a sterndrive package. Personally, I'd lean towards Yanmar or Mercruiser unless Volvo parts and service availability is known to be good in your area.

 

[Portage_Bay]

You'll likely get a lot of push back against Volvos from U.S. boaters. I think that's due mainly to poor parts availability and service in the U.S. Not necessarily the reliability of Volvos. I see you're in Australia. You've gotten good service out of your Volvos.

Were it me I'd shop parts and service in my cruising area making that a large part of my decision.

Sunchaser makes a good point about the engineering of engine / drive units.

As anecdotal evidence, and it's so old that it's only valuable as entertainment. In the late 70s when I was building boats I read about a test of various outdrive manufacturer's units. The tester hard mounted engine / outdrive units to the dock and ran them hard until failure. Mercury failed first, Johnson and failed Eveinrude next. I don't think they were under the OMC umbrella yet. The tester shut the Volvo down, he was tired of waiting for it to fail. These were gasoline engines, in all cases of failure it was the outdrive not the engine that quit.

 

[DavidM]

Outdrives inherently have problems. Either they are left in the water with the drive down or the owner never flushes them with fresh water after use. Aluminum in salt water is the culprit.

Gasoline engine outdrives rarely last as long as the engine, maybe a few thousand hours. Diesel outdrives may last longer but not much. How many hours and years do you have on yours?

I would never put a fraction of $80,000 into rebuilding engines and outdrives. Put your money in a prop shaft driven boat with Yanmar’s, probably the 4LHs for twins or the 6LP or 6LY or a Cummins 6BTA for singles.

David

 

[Moreton Ray]

Boat is a Markline 1100, 36’. Pretty much all alternates even new Volvos will need some sort of modification to the footprint either transom cutouts or engine mounts.

 

[Moreton Ray]

Thanks David, about 2800 hrs on my diesel outdrives, they are permanently under salt water. I completely agree with your sentiment on outdrives though. But they have lasted 40 years. I have to be on top of the anode swap outs otherwise it’s game over.

 

[Southern Boater]

Hello, With my pair of 165hp diesels and outdrives on borrowed time at 40 years old, I’m considering Re powering to get me through the next 15 years. To replace these 2 with D4 Volvos I’ll be looking at 80k. I just thought I’d put it out there to see if anyone knows of an alternative to Volvo that may shave some cost off this. FYI boat is also 40 years old but suited to our needs for the long term.

Hi MR, I’ve sent you a private message, cheers

 

[BruceK]

The NZ built Markline 1100, nice boats, I considered buying one, came in shaft drive and outdrive version. That might make converting from outdrive to shaft easier, or not. I`m guessing the Volvos themselves at <2700hours have life remaining. Replacing engines with something different would likely be a big project because of associated changes different engines require. I suspect economically not doable, maybe exceeding the value of the boat. If the engines are ok just replacing the drives might make sense, despite the maintenance issues.
Our marina mechanic is something of a sterndrive/outdrive "specialist",though not by choice I suspect. He extols the need for maintenance to avoid costly rebuilds once the water gets in. Whoever thought of locating the gearbox permanently underwater should repent at leisure.

 

[C lectric]

At 2,700 hrs your Volvos should have a lot of life in them yet unless you have not looked after them properly. To help a decision it may be worth getting the engines themselves checked.

Of course parts availability will enter into the decision as Volvo, at least here, does not have a stellar reputation about parts availability for older engines.

 

[Moreton Ray]

The NZ built Markline 1100, nice boats, I considered buying one, came in shaft drive and outdrive version. That might make converting from outdrive to shaft easier, or not. I`m guessing the Volvos themselves at <2700hours have life remaining. Replacing engines with something different would likely be a big project because of associated changes different engines require. I suspect economically not doable, maybe exceeding the value of the boat. If the engines are ok just replacing the drives might make sense, despite the maintenance issues.
Our marina mechanic is something of a sterndrive/outdrive "specialist",though not by choice I suspect. He extols the need for maintenance to avoid costly rebuilds once the water gets in. Whoever thought of locating the gearbox permanently underwater should repent at leisure.

Thanks Bruce, it is a crazy design. Shaft drives would be great. I have also thought about a pod and two diesel outboards but sounds as though that would be more like 160k.

 

[Moreton Ray]

At 2,700 hrs your Volvos should have a lot of life in them yet unless you have not looked after them properly. To help a decision it may be worth getting the engines themselves checked.

Of course parts availability will enter into the decision as Volvo, at least here, does not have a stellar reputation about parts availability for older engines.

Sadly the previous owners did not look after them. I have done a fair bit and they are good now, but 15 years more… I’m not sure. You are right on the parts, impossible to get some items and very overpriced when you can find them.

 

[Southern Boater]

The NZ built Markline 1100, nice boats, I considered buying one, came in shaft drive and outdrive version. That might make converting from outdrive to shaft easier, or not. I`m guessing the Volvos themselves at <2700hours have life remaining. Replacing engines with something different would likely be a big project because of associated changes different engines require. I suspect economically not doable, maybe exceeding the value of the boat. If the engines are ok just replacing the drives might make sense, despite the maintenance issues.
Our marina mechanic is something of a sterndrive/outdrive "specialist",though not by choice I suspect. He extols the need for maintenance to avoid costly rebuilds once the water gets in. Whoever thought of locating the gearbox permanently underwater should repent at leisure.

The Markline were possibly NZ’s first foray into production boat exporting, they built Searay under license for the Asia Pacific area in the 80’s and produced a great product for dollars invested, good lines and big volume.

There is no doubt the sterndrive/outdrive and now IPS version of the sub 36’ boat performs better for speed and apparently economy, compared to shafts, and still a big thing in European built and designed boats, where Volvo reigns supreme.

The repowering of any boat is a serious commitment and hardly ever makes sense financially for an occasionally used, older, recreational vessel, but how long do you keep investing in the original engine and drive?

 

[tiltrider1]

I find throwing good money after bad never pays off.

Your best course is to dump the boat and move on to something better for the next 15 years. If the boat has no value, then just keep using it until it dies. No value in the future is no different than no value now.

If the boat has value but you can’t afford to trade up, we’ll hats a difficult position and I have no advice.

When it comes to repower, rebuilding is almost always cheaper, replacing with like kind, such as a D4 is usually only slightly less expensive than going different. I do not know what challenges you will have trying to mate to your current stern drives.

I have never been able to make any sense out of investing in an old stern drive boat.