i'm planning on repowering my boat. my choices are a mercruiser and a yanmar. the yanmar is a lot more expensive, and much heavier, but will be cheaper on gas. i do not use my boat much, so would the diesel be worth the greater upfront cost?
2007-01-30 00:43:04 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
I think you answered your own question when you said "I do not use my boat much"
If you don't use it much, then the extra money you put into a diesel conversion will be mostly wasted. Also, the extra weight of the diesel engine will require more power to get the same speed and performance as the gas engine had.
Stick with gasoline.
2007-01-30 03:23:13 · answer #1 · answered by JetDoc 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Power and Motoryacht did a test a few years back in order to answer the very question you have. From a strictly monetary standpoint it takes a boater that operates the boat an average of 100 hrs a year 5 years to break even. There are other considerations including:
1) diesel fuel is much safer then gasoline
2) diesel fuel is still somewhat cheaper then gasoline.
3) a diesel engine swings a bigger prop translating into better handling at the dock
4) a diesel boat has a higher resale value and will be in higher demand as the price of gas rises.
5)a diesel boat can normaly cruise at a higher speed due to its characteristics but will have a lower top speed.
Plenty there for you to consider, but if you can, go diesel.
2007-01-30 12:51:42 · answer #2 · answered by mark t 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Answer 1 says most of what I would say. Diesel is twice as efficient as gas, so even if it is more expensive it is cheaper in the long run. (It should not be more expensive as it is less refined) Ithought the odor of diesel would be a problem but it is not. We have a yanmar diesel and when repowering will go with a slightly bigger yanmar., go with the diesel.Old gas does not work well and the ethanol will be a problem. I researched the biodiesel and the word was not for an old engine because it cleans the tankand lines and clogs the filters. Also it has greater lubricity and goes through old seals. Go with diesel.
2007-01-30 09:12:47 · answer #3 · answered by science teacher 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It truly depends on your cruising style. If you are away from a port or fuel supply for a long period, gas is not a good choice. If most of your boating is inland or close to populated areas and/or marinas where you can re-fuel... go with gas.
Gas needs more maintenance generally. Make sure you can re-fuel with ethanol as this is becoming a huge thing in years to come for all gas engines. Diesel offers many oil fuel types already and will improve as well over the years. Diesel will improve the resale of your boat due to the expense but be careful NOT to have the most expensive boat in your class solely because of diesel power. Some folks dislike the smell associated with diesel power and thus gas is still the preferred fuel of choice in North America... Europe on the other hand is mostly diesel (even with many high performance offshore power boats) and gasoline pricing is the reason why. Our usage of gas is higher than diesel thus creating high demand but much competition among vendors of fuel. Europe is the opposite.
In my humble opinion anyhow...
2007-01-30 08:54:51 · answer #4 · answered by 6kidsANDalwaysFIXINGsomething 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
simply stated, NO!
2007-01-30 09:20:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋