Would You Buy a Boat with a Volvo ?

[KodiakMike]

G'day - Looking at a boat with a 1995 Volvo MD22L w/ 2500 hours. Only diesel we've ever run is our wonderful Yanmar 4JH3E... Friends who ran a Volvo for years HATED it, said they count on the cost of a repower when looking at a boat with a Volvo. So... can anyone provide personal experience concerning this Volvo model?

Merci beaucoup!

[boden36]

Agree with your friends. Swapped ours for a Yanmar. Regards, Richard.

[Ed_Sail]

We have an 86 2002 with no issues - E

[Sunspot Baby]

A pair of 94 2003s have been reliable. I did do an overhaul a couple of years ago just because they were getting a lot of hours on them.

Volvo parts are expensive, but Yanmar is trying hard to close the gap in that area.

If you fine a good sound boat of the type you want, the name on the auxiliary engine is a low priority.

George

[Sandero]

My MD 17D is fine after 25 yrs. Sure it has some issues, but it starts instantly, doesn't burn oil and is a bit loud. But it's going strong.

[sded]

I have a 1986 Volvo 2003t with over 4000 hours; no problems. Parts are expensive, but haven't needed many.

[skipmac]

Had a boat with a Volvo MD17C and loved it. I have heard some serious complaints with newer Volvos but most seemed to be on quality control new out of the factory. Would think that once the engine was tried and broken in well that any initial defects would have been revealed and the motor should be reliable.

Do agree that the parts are not cheap but I never needed a lot of them. Even parts for Volvo's cars are really high. Guess it's part of the company philosophy.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by sded

I have a 1986 Volvo 2003t with over 4000 hours; no problems. Parts are expensive, but haven't needed many.

I am not sure that parts are any more expensive than other makes. The volvo shaft seal is £55. The cost of filters and oil for our 2003 no more than the ones for my Peugeot 106 and come from the same place, the local motor factors. Okay starters and alternator may be more expensive but how often do you need these.

Would I buy a boat with a Volvo? yes and did. Would I consider re-powering with a volvo, yes if prices were similar, indeed the world wide availability of spares would be a bonus

My 21 year old volvo 2003 is going to last alot longer than my landrover or peugeot car diesel engines.

Pete

[Pete7]

Oh, the MD22L is an OHC engine with a belt, not only used by Volvo but also marinised by Perkins as the Prima. Then used by British Leyand in a series of cars and vans. Top of the range was a Volvo 105hp TD version.

Since its 15 years old you may want to ask when the cam belt was last changed.

Pete

[goboatingnow]

its a good reliable engine, there have been lots of problems with yanmars as well k, especially their bigger 6 cly engines

dave

[nigel1]

I have the TMD22, so far no problems, starts instantly. The TMD22 was used in Montego 2.0 Litre Turbo Diesel cars, so parts do not always have to be sourced from Volvo. I changed the cambelt earlier this year, belt came from an auto factor, and half the price of a Volvo Penta packaged belt

[KodiakMike]

OK, ya'll, thanks for the feedback. I guess the bottom line is that if everything else on this boat is as good as it seems (we haven't actually viewed the boat yet), we'll take the seller's (and surveyor's!) word that the Volvo works well and take the dive.

[svcambria]

I had a Volvo MD21B which after 20 years became increasingly hard to maintain as parts - even consumable parts like their peculiar proprietary square gaskets - became harder and harder to find. It eventually committed suicide - drowned itself in raw water from the water pump - and I didn't revive it but replaced it with a Yanmar 4JH3 in 2001. Only problem with the Yanmar so far is the location of their sea water pump which makes changing the impeller very interesting - understand they offer a different location for that pump now...

Michael

[Bash]

Originally Posted by svcambria

Only problem with the Yanmar so far is the location of their sea water pump which makes changing the impeller very interesting - understand they offer a different location for that pump now...

Yeah. What's up with that? I've had two different Yanmars with this problem, and I'd love to get the engine's designer on my boat and chain him to the engine until he changes the impeller for me, just for revenge.

Actually, once you get past the first step it's not too difficult a process. Unfortunately, the first step on my boat is to disassemble the galley sink, and all associated cabinetry.

[zeehag]

i am not a volvo fan in boats--seen too many problems--kinda like atomic 4. i understand some of each actually work.
i like yanmar and perkins 4-108. my ericson hs yanmar and my formosa is perkins powered....