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Random Quote: BOAT NAKED, SHOW OFF YOUR DINGHY !!!!
Looking for input on powering a 28' custom center console. I am torn between a single diesel and twin outboards. Moneywise, there won't be much cost difference in the finished boat. These are the pros and cons I have come up with so far, can anyone think of anything else
Cons-
Increased draft, can't get in shallow water or on the beach for family outings
Slightly slower cruise
loss of console storage space
Higher noise level
Twin outboards (Yamaha four strokes on bracket)
Pros-
Dual power redundancy
better maneauverability
will have storage under console
Shallow draft
Cons-
Higher fuel consumption (slightly)
Higher maintenance cost (2 of everything)
Have to fish over bracket/outboards
Don't really like the look of the boat with the brack/outboards
All input appreciated. This will be a custom built Carolina style CC with small cuddy forward.
The biggest difference will be manueverability. Good luck backing the diesel boat up in a straight line. Although people will appreciate your skills much more when you dock the diesel boat with style versus the outboard boat.
The outboards suck more fuel, and the fuel costs more. So if you are planning on using th eboat a lot this could be a big factor in savings,
Resale - The outboard boat will be easier to sell, but the diesel boat should bring more money because of the longevity of the engine. It just might take you a while to find the buyer.
Noise level. I can only imagine the diesel will be dramatically louder than the outboards. My bros single diesel seacraft is like operating a bulldozer it's so loud. We are going to put some sound down in it this year to curb some of that. The loss of storage space stinks too.
For coolness, cost, and longevity go with diesel. For speed, manueverability, accomodations and comfort (noise) go with O/B.
For me I couldn't get past the fact of having to fish around two bracketed outboards, which is why I ended up with a single jackshaft. The diesel hooked to a volvo jackshaft may give you the best of both worlds.
change that cummins to a yanmar and the noise will drop to be just a little louder than the outboards and you will gain some room as the yanmars are smaller than the cummins jmo
dfaust,
I have a 24' single diesel inboard (which I bought at Topsail Island and brought back to Alabama!!)
Another consideration is the type of fishing you are going to do with the boat. Are you going to put a tower on it?? If so, the big diesel being forward and having a lower center of gravity will greatly help the comfort on the tower!!!!!!!
Also, for trolling, I like the single diesel for several reasons...i believe they raise fish better, I like being able to drag baits in clear water at corners of boat (instead of prop wash), and a clear transom is MUCH easier when have multiple tuna hooked up!!!!!!
On the rough days, the outboard boats won't be able to keep with you....but on the calm days you won't be able to keep up with them. The fuel savings with the diesel will surprise you....when I buddy boat I usually spend 3 to 4 times less $$$ at the fuel pump refilling than the outboard boats that ran with me all day!!!!
You can always get the boat builder to build you a skeg to protect the prop if shallow water is really important.....
Handling a single screw is only tricky at first, once mastered it is actually pretty easy....if really need it you can always add a bowthruster too.
I don't own one but looking at your list of pros and cons I would address what you could, soundproofing and trying to design in addtional storage space and go with the diesel. IMO just makes for an overall better boat, no brackets simple drive train, everything inside the boat, cheaper fuel more economical to operate plus I agree it will be better looking and as Jim said you get the cool factor.
Oh, by the way what kind of boat is it.
Dave
Ok, thanks for the replys so far. A little more info from me. The boat is a cold molded custom hull, I am actually working with the builder on at 32' express when the opportunity on this 28' CC came along. His buyer went belly up with the hull about 2/3 complete. Boat was originally to be built with the twin outboards on a bracket, but I have a deal on the 480c Cummins that is too good to pass up if diesel is the way I want to go. The builder, who definately knows his stuff by the way, says the boat will be 30 knot cruise with the diesel, closer to 40 with the outboards if conditions allow.
All the above being said, I guess one of my biggest concerns is resale. This will be an interem boat, I still will build the larger express in the next couple of years. The market for custom boats is not huge to begin with, and trying to determine which version would be easier to sell is one reason for this post. I also have some family friendliness concerns, with the diesel, I am a bit afraid of the noise, and I won't have the ability to pull her up on the beach for family time.
Capt. Dan, this boat will be kept in the water, otherwise I would strongly consider the jackshaft to sterndrive setup. As it stands now, it will either be straght inboard or outboards.
My three sons/Strikerthree, I have read Pascoe's info, and am pretty much in agreement. That is one reason I would go with the 480, slower turning than the Yanmars and a decent displacement to horsepower ratio for longevity.
Modunlavy, what power do you have in your Topaz, and what kind of operating/maintenance costs have you seen.
Nobody suggested a bow thruster to go with that diesel? You won't need a big one Thruster is standard issue on my Albin 32+2. For docking & backing the thing is way too cool. Thrusters are still rare enough to get lots of attention if you have one. There is a 30' CC here with a Perkins 6-354 240hp owned by a fishaholic. It is not quick but he loves it.
dfaust,
I have the original 130 hp Volvo Penta TMD40a...yes, only 130 hp.. Loaded out she will run 23 knots @ 3600 rpm (WOT) and I cruise around 20 knots at 3150 rpm. I burn 8.5 gph at WOT and just over 5 gph at cruise. The additional $ savings comes in running off-road diesel too.
Maintenance: I don't have an aftercooler, so annual maintenance consists of oil and filter changes every 100 hours, fuel and air filters changed too as needed, and scrap any carbon from around turbo on exhaust elbow side.
Every 2-3 years I remove heat exchanger and oil cooler and clean myself with muratic acid and have injectors tested then repair if needed. Change antifreeze out and flush engine also. Change belts out too.
right off the top of my head that is about it....since do myself not expensive...biggest thing is amount of oil....4 gallons per oil change...i use the rotella and buy in gallon containers...including filters costs me about $30 for oil and filter....
I don't use manufacturers filters, i cross referenced them over to fram...much cheaper, same quality.....
IMHO
Less maintenance, more speed, better manuverability in tight locations, better accesability, better offshore saftey with twin outboards.
Gas money is rarely largest single expense unless you use her more than weekly. Besides, friends usually will chip in at the fuel dock, but not when you buy the engine.
You can place a motor cover or large cooler with a fillet tabletop in front of the outboards to deflect the noise back, and use the top to brace your arms when you leanout over the outboards to keep the line away from the props. But this rarely happens in a manuverable boat unless you have double hookups on large tuna with small anglers.
Another big deciding factor for me would be the amount of time you use the boat and how you plan to store it.... If you are more than the weekend warrior, I would say diesel. If you are only a weekend warrior at best then I would say outboard.
If you do not use an outboard often and go with a nice ablative paint, a lot of the growth can easily be brushed off and disloved off the hull by running the boat and your drives are clean. If you have that kind of growth on an inboard, you are not going to get the junk off of your drive as easily thus making the boat less efficient than outboard too.
Others have done a good job with the other advantages and disadvantages of each power source..
Off topic...but how did you go about finding/choosing a boatbuilder for your ex-32 express? Are prices different (less than) ordering a new 32 Topaz,Albermarle,Cabo? Those boats seem to be mid 300's boats. Just wondering...
Thanks again for all the replies. I am still debating, keep the info coming.
SeaNile, yes, you can get into a custom boat for considerably less than a production boat of the same size if you keep the touchy feely stuff to a minimum. I was looking at a charter type setup and finish that would come in just over 200k. I am still excited about having the boat built, but right now the CC seems too good to pass up and I can get it right away. Email me if you want more info on a custom build.
Another option is a Merc diesel sterndrive. It's offered in the Trophy 20 foot walk around as an example. Here's an article in Popular Mechanics about it.
I don't know anything about the waters you'll be operating in but, I can tell you that, in Southwest Florida, we've got really shallow water to operate in. That's why down here 95% of the "fish type" boats under 28' are outboard powered. Push one button and you can change the operable draft of your boat. Can't do that with a fixed shaft/prop & rudder!
i used to fish a 40' steele hull with single diesel. no problem manuvering once you get used to it. i have a friend with a 46' with inboard diesels. he does the family outings on a beach alot and tows a small skiff behind his boat. anchors up and uses the skiff to get from boat to beach and back.
Single diesel inboard vs twin outboards 
