Albemarle 247

[hurricanes]

Looking at a albe 247. Do these boats have the same water ingestion problems as the carolina classic? For those in the know what is your opinion of these boats prior to 2000? What cruse can I expect with a 5.7 volvo? Is this enough engine?

[jbg108]

I think any Water ingestion issues were resolved years ago? I bet you will criuse 24-26 knots depending on 260 or 300 hp. Most of these came with the 5.0 engine which was weak for the boat. A 300hp 5.7 is a great match.

Do a search on this site and you will find lots of info.

[xl883lo]

hurricanes - 2/3/2008 6:24 AM

Looking at a albe 247. Do these boats have the same water ingestion problems as the carolina classic? For those in the know what is your opinion of these boats prior to 2000? What cruse can I expect with a 5.7 volvo? Is this enough engine?

The answer depends on how you want to look at it and is either a definate yes, a maybe or no. First, all boat engines can be subject to water ingestion just to varying degrees. No boat motor is immune to water ingestion.

Mercury issued a general service bulliten about the ingestion problem and it applies to all 4,6 and 8 cylinder Inboard and I/O engines.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/01/01_13.pdf

The issue was most common in the Big Block GM based motor....particularly those that had a great deal of valve overlap(the 7.4 Volvo fits this category).I can't remember but I think the FI and Carb models had different cams and one is more succeptable than the other.

It is also more common in boats with thru-hull/waterline exhaust as oppose to thru/hub prop exhaust or thru transom mufflers (like a corsa? exhaust).

People are aware of the Carolina Classic ingestion issues because they built so many boats with the thru-hull/waterline exhaust and the big block 7.4 Volvo. Carolina Classic didn't really have any more problems with this than any other boat with the same configuration.The problem is more about the engine and exhaust configuration. Mac Privott now uses Crusader gas engines and Volvo & Yanmar diesels and they have had almost zero problems from the same hulls.

I don't know which exhaust configuration the Albemarle has but the smallblock is cetainly going to cut down on the problems and if it is a standard thru prop exhaust it will be even less.

I would ask the guys on the Albemarle Owners site about how well the 5.7 pushes that boat. Carolina Classic uses the 8.1 Crusader in the CC25 and 6.0 Crusader twins in the CC28. The HP/engine is about the same but the 8.1 has much more torque and they feel it is a better match. The 247 Albemarle is a good bit smaller and lighter than the CC25 so the 5.7/small block may be just fine.






http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/01/01_13.pdf

[hblac]

The 247's never had water ingestion problems.

Hal

[billh1963]

The engines most impacted by water ingestion were the Volvo 7.4L and 8.1L fuel injected engines. The carb'ed 7.4L engines don't seem to have this problem nor does the fuel injected Crusader 8.1L (as mentioned earlier). There is lots of info out there on this topic.

[looneytunes]

billh1963 - 2/3/2008 2:57 PM

The engines most impacted by water ingestion were the Volvo 7.4L and 8.1L fuel injected engines. The carb'ed 7.4L engines don't seem to have this problem nor does the fuel injected Crusader 8.1L (as mentioned earlier). There is lots of info out there on this topic.

Volvo engines in all configs had the problem. The 5.0GXi has been a notrorious victim of water ingestion. I know first hand. They claim that it has something to do with the manufacture mounting the engine too low making it suseptible to water ingestion through the outdrive. I will tell you first hand, Carolina Classic owners got engines replaced and fixed no problem. I wish I could say the same. I went through hell to have the problem fixed.

Looneytunes
Dave

[Hooked Up]

I had a 1996 247 Albe. Great boat. Put 1400 hours on the Volvo 5.7 and sold it still running good. Never had any engine issues. Mine cruised anywhere from 23-27 knots depending on the sea conditions and load. Probably the best boat Ive had.

[Glenn]

agree...no injestion issues.

5.7 will be perfect but the 5.0 is not underpowered....with that said, when I repower I'll get the 5.7...same space, no sense not getting the extra ponies and torque

[vawrckdvr]

Friend's early 90's 24 Albemarle had a Volvo 260hp 350 small block. It was anemic, to say the least. The outdrive was replaced with a duo-prop, and the engine was swapped out for a fresh water cooled, stroked 350 ( I think it is 383 cubic inches), that performs like a big block. The boat now flies and gets over 2.5 nmpg at cruise. Sweet setup. Only downside, he burns a blend of regular and mid grade gas because compression ratio is pretty high. Uses aluminum Corvette cylinder heads. No water ingestion problems with old or new engine, ever.