*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Dear colleagues in the field of “boat interest”, I am new to the forum, I own an old 1991 Seacraft 23 with a Honda BF 130 outboard since eight years now and was very glad to discover there were so many people that as me, have found boats a very interesting field to let the imagination run and explore new ways of thinking. For a start I would like to get your opinion about a BIG DOUBT I do have: I am studying now, the purchase of a new fishing boat, so far ( but open to hear others opinions), I have arrived to the conclussion that the Ocean Master 31’ in its express configuration is my selected candidate, despite the fact I would have liked it with more bow flare and sleeker windshield configuration (nothing is perfect). But once into this conclussion I have arrived into a very troublesome doubt which I know is probabaly an old story but with the excellent four stroke ouboard power options available today, I do not understand why everyone seems to prefer Diesel power in boats that allow it, ....... my reasons are:
1)In the canary islands where I live the difference in price of gasoline or diesel is a mere (in US dollars) 13 cents.
2)The difference in weight for the same boat, configured with two Hondas BF225 or with two Yanmars 6LPA-STP of 315 HP, 255 HP continuous is of approximately 1200 lbs
3)The difference in aquisition price including difference in installation costs for both power options I would say should be close to $30.000 ( equivalent to the price of the gasoline of 2.5 years of fishing at 8 outings per month.
4) I would expect the ocean master 31’ equipped with the two Hondas to reach speeds close to 50 knots while with the Yanmars maybe no more than 35.
Not to mention other clear advantages like more room inside the boat, more maneuvrability, accesibility to the engines ...
Reliability of the Hondas particularly having two of them is not an issue
So why is the diesel power supposed to be the best power option ????
I have no first hand experience with the Ocean Master 31 Express, other than seeing one at Millway Marina in Massachusetts a year or two ago.
However, I would think that twin Honda 225s would be on the low side for powering that boat and there is no way that it would hit 50 knots with only 450 HP. In fact, I doubt very much that it would even reach 40 knots.
You may want to call Dana at Millway and ask for his input, he is the exclusive Ocean Master dealer for the New England area.
Twin 250 2str push that hull close to 50 The ride is kinda wet and not deep enough entry for those speeds imho
The desiels (I have no experience) would have a lower center of gravity as well as putting the weight in a better place for ride but for the amount you would be using the hull outboard would be a better choice The desiels are better on an every day boat I would assume that they would also give you more range/economy in the end
Diesel is not necessarily the best option. You have already mentioned a few issues. How about the cost of a diesel rebuild? That may run you the price of a single outboard.
1. Diesel is popular through Euro region due to the availablity of marine diesel (dyed red) which carries aboult half the tax of "white diesel"
2. Euro region have more experince with large diesels than large gas engines.
3. Even in the US large gas engines are being replace by the lighter modern diesels.
Outboards wont do the hours a diesel will but do have the benefits you mention.
PS - What Island are you from, I have a place in Tenerife and fish the "Dotsy Too".
I own a 1994 31' CC with twin Yami 250cc and it will do 48MPH, not sure how much heavier the express is. As stated above Dana is a good source @ Millway Marina, also the owner of Ocean Master (Mark Hauptner) is always willing to take a call and give sound advice. When I last spoke with Mark over the winter he was recommending repowers with E-TEC's.
I am not so sure the diesel engines will run for many more hours compared to the modern foursrtoke. Our local sea tow captain has put over 4000 hours on his Honda 225's without a hicup. Don't believe you will reach anywhere near 50mph, much less 50 knots with 225's.
Ed
__________________ See my 2002 185 Edgewater for sale here on THT
I purchased a new one in 1989 and rigged it w/ twin 200 yamahas. Ran 48 mph w/ t-top, 3 people and 280 gals fuel. If it doesn't hit 50, it should be close.
Keep in mind that he's looking at the EXPRESS version which is considerable heavier and has the center of weight farther forward. I bet twin 225s won't get close to 45 MPH. I'm thinking somewhere around 42 MPH.
If it's diesel input you are after try boatdiesel.com that is where the diesel zealots hang out. This is a place for twin Yammie worship, high speed center consoles and lot's of fishing stuff.
__________________ 2001 Pursuit 3400
370 HP Vulvo tamd 63 pa's
The inboards should help the slap factor! Genearally the weight distribution is usually better w/ inboards, especially when the tank gets low. So if you want rough water performance, and better fuel economy the diesel inboards might be worth the xtra cost. If speed on the real nice days is your concern go for the outboards, but if you're gonna cruise 40-50 mph your fuel economy will suffer for it as those rpms!
Thank you for such a beautiful pic of "the beast himself, and for your welcome I talk about that speed because the builders talked about 55 knots with twin 225 two strokes I suppose that in mega optimal conditions like polished no bottom paint hull, empty tank, empty boat ..
Dear Thomas I suppose that any well built rugged boat has to be on the heavy side, an without knowing the power it had in this sigle cat diesel, judging tha boat speed as slow would be unfair thank you very much for your information anyway
I am in the south of Gran Canaria and belive I have heard about the name of your boat, about the hours I agree with you but ........... i have also seen many people having big trouble with diesels.
About replacing large Gas for dissels ........... I belive it makes sense but not so much to choose diesels instead of modern four strokes outboards which is the difficult question
Mr Onewolf; depite never seeing one my self personally (Ocean Master 31) I believe that the express does necessarily have to be heavier, I supposed that weigh of the fiberglass of a lets say superconsole or cuddy cabin should be about the same or at least the surface of it seems about the same ( another thing is if you fill the cabin with lots of stuff which you could keep at home )
About the weight forward, maybe is possible if the builder has not done it yet to place the tank more rearwards to get a better balance.
How many Knots does your pursuit with the twin 250s get ???
The Pursuit tops out at 41kts (46MPH) with twin 250s (with bottom paint, full load, etc).
For what it's worth, the January 2006 edition of Sportfishing magazine with the annual Boat Buyers guide lists the OceanMaster 31 Express as max speed = 50 MPH with twin 300 HP OBs.
A 23 SeaCraft with a 130 honda? I doubt you were getting 25mph out of that hull WOT Like others said on this board 250 hp 4 strokes will get you 42-45mph on the 31. It is a heavy heavy hull. Wet too. Keep looking, you can do better.
BE CAREFUL. My brand new 27' OM fell apart on delivery and took 3 years and many tens of thousands of $ to get any satisfaction. Look at the used market if possible. I trust the old hulls a lot more than the new ones and dont trust what the manufacturer says. He'll say anything. IMHO, I'd look elsewhere. They are great boats but if something goes wrong you are really left out there on your own- they are a small boat company and dont handle problems well. Email me or send me a PM and I'd be happy to provide greater details.
Ocean Master 31' doubts 
THT sponsor
I doubt you were getting 25mph out of that hull WOT Like others said on this board 250 hp 4 strokes will get you 42-45mph on the 31. It is a heavy heavy hull. Wet too. Keep looking, you can do better. 
