1997 Volvo 230 HP Diesels

[Dog Bite]

Experts please respond

Anyone have any real experience with these engine in the CC 28? I am inquiring about a boat with these engines. I was told with a canyon load to expect about 23 kt cruise? Is that it? Is these any modification that can be done to increase the cruise speed? Boat has about 1000 hrs.....what kind of life can I expect if regular maintenance is performed? What is the model number of these engines if anyone knows? Thanks in advance for the advice.

Bill

[Split Decision]

I believe that Capt B might have those engines in his 28. I think they are the 41p's but most likely wrong.

[backman]

2100 hr's on a pair/no problems but...

I had a pair of 1998 KAMD 42P's that I sold at 2100 hr's/7 seasons. 23 knots canyon load is accurate if you run them at 3350-3400 RPM; coming home/lightly loaded you can do 24-25.

Issue # 1 is that early 42's had a piston design or machining flawe that caused piston burnthrough and cracking. The good news is that at 1000 hr's your probably past that.

Issue # 2 is that the 42's are bleeders; oil weep from the rear seal; antifreeze from the turbo gasket, oil out the crankcase breather; they run fine but they are classic Volvo diesels. If your serious make sure the turbo gaskets have the improved metal gasket; otherwise they will leak.

Mine ran no cost for 4 years, at 1200 hr's peripherals here and there; pumps, starters, one turbo, supercharger clutch, all started to randomly go and nickel and dime me to death, 500$/pop. At 5 years/1500 hr's the head gaskets started leaking; foretunately for me they were under extended warranty at the time.

On the plus side they are excellent mechanical engines; ran for hours at 3400 and never failed me. MIne still had 400+ PSI in all 12 cylinders at 2100 hr's and no signs of damage in oil analysis.

I think they are fine for a moderately loaded CC28 for nearshore 40-50 mile runs; I think they are short of torque in a loaded boat and have to be run at 3400 to compensate. I found they were overpropped with 17 X 23's when under full canyon load in mid summer; I'd only get 3700. In cooler fall or spring air w/ a half tank I'd have no problem hitting 3900 WOT.

3400/23 knots will burn 20 GPH which puts you in a bad corner of the fuel curve; any sort of seas can put you down to 21 knots/20 GPH which is even worse. ON the other hand if it's FAC they will push the boat at 24 after the 1st 3 hr's of fuel is burned off and you can get up to 25 halfway home.

My canyon runs - Falmouth -> Atlantis is 94 nmiles. I'd run out day one, troll 6-8 hr's; shut down and sleep out; troll 6 more hours and come back. 9 hr's run, 12-14 hr's troll would burn 180-200 gallons of fuel. I carry a 33 gallon bladder as reserve.

As the engines are 8 years old I'd make sure the coolers had all been cleaned or plan on doing it as immediate preventative maintenance; I'd do a compression test and be prepared to pull the heads and inspect piston crowns and valves. IN general I'd regasket everything and replace all o-rings under the preventative maintenance is a wise move approach. I'd check repair records and expect to replace raw water and fresh water pumps within 300 hr's if they have not already been done.

I'd pull gthe exhaust elbow (oh what fun!!!) and look for corrosion in there. Probably check the starters at the same time looking for corrosion, likewise the alternator.

Lest I sound too much like the trumpet of doom my 42's made 6 canyon trips at 1000-1200 hr's; 5 at 1300-1500 hr's; 5 at 1700 hr's and 2 (I got scared) at 1900 hr's and never let me down.

[CClassic28]

Bill,

I have a 28 with 250 Cummins, tower, genny, A.C., ... With 4 men 400# ice, 12 offshore setups, raft and so on the boat cruises a touch over 23 knots. I think with 230 hp you could expect a little less (21.5-22). I seem to have more gear on my boat (more weight) than most so if you are running a little lighter you may see 23.

I am not sure of any safe way to get more speed from those motors (without overpropping)


I think that a member on this site named Backman has just pulled his 230 Volvo's and repowered with D4-260 Volvos and is seeing some great performance numbers with the repower. I am sure he will give you his feel on the 230's shortly.


Good luck,

Chris

[Dog Bite]

Thanks guys...keep the info coming. What a great site for CC info.....anything to get away from my outboard

Bill

[backman]

a couple other points

Whatever you buy make sure you crawl forward between the engines to understand what it will take to service the belts and impeller.

A good thing about the KAMD 42's is that they are fully mechanical; start them and disconnect the batteries and they will keep on running/no problem. Not so w/ electronic engines.

My port 42 ran for a month with a screwdriver to start it when the neutral safety switch circuit fried. Nothing like being 50 miles offshore; shutting down to go sharking; then with tongue in cheek turning the key, nothing.

Turn it again, nothing, turn again, nothing, feign concern, feign panic; and wait a bit acting dumb.

Lift the hatch and dive in with a foot long screw driver, reach around, curse; observe fearful reactions as reality sets in then say "One more thing" and with a quick tap instantly start the engine with the screwdriver. You thing ROLAIDS spell's relief

I've also come home on a jury rigged fishing wire throttle linkage and a manually shifted engine when the shifter controls failed.