Thoughts on Volvo Pentas and 290 Outdrives?

[Rain City]

Hey guys trying to make a decision on a boat but I know nothing about this power package. What questions should I be asking? What sort of hours should I get out of them? One was replaced at some point in the their 32 year old life, what would have been so bad to need a full replacement? Could I realistically expect to be able to push them hard still? I really don't want to have to drop another 50k into this boat in the next couple years, I'd rather pay the extra 50 now for something newer if that's the case. Scratch that no I wouldn't, I can't afford to spend that kind of money right now. At this price point I can more easily pull the trigger today. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Gong Show]

Too many variables with information provided.
Size and weight of boat?
I have had 290dp legs in three different boats over twenty years. From stripped out piledriver crew boats to current swish fishing cruiser.
Except when I smashed one into the continent and ripped it in half, they have never failed to get me where I was going.
They require regular maintenance. Especially if older. Lots of zinc and rubber parts, the bellows needs annual insurrection.
As stated in your other thread, they have a cone clutch which will not stand trolling. We found that out the hard way. Not super expensive fix.
Unlike the continent.

 

[Gong Show]

Woah on the insurrections. Inspection.

 

[Rain City]

Woah on the insurrections. Inspection.

Was just about to google lol

 

[Rain City]

Too many variables with information provided.
Size and weight of boat?
I have had 290dp legs in three different boats over twenty years. From stripped out piledriver crew boats to current swish fishing cruiser.
Except when I smashed one into the continent and ripped it in half, they have never failed to get me where I was going.
They require regular maintenance. Especially if older. Lots of zinc and rubber parts, the bellows needs annual insurrection.
As stated in your other thread, they have a cone clutch which will not stand trolling. We found that out the hard way. Not super expensive fix.
Unlike the continent.

Right so this is in the 86 commander 30. The insurance survey says the boat is 10 000 lb but I'm almost certain it's 15 000. 12' beam. One of the two is original and I have no idea on hours yet. Obviously I'd need a full mechanical inspection and my own survey done before I pulled the trigger... all the way.

 

[wolf]

Can tell you that the 290 drives are what they say "obsolete" as mine went a few years back and now its the new DPS system,a new complete 290 drive brand new will be about 6 weeks away and price tag was at the time a few years back was just under 18 grand one thing about the 290 is they are strong and if you do yearly go thru and look after them they will last its all O rings worst thing for boats is sitting more you use better it is , I replaced bellows every year no matter what.
What i did was buy all the spare parts I could find and had spares on hand as parts are like hens teeth.
Good luck wolf

 

[BCI]

You would be far better off with the 92. It already has new DPS drives ($38,000 installed) and has a kicker setup for fishing ($6000) and has newer Lawrence electronics ($5000), a solar charging system, an inverter system ($3000), a 2kW Honda Generator ($1000), a tender with outboard ($5000).

Boat is six years newer etc.

Do you want to fish and cruise, or do you want to run the risk of being on the hard trying to fix or replace a drive? $400 boat lift, $60 per day on the hard, days to try to rebuild the drive if parts could be found, before you know it you're spending $5000+ on an old drive.

Just eyes wide open... you're looking at outdrives that are 32 years old in the 1986 boat. 32 years in a salt environment behind diesel torque. As Clint Eastwood said 'I got one question to ask you... do ya feel lucky?'

 

[Pineapple Express]

My coworker has a Commander 30 from the late 1980s with Volvo diesels and 290DP drives. He pulls the drives each year for preventative maintenance. Last year he had the trim cylinders rebuilt to the tune of $5000. He does a lot of the work himself pulling the drives and whatnot, but it's still costly to maintain.

 

[BCI]

I just don't want to see you end up in something that is going to become a big bill to repair and have you down for a few weeks, when you could have gotten into a much newer unit that has all the work already done by the previous owner.

Being down for peak season and paying big bills -- That would take a lot of the fun of ownership out of the experience and may sour you on owning the boat.

 

[Sentinel]

Volvo penta is the devil and is dead to me.

 

[Rain City]

I just don't want to see you end up in something that is going to become a big bill to repair and have you down for a few weeks, when you could have gotten into a much newer unit that has all the work already done by the previous owner.

Being down for peak season and paying big bills -- That would take a lot of the fun of ownership out of the experience and may sour you on owning the boat.

Well that's our thinking as well for sure. The 92 does have an offer on it actually, from the owner of the 86. The problem with that price point is it takes some hard thinking and a bigger chunk from the savings. The 86 price point is an easy entry into this style so that we can "give it a try". The hard part right now is that the wife is so focused on baby that I've been given the ok to spend x but if it's more than she'll want to be more involved which is hard. With either of them I have to factor in my time for esthetic upgrades which is a must in the wifes eyes. Man this is not easy. Champagne taste on home made italian red wine budget.

 

[BCI]

Well that's our thinking as well for sure. The 92 does have an offer on it actually, from the owner of the 86. The problem with that price point is it takes some hard thinking and a bigger chunk from the savings. The 86 price point is an easy entry into this style so that we can "give it a try". The hard part right now is that the wife is so focused on baby that I've been given the ok to spend x but if it's more than she'll want to be more involved which is hard. With either of them I have to factor in my time for esthetic upgrades which is a must in the wifes eyes. Man this is not easy. Champagne taste on home made italian red wine budget.

I would suspect the offer on the 92 from the owner of the 86 is subject to the sale of his 86. The broker may think he's in heaven, moving the 86 to you and then he can move the 92 to the existing 86 owner.

I would further say, why is the guy going from the 86 to the 92? Because he knows he will avoid all the headaches and hassles by going to the 92, for less money than fixing the 86 would be.

If I was you I'd write $100k Cdn on the 92 subject to mechanical inspection, marine survey, and sea trial. See what happens. You may be surprised.

Find a way for the 92. That 86 is too much of a crap shoot.

 

[leftcoast]

I would suspect the offer on the 92 from the owner of the 86 is subject to the sale of his 86. The broker may think he's in heaven, moving the 86 to you and then he can move the 92 to the existing 86 owner.

I would further say, why is the guy going from the 86 to the 92? Because he knows he will avoid all the headaches and hassles by going to the 92, for less money than fixing the 86 would be.

If I was you I'd write $100k Cdn on the 92 subject to mechanical inspection, marine survey, and sea trial. See what happens. You may be surprised.

Find a way for the 92. That 86 is too much of a crap shoot.

BCL knows his stuff. Very well said. The 30 Commander is a boat you will have for years do it right now it will save you.

 

[Rain City]

I would suspect the offer on the 92 from the owner of the 86 is subject to the sale of his 86. The broker may think he's in heaven, moving the 86 to you and then he can move the 92 to the existing 86 owner.

I would further say, why is the guy going from the 86 to the 92? Because he knows he will avoid all the headaches and hassles by going to the 92, for less money than fixing the 86 would be.

If I was you I'd write $100k Cdn on the 92 subject to mechanical inspection, marine survey, and sea trial. See what happens. You may be surprised.

Find a way for the 92. That 86 is too much of a crap shoot.

Good point. I think this is what I've been trying to convince myself to do.

The broker says the guy wants the layout change with the galley on the port side, who knows.

 

[wolf]

BCI is right unless you get LOTS of spare parts I was lucky I found bits a pieces and was able to make and rebuild some so I had spare drives on hand just to be on safe side which I only had to use in 11 years 2 times not bad for about 2000 days of use.. sort of like putting a winch on your truck you seem to never get stuck but when you dont you do LOL.
thing is parts will become harder and harder to find so personally id move away from it ..

 

[Stizzla]

Do you think you’ll be taking the little one and the Mrs on some longer excursions in the next couple of years? If no, maybe just drop 35-40k on a dope fishing only boat for day trips. In 2 years when your little baby is heartier, you can sell it for what you paid for it and use some extra savings to get yourself something bigger and better.
I’m with the other guys that older bigger boats are going to drain you financially and you will spend the money soon enough that would’ve upgraded you to a newer one.
I made that mistake with my truck. Spent $20,000 on a used truck and I probably spent 8-10k on repairs in the first couple of years. If I just spent $35,000 up from I could’ve got something way newer, more fuel efficient and reliable.

 

[Sir Reel]

very wise words from BCI. the 92 looks rigged and ready to go.
It's the reason I got my 2005. Was the most expensive one on the market but it had everything I wanted. No expensive upgrades required

 

[leftcoast]

Good point. I think this is what I've been trying to convince myself to do.

The broker says the guy wants the layout change with the galley on the port side, who knows.

The layout on the 92 is better IMO.

 

[Rain City]

Looking at the blackfin tomorrow

 

[RageWelding]

You'll want to replace your bellows annually on a 290. So add that to annual maintenance. Haul out and dry dock time as well as labor