[Navatech]

Looking to purchase.  Boat broker tells me 90% were made with gas engines?  When I look at boats for sale, it seems the vast majority are offered with diesels.  Does anyone know? User comments one way or the other?

I’m a marine professional (BSc in Marine Engineering). IMHO, provided correctly sized engines are used a low 30’s sized boat will perform just as well with gas engines as with Diesel engines.

The reason bigger boats aren’t provided with gas engines is simple! Nobody builds gas engines large enough to power them!

The real difference are as follows:
1) Diesel is safer as a marine fuel than gas.
2) Diesel engines achieve max torque at significantly lower RPM’s.
3) All things being equal, Diesel engines will outlast gas engines.

Having said that, provided you keep in mind that you’re sitting on a Molotov cocktail and you’re going to be an average user (100 hours/year) you’ll be good with gas engines.

However, if you’re going to be stupid (e.g. replace a marine starter - explosion protected - with an automotive starter or neglect to properly maintain your engine room ventilation system) then you’re likely going to be a contender for the Darwin Award...


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