Boat shopping........

[Brian98GTP]

We've been shopping around for boats lately, and I see a lot of the boats have the 3.0L (135hp) Volvo Penta engines. I'm pretty sure they're inline 4 cyl's....

I'm assuming they're pretty reliable because they're so fvcking common.... kind of like how GM put the 3800 in damn near everything. But does anyone here have any good/bad experiences with this engine? Anything to look out for with these?

Thanks

[Deggy]

I know of a boat with a BBC in it...it's not a "new" boat, but its clean.

[Smokey1226]

A guy that comes into our station daily, fixes boats. And he did say the boat he just bought to fix up (haul work) had that small 3L engine.

Ill ask him, he knows his shit about boats. He's been doing it for more years than i've been on this earth!

[kornholio788]

Sorry don't know anything about boats or their engines but if you are looking for boats come to twin lakes/paddock lake/genoa city. At least one boat for sale on it seems ever corner. No one wants to pay for gas anymore.

[WilliamZ]

Great information! :)

[Brian98GTP]

A guy that comes into our station daily, fixes boats. And he did say the boat he just bought to fix up (haul work) had that small 3L engine.

Ill ask him, he knows his shit about boats. He's been doing it for more years than i've been on this earth!

That'd be great! Thanks




Great information! :)

:rolf

[lordairgtar]

Volvo Penta's bigger V-8s are actually Chevy engines. I wonder what the four cylinder was derived from?

[Brian98GTP]

I know of a boat with a BBC in it...it's not a "new" boat, but its clean.

We're not looking for anything big or super fast..... just a medium sized pleasure boat, something newer, open bow, fiberglass, v-hull, inboard, 17'-ish long. I've got a few I'll be checking out in the next week or two. It just seems that every boat in this size range has the 3.0L VP. Some have the 4.3L, but I dont know if those are known to have problems either.

[H8RADE]

The 3.0 usually comes in regular and LX flavor, which adds 20 hp or so.
Motor has been around awhile and is the 'Iron Duke' of the water.
In fact, I believe it is a variant of the 2.5l motor, ebing a 4 banger GM block.
VP outdrives, while not as popular as MerCruiser, are decent units.
They are built to be reliable with little to no maintenence.
If you can find a good mechanic, an outboard would be a bit more efficient, but you will have no worries with the 3.0.
I don't know of any mods, so you had better be happy with 35-40 mph.
HTH.

[Breecher_7]

The volvo engines are pretty decent, I have a few friends with them and they havent had any problems.

[tommyt5078]

I have a 05' Glastron MX175 with the 3.0 Volvo Penta. The boat was used in 05' 06' 07' and some of this year.


The only problem (07') we had was the starter fell off do to some bolt that snapped. From what they told me the bolt wasn't heat treated correctly. Also we take it down to the chain o lakes in Illinois were it can get bouncy, so I think this didn't help.


All in all I think the engine will be strong for years to come, were very happy with it. Gas isn't that bad, the thing will do 44mph with me, wife, 7 year old and a 2 year old or about 450 pounds, at this WOT the gas will go but at say 30 mph or 3200 rpm gas is ok to me.


From my understanding the block is from GM.

[Brian98GTP]

Thanks for the info guys.... that's what I was looking for. :thumbsup

[UnderPSI]

I have a 4.3 in my boat (19' Four Winns) rated at 175hp and It will do 50mph.

Just remember too when you are comparing boats, Outboards are HP rated at the prop and I/O and Inboards are HP rated at the motor.

The inline 4 is a great motor. My Parents neighbor has one in his boat which is an 87 and he has never had problems with it.