In terms of boats, what is the difference between diesel and gasoline engines?

Question

I was considering buying a boat. Something like a 23 footer. I wanted to know the difference between a diesel and gasoline engine in regards to efficiency, ease of maintenance, etc... Also, I am fairly new to boats. I have ridden and driven them before, but they were not mine. Is there anything I should look for when buying the boat? I don't want to buy a boat and then say "oh c**p" because the boat doesn't have the feature I found out it needed. Which brand is good too? I was looking at the Bayliner 237. I read one review about the 5 liter mercruiser Alpha I engine and people were saying it was bad. What do you think?

Answer 1

The diesel is prefered for a number of reasons, and safe starting is one good reason. Gasoline fumes build in the lower bilge, and have to be vented, before start ignition. Better performance, and engine life, is another. The only thing about diesel, is that it requires more preventive maintenance. Diesel fuel is higher in price than gas, but you get better distance from diesel.

Answer 2

on the alpha one part of your question it isnt a bad engine but you need a bigger engine to push a boat that size recomend a bravo 3 with duel prop that is a gasoline engine and as far as maintnence goes you have to winterize it and keep up with the oil levels.  Any thing mechanical is covered under warantee.   Oh and i may be a bit bias because i work for Mercury.

Answer 3

For a 23 footer, you will probably want gasoline.  An excellent  discussion of the trade-offs can be found on www.yachtsurvey.com that should answer all your questions (better than I could do in a quick answer here).

Regarding brand of boat and drive, you haven't provided enough information to help you here.  Where will you be boating (inshore, coastal, offshore)?  What are you going to do with your boat (water sports, cruising, fishing)?  If price is your most important criteria and you are looking for all-purpose boating on a lake, Bayliner may be the right boat.

Good luck,

F

Answer 4

really the differences are user preference. diesel generally generates much more power and torque at a lower RPM. gas engines are more suited to the go fast, go short distance, boats. i dont think theres much difference these days in efficiency but the diesel may get the upper hand due to its lower rpm running.

main difference between the 2 is weight, diesel set up is a lot heavier than a gas set up. but diesels are generally stronger and probably outlast a gas engine if properly maintained.

despite what the mercruiser guy says. the alpha is probably enough for a 23 foot bayliner. your not talking a high performance racing craft and although the bravo is a nice engine, it may be a little overkill in this case.

take an alpha and put a good matched stainless prop on that, i dont think you will find you want to go bigger, but to each their own.

what is best, depends on its use, skiing etc, gas probably a better bet. long distance cruising maybe diesel, but on a boat that size, the weight is going to really make a difference and ithink for the benefits of a diesel, they are outweighed just by the weight savings of a gas.

Answer 5

baylinners are a cheaper boat. spend the extra $ and get a good boat. i had a rinker and it was a very good solid boat

Answer 6

Diesel engines are more fule efficent, and they last much longer without maintaniance, they have no disadvantage to a petrol based engine!

Like someone else said, gas engines work at higher speeds, which is why you find them on small speedboats and stuff, while anything from about 40 feet up uses slower, more powerful diesels, so it is very unusual to find a diesel engine on a speed boat, or a gas engine on a larger boat!