Best diesel for 30-32' express please help

[spurgeon]

So I have been window shopping at the albermarle 305 and 32 express.I love the layout of both boats but am having a hard time determining the best engine options.It seems most used ones have the cat 3116s or the 3126s.The problem is the more I research the more bad stuff I seem to find.Does anyone have any experience with theseengines and can attest to their reliability/longevity.Is their a better choice of engines for these settups? I've also been looking at the Carolina 28s with the kamd 300s and some with the cummings and yanmars.I'm looking for the best longest lasting diesels I can get in one of the 3 mentioned boats.My head is spinning from doing so many searches.Can anyone shine some light.Really want the albi 32 with strong reliable diesels but I am majorly confused at this point.

[HIT N RUN]

Cummins B series in that size class hands down winner.

[spurgeon]

Cummings seems to be the most credited.Thanks

[Mackey]

The Cummins 330-370hp are a good match for the Albemarle 305 & 32 but they are a little hard to fit under their bridge deck and plumb the exhaust and have Cummins sign off on the install.

[talbot29]

I agree with the Cummins. I've got 2 B-Series in my 34 Judge and love them. Very economical and running strong with over 1500 hrs on them.

Tim T.
Got Fish Too?
Judge 34 Express

[spurgeon]

What kind of life expectancy can you generally expect from the cummings if properly cared for.I've seen many boats from the 97 to 99 year range with around 1200hrs,is that enough use to keep these diesels running strong.Thanks so much for any input guys huge help.

[HIT N RUN]

That question is a tricky one. All engines (that sit long periods between running at load/temp (not idle at dock) are subject to condensation which can cause damage to internal metal parts (corrosion). In the marine environment this is a much greater factor but even most automobiles need to be driven to temperature at least once a month unless kept in a controlled environment (garage). As for diesels, When maintained properly & used regularly, they will last for thousands of hrs. The Cummins B engines are proven blocks used in everything from trucks to RV's to boats to heavy equipment. They are easy to maintain, parts are cheap compared to most marine diesels & have been known to last for well over 6000 hrs (conservative est) in regularly used commercial boats before any major engine work. Even then you might only be looking at a valve job if it is one of the lower output blocks. 315hp & under.

So the answer to your question. Used boats with low hrs???? I can say first hand that the thing about boats are that usually people will buy a boat and use it as often as possible at first but in time seem to lose interest. Then the period between loaded engine runs seem to increase. Time flys the older we get & boat owners (after the shine wears off) tend to let there boats sit longer & longer. Once a boat goes up for sale, chances are the shine has now really worn off. My first diesel boat with B series engines had this exact problem. It had low hrs from what the owner claimed were (in his mind) recent replacement (4 1/2) years earlier but what he didn't tell me was that after the first year the boat mostly sat. I & managed about 1000hrs from those engines but because of the damage caused from sitting, in the end I replaced them with brand new. It was very costly but once done I soon realized what I had been missing. The new Cummins were & still are amazing. So if I were to buy a used boat with low hr diesels, I would chose one that the owner could prove has been used regularly. If a boat is 10 or more years old with original engines, I would rather see higher hrs than lower unless you have some known verifiable proof that the boat was used at least once every 6 weeks up to loaded temp to keep things in order or was professionally winterized during longer duration sits. I other words, for marine engines, site unseen, I would much rather have a 2000hr well maintained but worked hard engine out of a charter boat that was 2-3 years old than a 500 hr 9 year old engine that had seen most of those 500 hrs in the first 2-3 years of ownership.

[31footer]

spurgeon
good buddy of mine had the cats which seemed to be down more than he wanted
i've had cummins 6 bt 210 hp in a 28 topaz for 6 years the boat is not a speed demon but economical and dependable she runs 23 -24 and burns about 120 gal for an all day trip to norfolk
good luck

[spurgeon]

Good info guys thanks a lot sounds like its a tricky one.Sounds like an older hull with recent model engines is best shot

[jtb67]

Spurgeon, go check out my older hull made new by Craig Blackwell in Wanchese on here "Ole Fancy's Makeover". I have new Cummins 6bta's (500hrs) and ZF trannys. Turning out pretty good so far.