Gas vs diesel, motoryacht vs trawler?

Hi ,I think the best solution for you will depend on many things,not the least of which include,where you plan to cruise,type of cruising 8 kn-22 kn?,and how much cruising you will do,as to wether the different costs will offset each other.Oh and dont forget resale value.Good Luck

Newbie,

You must also consider engine durability - those diesels will be running long after those gas engines give up the ghost. Safety - I would rather not have hundreds of gallons of gas on board, with its much higher flash point, and economy - the diesel will outperform any given gas engine in an equal environment - but you have to compare apples to apples, not trawlers to cruisers. I would also think that resale value of vessel equipped with diesels that have been properly maintained will be higher than a similar vessel equiped with gas engines.

"I am willing to tade fuel economy and seaworthyness to a certain point."

Another important factor is range. Trawlers tend to have greater fuel capacity and engines that have better fuel efficiency/economy. The fuel or gas consumption does not just equate to money saved or spent, but also the distances one is able to travel between fuel stops.

I'm not sure what you mean in saying you're willing to sacrifice seaworthiness to a certain point. Your cruising plans include open water and areas that might have seas kick up. Expect the unexpected. Compromise length or vintage, but why would you compromise anything related to seaworthiness which translates to safety aboard?

Your itinerary is a realistic one in the right vessel. Don't just dream it - make it happen, but with your priorities in order.

Judy

I bet one shorty charter would answer a lot of your questions ....

Kelly

The old saw kind of goes like this: "If you search for the perfect boat, you will never go boating."

So, go ahead and buy that clapped out, er, slightly used Chris.
What's the worst thing that can happen? That you gain some experience and have some fun and, fer Gawd's sake, just get out there on the water.

If you have the wherewithal to acquire this yacht as well as the time to spend poking around Hell's Gate and Sandy Hook, you'll figure it all out pretty quickly.

price points on trawlers

I have been looking at vessels for a tropical resort for day excursions .. I am baffled by your cost comparison I have found plenty of trawlers in the same price points as cruisers. Some are 10 years older than the cruisers but as previous posters noted the diesels run and run and run so age is less of a factor. I also find the layouts on trawlers better more deck space for the dollar so you don't feel like your living on top of each other.. If you are more open to vintage then you will find a trawler in the price range I expect.... and then the fuel difference / range will be a real deciding factor.

I will offer a little insight on MY experiences with the gas/diesel debate. I was torn between the two, especially in a 40' boat. I spoke with many, many experienced large boat operators and they ALL had the same questions and ALL gave the same answers.

What is the intended use of the boat, where are you boating, how hard do you intend to push it, what are your estimated trip lengths, and what is your mechanical experience?

In my situation which is local cruising, weekends, and two 250 mile trips each year, they all said go gas. If I were using it as a fishing boat, work boat, or running 14 hour days a few times per week, then I should go diesel. Maintenance is cheaper on a gas boat, but is required a bit more often. Replacement engines are 1/3 of the price and most work can be done by you if you have average mechanical knowledge. Diesels will last longer, but are more expensive. They run cooler than gas and will go longer time between major needed work. The 'average' person doesn't have diesel mechanical apitude, but that can be learned. Depending on your location, fuel prices will flip back and forth as to which is cheaper. Diesels are more reliable, but gas is quieter and less offensive while running (exhaust).

Diesel afficianados will say go diesel and anti-diesel will say go gas. More than likely this will not be you last boat, so find the one you like and go with it. Then you can run it for a year or two and decide which is right for you and the pros & cons of what you have.

My gas boat averages 1.5 GPH, but I have moved from the 20 knots (3/4 throttle) cruising to 8-10 knots (1/3 throttle) 90% of the time. I'm in it for the ride now. Having the available extra power that gas delivers is nice, but I see the advantages that diesel has to offer, too.

This is not a question that anyone can answer for you, nor is there any correct answer. Buy the boat you like the best and use what's mounted under the sole.

Two factors you didn't mention are the load you'll be carrying. Diesel boats tend to have a lower top end speeds, but strain less getting a heavy load moving, and resale (at 40' most people are looking for diesels. So it could be harder to sell a gas boat). A client of mine recently had a broker try to push a 33 Doral with diesels on him. Besides a number of issues I have with Dorals, I told him that he'd have a heck of a time trying to resell a 33 with diesels (except maybe for a fish boat, work boat or trawler). The reverse problem comes at about 38' with gas.