Loading for sea-trial

Chief Ed

Chief Ed

Active Member
Jul 19, 2020
168
So Cal
Boat Info
2006 44 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins QSC500
Hi all,

I have a sea-trial ‘etiquette’ question. We’re sea-trialing/surveying a 460DA with 450 Diamonds tomorrow. The local Cummins dealer is doing the engine survey. I realize we’re supposed to load up the boat to get accurate RPM/fuel burn tests. Filling the water tank is no problem. The fuels tanks are currently at about 1/3 each. The seller won’t be along for the sea-trial. Do we/should we fill up the tanks? That’s liable to be about $1,000.00 of fuel.

Obviously, if all goes well we’d fill it up anyway and the fuel we bought becomes ours. But if something goes awry on the sea-trial, we’d have tossed another boat buck away.

How have you guys dealt with this in the past? I haven’t asked, but I doubt the broker will bust out his wallet at the fuel dock.
 
I certainly wouldn't put $1000 worth of fuel in it... that should be the sellers responsibility. If he is not willing to do that, sea trial as is.
 
Bring a few friends along to go for a boat ride.
Picture 004.jpg
 
I agree with the above. So you’re missing about 250 gallons of fuel. So 250x8lbs is 2000 lbs so bring 5 people for a boat ride during the sea trial and you have the same weight.

you need 2700 rpms At wide open throttle. Make sure the engine sync is not engaged when you make the run.
 
Thanks, guys. How about 4 guys and a Yeti 110!?!

Just kidding... Thanks for the help!
 
Sea-trial was today. Fully loaded with fuel (400 gal), water (100 gal), and 7 adults. WOT was 2700 RPM, speed was 24 Knots, temp was 170. Ran for 15 minutes at WOT per Cummins mechanic.

Also, the tachs had been changed by the previous owner, so the actual engine hours are about 900. To me that is actually better than 300 as they haven’t been just sitting for as long, no?

Vessel has no way to monitor fuel burn, so not sure on fuel flow rate. How best do we test that?

Finally, current owner (5 years) is unaware of any aftercooler service. He has his own “guy” that takes of the engine room. Based on temp readings and chipped paint around the flanges, I’d say someone has at least rodded them in place. As they were within spec, nothing will probably be listed in the survey. Would it be reasonable to ask for a service as part of the final price negotiations? Or would it be OK to run as is for a while and see how it goes?

Thanks again for the help…
 
You can ask for anything in a final price negotiation. I bought a 52' motor yacht a few years back and asked for everything in the survey to be repaired or replaced....$21,000 worth of items. Our thought was, all they can do is say no to all or part. Turned out the seller agreed to everything. Go ahead and throw the poop against the wall and see what sticks. The is no etiquette here.
 
With regard to the raw water train....if the aftercoolers elements have not been removed from the housing in a while, they can fuse to the housing. The dissimilar metals between the housing and the element need to have a layer of grease between them. As a condition of sale on my boat, we tore through the cooling system. The Port aftercooler was fused. New parts: $3,400. And this was after a sea trial with good temperature readings. Good luck.

Jaybeaux
 
I’m not familiar (yet) either, but I thought it was a little slow, too. We were pretty well loaded up, though. 2,800 Lbs. if fuel, 800 Lbs. of water, and 1,400 (approx) Lbs. of people all in the cockpit for most of the day. The seller still has all of his personal effects on board as well.

Converted, its about 27 mph as well.

At the haul out, the bottom was clean, but definitely due for A new coat of bottom paint.

At 2200 RPM, we were at about 19 knots.

What say you other 460 owners? Does that speed sound about normal?
 
Chief Ed said:
Sea-trial was today. Fully loaded with fuel (400 gal), water (100 gal), and 7 adults. WOT was 2700 RPM, speed was 24 Knots, temp was 170. Ran for 15 minutes at WOT per Cummins mechanic.

Also, the tachs had been changed by the previous owner, so the actual engine hours are about 900. To me that is actually better than 300 as they haven’t been just sitting for as long, no?

Vessel has no way to monitor fuel burn, so not sure on fuel flow rate. How best do we test that?

Finally, current owner (5 years) is unaware of any aftercooler service. He has his own “guy” that takes of the engine room. Based on temp readings and chipped paint around the flanges, I’d say someone has at least rodded them in place. As they were within spec, nothing will probably be listed in the survey. Would it be reasonable to ask for a service as part of the final price negotiations? Or would it be OK to run as is for a while and see how it goes?

Thanks again for the help…
Click to expand...
Saw your post over on sbmar. At 2700rpm WOT with all of that load, I would be real happy with that. Regarding the after coolers, I personally would negotiate a replacement consideration since no record of any maintenance on them. They are about $3500 new. Maybe split the cost of two new ones with the seller. That would give you $3500 toward removing, disassembling and cleaning. Hopefully that's all they need and you did well. Worst case you fork out $3500 additional for two new after coolers. Anyway, that's just my approach. Others may have different ideas.
 
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