2005 390

bluebelly said:
chrisbo66,

I agree with your statement that we should get out there and enjoy boating. My point I tried to make is that you will not really save money on fuel in the long run if you buy a diesel. Especially now with diesel starting to cost more than gas. I just don't think that saving about 300 to 400 gallons of fuel per year justifies the added cost of diesel ownership.
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Absolutely! I think we agree on this :smt001. That was actually my point as well. I think it just depends on if the benefits of diesel are worth it for that individual. Honestly, if I could have found a diesel powered boat of similar size and within say, $15-20k of what I paid, I would have been VERY interested. Someday... hopefully, things will go well enough that I will be able to move up to the 40 footers and have the right power. And might I add, you are driving my retirement goal (44 dancer)! :thumbsup:. I only have 10 more feet to go....Beautiful boat man!
 
Almost Heaven said:
........ Gas...diesel ....who cares! If you are happy with your boat then that's all that matters, right? It's all about meeting new people and enjoying the water.
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Yep, that's right. I agree. You shouldn't care if it is gas or diesel. You especially shouldn't care if the boat payment is $1000, $2000 or $4000 per month. And to HELL with the depriciation, maintenance, insurance and resale values. As long as you can go boating and meet chicks. Oh, and forget about the rules of the road. They probably were not intended for you anyway.
 
promocop said:
Gas at the dock is 4.60 diesel was a dollar more....
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Yes, but you'll use quite a bit less diesel than gas. The fuel burn of gas engines is HUGE especially when those things are turning hard to get you across the water.

While the spread of gas vs. diesel cost is high...it will likely be lower in the summer when heating oil usage is lower and supplies become more abundant.
 
Gee after reading all these posts, I am almost tempted to have my diesels replaced with gas engines so I can save some money. Anyone want two lightly used and well maintained Cat 3126TA's....

If you have a gas boat and like it ..Great .....If you ave an oil burner and it meets your needs..Great too.

We have too many engine experts and naval architects on the board.

Oh yeah Happy Easter.

Just my $.02.
 
You are right..how could I have forgotten.... ummm whatshisname...a vegetable name or something....

Gary, want to re power your RIB with Caterpillar diesels?
 
You take Mastercard? Oh wait... I got that one maxed out... How about Visa? Oh wait... I need that one to make my Mastercard payment...

nevermind.. I'm strapped.
 
I sometimes participate in these gas vs. diesel discussions since I have experienced the difference between the 2. In this case, the buyer didn't ask about diesel boats....he has analyzed his needs and made the decision that a gas boat was his choice.

However, since the discussion has veered of into the great debate, I think it is important that the complete facts be presented. As spirited as the debate has become the contributors have omitted several facts that a member trying to make the gas/diesel decision may want to know:

1. The premuim you pay for a boat with diesel engines is not a sunk cost. You get some, if not all of it back on the other end when you sell or trade. From my own experience with my last boat, I was suprised to find when I bought the gas version, the diesel option was a whopping $50K extra (wow, nobody should pay that just for diesels!)....I wrote a check for $135K and diesels were bringing $185K. I ran the boat 9 years and when I was considering whether to re-power or sell, the retail price for comparable boats was $75K........the diesels were bringing $135K. So, had I bought a diesel boat I would not have lost any of the premium and my only cost for diesels would have been the opportunity cost of the extra money I had invested in the boat.

2. Follow the above numbers and they also illustrate the depreciation difference on gas vs. diesel engines.

3. It doesn't matter how much we beat each other up on this subject, the buyer's budget alone controls whether or not he can afford to invest the extra money in diesels.

4.Cost per gallon is a meaningless number, by itself, when considering the fuel cost for operation of a boat. The 390DA with diesels will burn about 22 gph at cruise......some one said the gas version burns 32 gph. Using a $4.25 cost per gallon as a basis, then diesel would have to cost $6.18 at the pump for the gas boat have an equivalent cost per hour of operation.....do the math.

Ok....y'all can go back to flogging each other.
 
FWEBSTER

That was a very good response and one written from personal experience and personal preference. I think that a inland 390 used less than 100 hours a year does not necessarily need diesel's but I would not venture into coastal waters with out them.

I chose gas in my 2004 390 as it was a better choice for me as the boat will never leave the Cumberland River while I own it . It gets down to personal choice.
 
fwebster said:
Ok....y'all can go back to flogging each other.
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On the next forum, I want to have the franchise for selling flogs.

Best regards,
Frank
 
Raised in Columbia, now live in Shelbyville and Panama City Beach.

I got into big boats about 20 years ago and eventually sold all the lake boats and do all my boating in paradise.
 
That 460 is a great boat. I lived in Destin for about a year until I moved back to Nashville. I love the Emerald Coast. And still get down there a couple of times a year.
 
I have owned big gas and diesel boats, just for a lot less time than my friend fwebster. I love my diesel boat. I found her used, stole her because the Tiara Dealer I bought her from had no clue how to market a big Sea Ray express, (and she had no hardtop, bow thruster, or cockpiut AC) and because she had been neglected, I spent a tough week with her out of the water cleaning gelcoat, stainless steel, etc. to get her to my standards. Now, for about what most folks at my local SR dealer pay for a new, fully optioned 340 DA, I have an honest 24 knot, 20.5 GPH express that carries my family in comfort and safety all over the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay, to include frequent runs in 4-6' closely spaced slop. (165 hours on the engines last year, and over 3000 NM)

On the run to Solomons Island over Labor Day last year, running in 4-5 footers, I had some wuss in a 460DA tuck in behind me so I could break the slop for him. I digress. (Note to Almost Heaven: "Wuss" is a technical term employed by retired military types like me to denote the absence of a spine)

I won't go back to a gas boat, but every circumstance is different. If I were a lake boater, gas might make sense. But for my boat dollar, for where and how I use her, a clean used diesel boat makes a whole lot of sense.

Gary,
"Hooter Patrol" actually has 20 8.1 Gassers (HO, natch) in the ER. Ten per side.

Girls really dig all the time at the fuel dock, too-

I know you have a plan to mount 6 250 horse Honda OBs on your platform--git 'er done, man!



regards
Skip
 
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Gas might make sense if:
You're going to keep the boat for a long stretch, don't ever anticipate needing to sell it quickly (without giving it away), use for inshore only (I don't think gas engines will provide enough torque to get it out of the hole offshore), don't mind .6 or .7 nmpg (or the very limited range). Gas boats come with gas gensets- and their limited life expectancy.

Keep in mind that this size boat is at the upper range (and many would argue above it already) of boats that can be powered by gasoline. By definition it's going to have a more limited market of buyers.
Although I've only owned diesel for less than two years, I have found no downside. Just my $.02.
 
here's my .02$...This nonsense that if you buy a boat with gas engines that "you'll be giving it away when you try to sell it"..is pure crap. Check the identical boat used boat prices today...gas vs diesel and look at the prices. Bottom line, wouldnt you be better off sticking the price difference between the two (60k) into a long term CD, rather then paying the interest to the bank (assuming you are financing)? DIESEL prices are going up and will continue to do so, more so the gas because the demand for diesel is getting bigger! Bottom line, boats are a depresating commodity, buy what you can afford and have a good time. The Gas vs. Diesel controversy will never end...for me 60k was WAY too much too pay extra for diesel.!
 
promocop said:
here's my .02$...This nonsense that if you buy a boat with gas engines that "you'll be giving it away when you try to sell it"..is pure crap. Check the identical boat used boat prices today...gas vs diesel and look at the prices. Bottom line, wouldnt you be better off sticking the price difference between the two (60k) into a long term CD, rather then paying the interest to the bank (assuming you are financing)? DIESEL prices are going up and will continue to do so, more so the gas because the demand for diesel is getting bigger! Bottom line, boats are a depresating commodity, buy what you can afford and have a good time. The Gas vs. Diesel controversy will never end...for me 60k was WAY too much too pay extra for diesel.!
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Promocop,

You forgot to mention the $1500 to $2000 you are saving in insurance premium per year!!!
 
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