Also keep in mind resale value though. A few 44 sea rays out there with 8.1's, only people buying them live on lakes. The gas engine boat will always depreciate faster.

Those little lightweight high winding diesels don't necessarily blow up at a 1000 hours, but will have soo much blow by they will probably only make 70% of the rated horsepower.

Also the little motors are very sensitive to over propping. If the boat is propped for maximum speed with 2 people and a 1/4 tank of fuel and the previous owner has been running it with full tanks and a family of 6 and all the gear that comes with them that motor is going to have issues.

Doesn't matter if the boat never went more than 1/2 throttle all it's life , that would actually be harder on it...

If the option for diesel was the 450 Cummins or the 440 Yanmar , I would pay more for the Yanmar.

Bob the builder has triple 440 yanmars with some hours, ask him what he thinks.



And I was Spoofing you on the old Detroits.fill the oil and check the fuel .

As I said in am earlier post, everyone has different needs / desires when it comes to boating.
Personally I would NEVER consider a diesel boat. The smell of diesel makes me sick. I will not even park by a diesel boat nor let one tie up to me. They leave a oil ring around your boat and the diesel generator will stink you out.
I was looking at 38 EC for a couple years thinking that was my next boat and it didn't seem like diesel boats sold very fast. Someone mentioned diesel boats hold their value better, I don't believe so as there are way fewer people wanting diesels.
I was a was a diehard Fountain guy and dead set on buying a 38EC until I explored the 400SS. For me it was a no brainer, I love the boat. It is bigger than the 38EC but not as fast. The biggest difference I see is the finish work is nicer. The 38EC is a little more performance orientated.
Good luck with your search and stay open minded until you find that perfect boat.

Can't believe I left out yanmar! I agree on the yanmar vs Cummins, or even Man. You think merc rebuilds are expensive?? Price a man 1000 hour service lol
The Detroits it seems like they had a hard enough time keeping them alive in busses and coaches. So they cranked them up and jammed them in big sport fishers lol. I have a customer with a pair of 550 hp 6-92's. When I called for a set of injectors the parts guy said "trying to melt that down before the weekend??" 2200 hours and the boat has had 4 major overhauls (by others not me)

F uck it I`m just gonna get a canoe.

Most dangerous thing on the water !

sounds like a good plan, but now you will have to make a decision on single paddles or twins? I'm sure you have plenty of input from canoe experts on that! LOL

If you plan on traveling with it you might want to check on permits........
OR
start a new thread "canoe how towable"

Weeeelllllllllllllllllllllllll, I just so happened to be in the canoe club in high school! I can give Dan some excellent input on Canoes.

Actually, I wasn't in the canoe club, the bowling team, the band, or any of those things "good" kids did. However, when yearbook photo time came, I saw this as an excellent opportunity to get out of class. So, in my senior year yearbook, I am in all the group photos.

Sweet! Don't want to hijack Dan's thread more then I already did but do you recommend Pine, Oak, Walnut, or a fiberglass Paddle? JK.