Considering purchase of CD 28 FB -- questions?

[Jim Ward]

Gas or diesel?

Suggestions and opinions valued on this general subject relating specifically to CD 28 FB original engines.

Were the original engines offered: Volvo Turbo and Chrysler 275?

**Gas owners -- what is your fuel consumption? What is cruise and top speed?

Any gas engine issues from 1987 or newer boats?

**Diesel owners -- any common issues in 1987 or newer boats?

Please -- any advice on what to look for and avoid would be greatly appreciated regarding the CD 28 FB in general.

***For all-- thank you for providing the information found on this site. I hope to become a registered member soon.***



jward@brainsell-llc.com

[Raheem Shakir]

Gas or diesel?

Suggestions and opinions valued on this general subject relating specifically to CD 28 FB original engines.

Were the original engines offered: Volvo Turbo and Chrysler 275?

**Gas owners -- what is your fuel consumption? What is cruise and top speed?

Any gas engine issues from 1987 or newer boats?

**Diesel owners -- any common issues in 1987 or newer boats?

Please -- any advice on what to look for and avoid would be greatly appreciated regarding the CD 28 FB in general.

***For all-- thank you for providing the information found on this site. I hope to become a registered member soon.***

Diesel is the only way to go!



rshakir@ibl.bm

[Walt Bilofsky]

**Diesel owners -- any common issues in 1987 or newer boats?

The clutch on the MS4A transmission for the TAMD41 diesel is a known issue. (Volvo now matches the engine with the HS1 hydraulic transmission.) The cone clutch is prone to polishing and eventually needs a little kick on the throttle to get it into gear. My thinking is that at idle speed there is not enough force to keep the clutch from slipping and polishing the surfaces. If you do a lot of running at idle (such as trolling or long no-wake zones) you may be looking at a clutch resurfacing every 1000 hours or so. If there is any hesitation with the transmission going into gear, a resurfacing should be part of the negotiation.

Nevertheless I would not have anything but a diesel engine - I used to have gas and feel much better with a non-explosive fuel, less CO in the exhaust, and an inherently more reliable and longer-lived engine. (With a gas engine you may be looking at a rebuild every 1000-2000 hours, so do the comparison.) My hunch is that people keep Cape Dorys longer than most boats, so buy it for keeps.



bilofsky@toolworks.com

[Jay Valentine]

I would buy nothing but a diesel. My FBC 28 is a 1991 with a 200 Volvo Turbo. The person I bought the boat from did have trouble with the transmition and Volvo put in (at their cost) their heaviest duty transmission. They told him and now me to use only Volvo synthetic straight 30wt oil. I have a Volvo mechanic that does all my engine work and he advises me that I should also use Shell Rotella 30wt oil for the engine. The synthetic oil does not need to be changed for 300 hours or at least every other year. Knock on wood I have had great performance from both the transmission and engine. May I suggest that you call the Volvo Service Techs at (804) 436-2800. They were most helpful to me when I bought my craft. As far as fuel comsumption, I burn between 7 and 8 gals per hour (depending on tide) curising at 3200rps and 1.8 gals per hour trolling. When I bought my boat the former owner had been using generic products ie belts, filters, etc. I changed over to Volvo products and found a immediate improvement in performance. Advice stay with engine manufacture suggestions. Crusing speeds vary with tides. I curise at 13-15 knots depending on tides. Also a FBC will have added weight over the 28 opens. They will curise a little faster. My top end is 20 knots at 3750rps. My prop may have something to do with my speed. I have kept my original prop (3 bladded) as a spare and replaced it with a computerized calibrated 4 bladded prop. I get great performance in and around docks and in my crusing. Also in very rough seas the four blade really performs well.

Gas or diesel?

Suggestions and opinions valued on this general subject relating specifically to CD 28 FB original engines.

Were the original engines offered: Volvo Turbo and Chrysler 275?

**Gas owners -- what is your fuel consumption? What is cruise and top speed?

Any gas engine issues from 1987 or newer boats?

**Diesel owners -- any common issues in 1987 or newer boats?

Please -- any advice on what to look for and avoid would be greatly appreciated regarding the CD 28 FB in general.

***For all-- thank you for providing the information found on this site. I hope to become a registered member soon.***

[Catherine Monaghan]

Jim,

During this boating season, while monitoring VHF channel 16, there were at least a half dozen distress calls due to fires or explosions in our boating area. All of the vessels were power boats and all of them were gasoline powered. You rarely hear of diesel engines bursting into flames. That's not to say that it never happens, but it is very rare.

As a matter of fact, just last month, upon leaving Cheesequake inlet, the power boat that followed us out of the inlet turned and headed east immediately after clearing the breakwater. We continued straight forward (northward) toward deeper water. Since our sailboat draws 5' we cannot make that turn. Within 5 minutes a mayday came over channel 16. It was the fellow on the boat that had just been behind us. His boat had burst into flames, burned to the water line and sank. He, thank God, was rescued by other boaters in the area that heard his distress call, as we watched in horror -- we couldn't get to him due to water depth. By the time the Coast Guard got there, they could do nothing but keep other boaters away from the burning hulk until it slipped beneath the surface.

For safety, I'd choose diesel.

We don't carry any gasoline onboard. We power our dingy with either our electric trolling motor or muscle power.

catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 Realization
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Gas or diesel?

Suggestions and opinions valued on this general subject relating specifically to CD 28 FB original engines.

Were the original engines offered: Volvo Turbo and Chrysler 275?

**Gas owners -- what is your fuel consumption? What is cruise and top speed?

Any gas engine issues from 1987 or newer boats?

**Diesel owners -- any common issues in 1987 or newer boats?

Please -- any advice on what to look for and avoid would be greatly appreciated regarding the CD 28 FB in general.

***For all-- thank you for providing the information found on this site. I hope to become a registered member soon.***

catherine_monaghan@merck.com