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Alaskan or Grand Alaskan ?

Discussion in 'Alaskan Yacht' started by offshore1, Jan 22, 2018.

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  1. offshore1

    offshore1 New Member

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    Looking to purchase one or the other.
    56' Alaskan or 61' 64' Grand.
    Is there much difference between the two ?
    Should I stay clear of one or the other.
    I will not buy a 2 stroke diesel.
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Bad history?
  3. offshore1

    offshore1 New Member

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    2 stoke diesels are a dinosaur.
    The engines were designed to run on sulfur fuel and used it for critical lubrication.
    The low sulfur fuel is killing them.
    That is why there are so many for sale with different hrs or soon to be needing rebuilds.
  4. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I have not seen anything in real life that indicates that the lower Sulphur fuel is shortening their lives. Yes, they are dinosaurs, they're noisy, thirsty, and leak oil everywhere. But they will almost always get you home no matter what is wrong with them. I've done 100,000s of miles with 1000s of those old detroits. They're simple, they run. As long as they have fuel going to them and air, and as long as you can turn them over and they have compression in most cylinders they'll start and run and get you home regardless of what else is going on, on the yacht. Have an issue with the newer electronic diesels engine controls, or electricity, or computer issue and you're stuck.
  5. offshore1

    offshore1 New Member

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    Agree with most of what you said BUT most people run them hard and that does them in with most having less than 3000 hrs.
    The DD 8/92 was NEVER designed to produce 733 HP. They are one of the worst.
    Ask any diesel rebuilder about what motors they are rebuilding and why.
    The low Sulphur fuel is the reason why all the engine manufacturers changed otherwise they would still be building them.
    Boats selling with 2 strokes are much cheaper due to this unless the buyer is unaware of the issues.
  6. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    No, not being able to get them to pass emissions is why MTU dropped the 2 strokes. They stopped building them in 1999, far earlier than when diesel went to low Sulphur in 2008.

    The reason so many people are rebuilding them is because soooooo many yachts from that era have detroits and there are a ton out there and they are at that age (in years and hours) to be needing a rebuild. In the 70's and 80's, it was very odd for a yacht NOT to have detroits in it, a real rarity. Boats are cheap with detroits because they're all 20 years old or more. Sure any diesel at it's highest HP rating is going to have reduced hours......it's all fuel pushed through the motor that determines lifespan.
  7. offshore1

    offshore1 New Member

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    I was strictly talking about DD.
    If you notice on the boats for sale with DD, many have less than 100 hrs on one and approx. 2500 on the other.
    Or many have had both rebuilt and there is approx. 3000-4000 total hrs on the hull. ( est ).
  8. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    So it's not bad history, just a personal preference.
    Some of your logic may be over rated but if you don't want one, You don't have to get one.

    Back to your post;
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Well yeah, it's age. You're talking about 20 (at best)-40 year old engines. Owners don't maintain them. They overheat one and it needs a rebuild. Or they sit for 2-3 years, then the owner does a trip on a motor that's all rusty and crusty inside from lack of use and something lets go. It's just like anything else. It's not just hours, it's age and maintenance.
  10. PacBlue

    PacBlue Senior Member

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    Just to be clear, the Penske owned Detroit Diesel Corporation retired the Marine (Off-Highway) two-strokes as they had no budget assigned to have them meet the upcoming emissions requirements. Penske had DD from 1988 to 1999, they started to partner in a joint-venture with MTU on 4-stroke development in 1994, but Penske had no 2-stroke engine moves left to make. MTU was a subsidiary of Daimler-Benz at that stage. DaimlerChrysler stepped in and bought Penske DD in 2000 and DaimlerChrysler later in 2000 formed the Off-Highway (including Marine) business under MTU DD, which was all four-stroke except for the ongoing Military Sales of 2-Stroke DD's that continue to this day.