Greetings: I hope to be the new owner of a 2007 39 Sovran. Survey will be in two weeks. Anything in particular I should look for? The boat has the IPS 500's, generation B with less than 400 hours.
The previous owner had it in front of his condo, so really was a day boat. The good news is that it is a one owner boat and I have access to all the maintenance records. Looks like he ran it consistently about 40 to 50 hours a year. Changed fluids each year, etc. Fresh water boat.
Have a serious Volvo tech bore scope the exhaust valves & seats. IPS 500 was the 370 HP version and 2009 was the last year this set up was available (new). 5.5 liters seems thin also for a 39 footer (IMO) but reviews have it running WOT over 30 kts. I am not saying this is a bad deal or package, just it's 8 years old and lack of use can be an issue. Rusted exhaust valves & seats seems to be my peeve these last couple of years on very low hour engines. Is this a similar model your looking at? http://www.boattest.com/review/tiara/1217_3900-sovran
Yes, I plan to have a Volvo Tech go through it. Thanks for the direction on potential issues. And yes, the boat test review you attached is the boat. The Boat is in Alexandria Bay New York. Does anyone know a good Volvo source in this area?
That really isn't lack of use in the Great Lakes, it's actually average or even below average by most standards around here since they are stored half of the year.
We previously owned a 2008 39 Sovran... Ensure that all the upgrades were done on the motors (upgraded strainers, belts, pulleys etc). When the boat is surveyed, have them pay close attention and make sure there is no moisture in the swim platform. I didn't have this issue, but from what my surveyor said, its a frequent problem. The boat is laid out well for its size and very efficient at crusie. It was perfect for my wife and I from a living perspective. That being said, it wasn't the best sea keeping boat in head seas and is one of the wettest boats I've ever run. Feel free to PM me if you have questions/you'd like to discuss the boat... I got to know her quite well. Max
Hey Peter, would like to know if you got the boat, issues likes or dislikes ect also any info you got from other members such as Maxwell that you can pass on would be great, I am just starting to look and the sovarn 39 and 43 are getting my attention. thanks David
Hi David, Do you have any specific questions about either boat? How and where do you plan on using it (day trips, rivers etc off shore)? How many people do you need to regularly accommodate?
Hey thanks for quick response, I plan on using between palm beach to Bahamas and then around Abaco and Grand Bahamas. Would like to take it around other islands in the Bahamas as well so some longer trips as well. The number of people would usually be 2 but no more than 4.
Peter, I delivered one of these from Sandusky to New Buffalo last summer, and it ran pretty darn good. Left Sandusky early am and ran up to Rogers City the first day and the last 30 miles or so the weather kicked up and we were facing a good 4-5' head sea and it just ate through it, obviously I backed off the throttle a little so my father in law on his first delivery trip wanted to come with me again, but the boat did good. After a half day weather delay the next day I ran from Rogers City to Frankfort, MI and had no issues. On the last day ran from Frankfort to New Buffalo and had to add about a gallon of oil to the Starboard engine as it had been low from the previous day. I thought the 370's were a little skinny for it, and thought at least a 400 or 425 rated would suit it better, but it was still pretty efficient and ran very well. Hope that helps.
i am also looking at the moment at these 2 choices and wondering if there are any major differences that i should be aware of. ?
IPS 500 with Volvo D6 370 was available New up until 2020, when they updated the range for the fall of last year. Not it is a D6 - 380. 5.5 liter is good enough for most 39 footers (around 10 tons) unless it has the hull of a big and build of gold. IPS600 is the same 5.5 liter engines as is the new (from 2020) IPS650 480hp.