Tartan 3400 Diesel Engine Change

Rustyf · #1 03-01-2010

Does anyone know why Tartan switched from Yanmar Diesels to Volvo Penta?

sailingdog · #2 03-01-2010

Probably because Yanmar cut them off for non-payment...

olson34 · #3 03-01-2010

Probably because Volvo has had the most aggressive (i.e. break-even or less) OEM pricing policies since they hit the production sailboat market in the 70's. As many an owner has found out over the decades, they make up for it with stratospheric markups on parts.

Not much changes in the OEM market. Ya gotta figure that reps from Universal, Yanmar, and Volvo are always doing a lot of wining and dining for any boat builder.

I always find it interesting when a builder (usually higher-end) goes with the more expensive Betamarine engine... which can be a good sign.

L

sailingdog · #4 03-01-2010

Olson—

I'd point out that Tartan actually has a lot of lawsuits against it currently, many by vendors, ranging from West Marine to Yanmar, to their previous law firm... I doubt that Yanmar much cares about what Tartan does, at least until Tartan has paid for the engines and saildrives that it has received already.

However, Jackett, Ross, Novis, Fairport Marine, or whatever other names they are using, have proven themselves to be rather unethical, dodgy people...with a track record of dropping any responsibility, both legal and financial, for their debts and their obligations to the owners of the boats they built.

scottmillington · #5 03-01-2010

Without getting into the piling on of Tartan reputation problems, I do believe that the Yanmar saildrive system experienced some problems.
I think there are some lawsuits between Tartan and Yanmar over the
responsibility of pre-mature corrotion of the saildrive housing. Volvo saildrives seem to have held up better. I don't think the saildrive problems of Yanmar are limitted to the Tartan sailboats.

blt2ski · #6 03-01-2010

Scotts post is more correct than SD's, there were some corrosion issues witht he Yanmar drive, none for folks with the Volvo. I have a friend with a C&C 115, they are glad they have the Volvo vs the yanmar.

marty