Volvo engine help please

[Dave Williams]

I am interested in a used boat which has a Volvo engine. It is a model MD11C. Any input re: Volvo in general and this model in particular would be much appreciated. I have never looked into an engine compartment that was as clean as this one, spotless is the word, which I think speaks well of the care of the present owner. It has 1500 run hours. Input across the board so far is that they are good engines but expensive to work on and parts may be an issue.

Thanks much in advance.
Dave

[Noah]

I have an MD11C with 110S saildrive in my Swede 55. I believe it's a 1977 engine original to the boat. Raw water cooled.

I have no idea of the engine hours, but after a thorough acid flush last year it runs cool and like a top. I have never had to replace anything other than standard parts: Impeller, Oil Filter, etc. I did replace the saildrive gasket with was really expensive.

I was ready to replace the engine when I purchased the boat due to overheating, but it turned out to be a collapsed intake hose - replacement fixed the problem.

I have only had the engine for 2 years, now and probably only put 10 hours on it total so I can't give much info.

Good luck,

Noah

[Dave Williams]

Noah,

Thanks for the input. I think they are pretty well respected engines. Any insight on parts availability.

Dave

[jimmy]

I have the even older MD2B, which shares a lot of parts. Parts are still available, but are very expensive, although I hear that is the case with a lot of "marine" engines. Pretty much the only place you can get parts is through a Volvo dealer.

[Dave Williams]

Thanks Jimmy. How much use have yours seen? Any issues? Anyone else?

Here's to kindness,
Dave

[jimmy]

oops, sorry I didn't respond right away. Probably too late for you, but maybe not for someone searching the archive with the same question. The MD2B has probably been in my boat for almost 30 years. I don't know how much use it gets because the boat didn't come with logs or an hourmeter. It has been getting progressively harder to start in the time I have owned it (8 years) and it is finally time to have it rebuilt or replaced since I can't get it started reliably (although it runs fine once it is started). Opinions seem to be split between rebuilding it and replacing it. These engines are really heavily built (literally - it weighs over 500lbs) and may have gone 20-30 years without needing a rebuild. Almost anything I replace it with is unlikely to last that long.