March 2003

Fabrice, spare parts division at KIRIAKUOLIS Le Marin, Martinique (with 30 ships)

"One year ago (in 2002) we had obtained 8 new ships for our Martinique branch, 4 Dufour Gib'Sea 51' and 4 Dufour Gib'Sea 43'. All were equipped with Volvo Penta MD 22 engines, and with these 8 Volvo Penta MD 22 motors we only have problems.

Very strong corrosion in the entire electronics, from that continually contact problems. Already in the 1st business year we have continually disturbances of the motors and the aggregates because of corrosion and repairs eternal from that.

From the 8 motors 6 motors had in the 1st business year (!!) rich gear defects, 3 gears at the Dufour Gib'Sea 51 and 3 gears at the Dufour Gib'Sea 43. All these 6 gears were changed on guarantee.

We have approx. 30 ships here in Martinique, from that 10 catamarans (Bahia 46, Belize 43, Laveszzi 40, Athena 38), therefore 2 times 10 engines. Not a single ship has any more Volvo Penta engines, even if Volvo Penta offers spares to us now significant cheaper than Yanmar does. They are all equipped only with Yanmar. Since we rearranged from Volvo Penta on to Yanmar, we do not have any problems any more. The single repair at all Yanmar motors until today was the exchange of a cylinder head gasket, nothing else."

April 2003

Meldon Danja Woods, St. Vincent, Blue Lagoon, SVG, engine manager at Sunsail (locally 40 ships) and TMM

Info Tel. 01784.5282250 / 4575802, email funtours@vincysurf.com

"The Volvo-Penta MD 22 is not an engine for a hard job as for example the large Perkins. It does not stand for long term. The attrition is very high if one loads it intensively.

The Volvo-Penta MD 22 needs a lot of servicing, care and maintenance. That costs a lot of money, because all engine parts around the block must be refreshed unusual often, when one does not want to have any problems on the way.

The Volvo-Penta MD 22 needs a lot of ventilation. It will be hot very fast. It runs perhaps in cold districts with less problems. In warm areas or especially in the tropics this engine is always too hot.

The Volvo-Penta gearbox, that normally comes with the MD 22 (MS 2), is very bad. It is too small for the engine and continually overburdened. If one decides for the MD 22, one should absolutely ensure the Volvo-Penta gearbox is not being supplied, but the Hurth transmission. That is much better.

The Volvo Penta 4 cylinder short block is identical with the Perkins Prima."

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