Marine diesel

[BoeingDiesel]

Anyone on the TDR have any experience with marine diesel engines?
Question; if you had your 'druthers would you replace existing power with new Cat or Cummins? Caterpillar seems to offer more options in 900-1200 HP power range than Cummins, but then there is the issue of reliability, durable and TBO hours.

 

[HPSimpson]

Yes I have pair CAT 3126 470HP 42' boat, if the day comes to re--power I probably would serious think _____?

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Looks like the Cat C18 Acert matches the original 3412's in terms of hull displacement etc.

 

[EDankievitch]

Not sure if my experience will help. I’m now the assistant port engineer at a state run ferry system. But before this I was a Chief engineer and a marine service Tec. That all said I’m not impressed with the new electronic CAT engines. I’ve run C9’s and C35-16’s when they were new they were awesome. Once the warranty ran out an they got some hours on them the headaches started. We would put roughly 3000-6000 hours a year on those engines. I’m currently involved in a major re power one of our boats. We are going with a set of EMD engines. Yes CAT now owns them. So time will tell. All the EMD engines I’ve run in the past just worked.
that said for your application I would be looking into Cummins or Detroit. Cummins will just run. They are an engine only company their products have to work as advertised or they go out of business. CAT the marine division is small and in my opinion doesn’t get the attention it should. CAT would rather build mining equipment.

 

[HPSimpson]

Boeing the Cat diesels boat is used to haul supplies to west side of Catalina Island, since this is sort my deal lift stuff off the boat would definitely raise a serious look at like Homer is bit gone! I do only when ocean is calm at this usual at night, so I had no real trouble with the engines I usual take to Cat dealer in Long Beach each year for maintenance. Much better and since of others toys to maintain.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Not sure if my experience will help. I’m now the assistant port engineer at a state run ferry system. But before this I was a Chief engineer and a marine service Tec. That all said I’m not impressed with the new electronic CAT engines. I’ve run C9’s and C35-16’s when they were new they were awesome. Once the warranty ran out an they got some hours on them the headaches started. We would put roughly 3000-6000 hours a year on those engines. I’m currently involved in a major re power one of our boats. We are going with a set of EMD engines. Yes CAT now owns them. So time will tell. All the EMD engines I’ve run in the past just worked.
that said for your application I would be looking into Cummins or Detroit. Cummins will just run. They are an engine only company their products have to work as advertised or they go out of business. CAT the marine division is small and in my opinion doesn’t get the attention it should. CAT would rather build mining equipment.

Thanks ED...your experience is exactly my concern with the new technology and everything electronic. I'll do some further research into Cummins marine power options and thanks for mentioning Detroit...I didn't consider the Detroit option.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Boeing the Cat diesels boat is used to haul supplies to west side of Catalina Island, since this is sort my deal lift stuff off the boat would definitely raise a serious look at like Homer is bit gone! I do only when ocean is calm at this usual at night, so I had no real trouble with the engines I usual take to Cat dealer in Long Beach each year for maintenance. Much better and since of others toys to maintain.

Thanks HP... this is for the fishing toy that we take down and back uphill. Last thing I want is to get stuck in the trough. Cat dealer in LB..? There used to be, maybe still is, a Cat mechanic near Santa Fe and Anaheim St.

 

[Wayne M.]

I follow a couple of marine diesel joints on insta, and they’re doing lots of Maine lobster boat repower jobs and all I see are Scania’s and maybe a Yanmar once in a while going in.
If this were 30 years ago I’d say Cat all the way but so much has changed. Seems that the only constant is that Cummins is still an American engine company, and still seems serious about their business. They’ve handled the changes and the US emissions battle real well.
If I had to make a snap decision right now without knowing more, I’d go Cummins.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Thanks Wayne. After talking with a few users including the TDR the consensus points to Cummins.

 

[EDankievitch]

I forgot about Scania they seem to have a solid reputation. The cylinder jug and head is one piece no head gasket. On a few of there models. The tugboat guys were over the top in love with Johndeer until the first overhaul... the feeling is they are disposable. Run them then replace rather than rebuild. Volvo makes a nice engine but a lot of electric Tec on them an parts get $$$

 

[Wayne M.]

After experiencing the Mack MP7 aka Volvo D13 and I’m sure the same penta equivelant, there is no way I’d go that route. They just don’t age too well and lots of cooling system issues from the get go.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

After doing more research it appears that the Cummins equal, in terms of HP, will increase the vessel weight by about +6000-lbs. which means it will have to go to a marine engineer to meet CG requirements. Could be skipping the new and go with rebuild. BOAT * 60
Thanks everyone for your input, I do appreciate it.

 

[HPSimpson]

After doing more research it appears that the Cummins equal, in terms of HP, will increase the vessel weight by about +6000-lbs. which means it will have to go to a marine engineer to meet CG requirements. Could be skipping the new and go with rebuild. BOAT * 60
Thanks everyone for your input, I do appreciate it.

That is quite bit of weight added to vessel, I was recently stopped again by Coast Guard and DEA there has been quite bit of enforcement due drugs coming up the coast from south of the boarder. They usual looking at the paper work look at engines and all hatches, they were bit curious with fuel tanks mounted on aft deck, they were empty I was returning to Marina Del Ray to fill up.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Yeah...the CG can become quite picky and rightfully so. Always welcome them aboard. I read a true account of a mod' to a trawler that wasn't engineered and severely altered the original hull righting arm, and it rolled over.

 

[SnoKing]

The MTU Series 60 is the Detroit series 60. MTU has a very good rep in the marine engine department. They have a 825HP version, I do not know if there is a higher HP model. The series 60 is a bullet proof engine. 3600 lbs.

https://www.boattest.com/engine-review/MTU/309_Series-60

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Thanks Snoking, I will have a look...

 

[JR]

Boeing can I ask what is currently powering your boat? 3000lbs per engine is a serious delta!

 

[AH64ID]

I’ve heard great things about MTU’s. My dad works on some of the higher hp ones for his clients.

It’s been close to 20 years since I worked around boats, but at the time it seemed all the high hp motors were Cats.

 

[SnoKing]

MTU is now the dominant high power engine in Yachts. BUT, what do I know I only had two 4BT150's in our 33 footer.

 

[BoeingDiesel]

Boeing can I ask what is currently powering your boat? 3000lbs per engine is a serious delta!

3412E 1015 BHP. finished weight around 6400 per engine. The Cummins (I think this is the one) KT38 dry was around 9000. It's not just the engines to consider but all of the associated systems that are proprietary to the Cat.