Cats vs. Detroits

[MadDoc]

similar hours on Detroit series 60 700 hp vs. Cat 3196 with 660 hp, opinions please?

[darbikrash]

MadDoc - 2/11/2008 5:39 PM

similar hours on Detroit series 60 700 hp vs. Cat 3196 with 660 hp, opinions please?

3196 Cats were plagued with heat exchanger leaking problems, I'd take the Series 60, most are rated 800 hp, 700 is derated.

[MadDoc]

almost all the series 60's I've seen on Ocean 48ss are the 700hp version

[CaptKennyW]

a friend of mine work for the MD bay pilots as a launch capt there pilot boats have series 60s in them they have been rebuilt 3 times per boat and the boats are only 4 years old and these are on 60ft aluminum boats that are pampered as much as a yacht. he said next time they blow they are putting CATs in them

[Moby1]

Both engines had/have their issues. The cats as stated above were plagued with aftercooler problems. I'd pull the serial numbers and give them to a cat dealer and see if they had the necessary updates. The series 60 had issues with head gaskets/cooling if I remember correctly? At 700hp it should be a fairly reliable engine. It has a great track record over the road. Boatdiesel.com is the place to go with this question. Good Luck on the boat.

[LI32]

Is none of the above a choice? Both were really good off-road motors,that when moved from a construction equipment role to boats, didn't fare too well, especially early on. On the plus side most of the problems have been on the marinization side, which CAT has worked out in the C12's (present 3196) and DD has also done have made them much better motors today. depending on the year, a good engine survey will tell a lot. The single biggest factor in pickng is which engine has the best local support.

[MadDoc]

local support it the same, out of Orlando, I think; that was the only thing I didn't like about my Cummins

[steveyacht]

Detroit Series 60.

[capt.gene]

I owned a 600 hp 3196. Buy the Detroit.

[ladyjane]

Detroit 60 derated