Considering a Caterpillar Purchase?

[Capt Josh]

All Cat's suck? Really? Hmmmmmm....

I've got over 6,000 hrs combined on 4 pairs of C-series engines from C-9's - C-30's and no problems. (though i have had trouble with the 435 hp old 3208's but that was an issue more akin to the lack of competence in the service technician we used at the time who was not Cat certified)

Not to mention Cat's offer one of the best warranty and service packages out there for operations outside of USA proper.

In contrast i've had serious problems with Detroits, MANs, Cummins, and Volvos over the years.

Cat always has been, and always will be, the brand of motor for me.

[Russell A. Jost]

All Cat's suck? Really? Hmmmmmm....

I've got over 6,000 hrs combined on 4 pairs of C-series engines from C-9's - C-30's and no problems. (though i have had trouble with the 435 hp old 3208's but that was an issue more akin to the lack of competence in the service technician we used at the time who was not Cat certified)

Not to mention Cat's offer one of the best warranty and service packages out there for operations outside of USA proper.

In contrast i've had serious problems with Detroits, MANs, Cummins, and Volvos over the years.

Cat always has been, and always will be, the brand of motor for me.

Amen to that . I couldn't agree more.

[Flatdog]

Josh perhaps I did not make the point that well so please excuse me, the boat that I'm looking at, has the option of c18's, a skipper from NZ has told me to back away from CAT now I read and hear all this...... There has to be Friday motors in the Marine industry as is in the car industry! This I understand.
So is there a witch hunt on the go? or are there for WORLDWIDE use better motors in the C18 class.
How often are you servicing your motors taking into account the number of hours that you run the the motors.
Perhaps they are like an F1 motor that cannot stand for any length of time without being used to a max rpm on 4 days a week like yourself. How many hours a week you put on your motors? For some of us these are serious questions, especially for the weekend warrior, how often do you have the oil analysis done once a month? once a week? This is now sounding like a rant it is not, Im I'm really just curious at +/-$30k a pop want to get it right first time, as I have a choice motors that could be dropped into hull. thanks in advance for any reply.

[Storm]

I believe what I said was taken somewhat out of context. No where did I write that all Cat's suck. What I said was, "Cat sucks." Cat as a company, sucks. They sold me a lemon engine and it continues to have problems almost nine years down the road to the point where it has almost cost me my livelihood. Everything I've ever worked for, my hopes and dreams, my life long ambitions, are on the verge of being lost because of a piece of crap company and a lemon engine. Meanwhile, I watch my competition forge along with every other type of engine and few issues. Until I get satisfaction, my squeaky wheel will continue to squeak - ad nauseum.

A diesel engine with 6,000 hours hardly deserves bragging rights. I know of plenty of diesel engines on Portland's working waterfront with 20,000 - 30,000 hours.

Last, regular oil samples and proper maintenance hardly play a role in the life expectancy of 3196 and C12 engines. Cat admits to a failure rate of more than 80%. According to a 2001 Caterpillar dealer video conference, Cat representatives fully expected a 50% after-cooler failure rate by 2,000 hours and an anticipated 100% failure rate.


Lube oil in these engines could be changed at 50 hour intervals and the engines still wouldn't last. When the engine ingests sea water because the after-cooler leaks, it's time to start planning for the impending overhaul.

[TomL]

Im on 1600 hours of recreational use in a pair of C-18s rated at 1015hp. (just passed 3 years). I have been religously following the service guidelines in the CAT manual with no issues. They are in a 58' carolina boat, South Florida. Oil changes, filters, zincs, aftercooler maintenance, raw water side flush, breather elements, and clean fuel. All the service, including the 1000 hr interval, can be done without sophisticated equipment. We run them up to WOT at some point in each trip to insure we don't have any cooling issues or other early warning signs. Kinda like owning a Honda, except it need a bit more attention....

great engines.

[Storm]

Ok so Cats suck I've been hearing this from all over the world so what are you going to use Volvo,? Lugger? Cummings? If you were too drop twin 1000hp motors in a 58 ft boat,what would YOU use?

If you've been hearing that Cats suck from all over the world, I guess I've been doing a good job getting my point across. Either that or it's not just me and there seems to be some mutual consensus. As for engines over 1,000 hp, I can't give you an honest opinion. My cousin bought a C-18 Cat for his lobster boat last year and I'm waiting to see what type of problems he encounters. Time will tell. Quite sure his engine is rated at 1,200 hp.

Under 1,000 hp I like the 825 hp 60 Series MTU Detroit - but maybe too heavy for a twin application in a 58-footer. I also like the 525 hp Deere. The new 13.5L Deere at 750 hp might be a winner, although it's another heavyweight at 3,362 lbs.

[Deep C]

Therein lies the problem... Power to weight and what will fit in the go fast sportfishermen boats of today... Nobody has product to fill those needs... After seeing first hand QSM 11 blow ups right out of the box they are off the list. Cat is the only one left standing that can deliver the ponies at the weight and size restrictions needed for a lot of boats...

[Storm]

Therein lies the problem... Power to weight and what will fit in the go fast sportfishermen boats of today... Nobody has product to fill those needs... After seeing first hand QSM 11 blow ups right out of the box they are off the list. Cat is the only one left standing that can deliver the ponies at the weight and size restrictions needed for a lot of boats...

Go fast sportfishermen of today that can afford lightweight twin 1,000 hp diesels can probably afford to feed those ponies and replace them when they blow up. Unfortunately, poor commercial fishermen like me require engines that stay together for the long run. Cat doesn't quite have that part figured out yet. My mistake for buying a pleasure boat engine for my work boat. Milton Cat salesman forgot to tell me that Cat engines don't pass the test of time.

[Deep C]

For commercial applications I would think a Deere or Lugger or some kind of naturally aspirated workhorse would be more in line...
I know a fellow in the Keys that has about 50 foot charter boat... Fishes more than most anybody I know for about 250-maybe even 300 days a year... He's got a pair of ford lehman 165 horse mills that I wouldn't even venture a guess as to their hours but its gotta be staggering. Doesn't go anywhere fast. Takes him 45 minutes to get to the edge six miles out instead of the 20 most regular boats or 12 that the go fasts do. In the long run those few extra minutes don't amount to a great concern...

[Storm]

For commercial applications I would think a Deere or Lugger or some kind of naturally aspirated workhorse would be more in line...
I know a fellow in the Keys that has about 50 foot charter boat... Fishes more than most anybody I know for about 250-maybe even 300 days a year... He's got a pair of ford lehman 165 horse mills that I wouldn't even venture a guess as to their hours but its gotta be staggering. Doesn't go anywhere fast. Takes him 45 minutes to get to the edge six miles out instead of the 20 most regular boats or 12 that the go fasts do. In the long run those few extra minutes don't amount to a great concern...

Here's the big difference between Caterpillar and John Deere:

Caterpillar marine engines are marinized truck engines. The 3208, 3116, 3126, 3176, 3196, and C12 engines all got their start as truck engines, and the list goes on.

How do Cat engines perform in trucks, you ask? Thanks for asking! Here's what Andreas Renschler, director of Daimler Chrysler Truck Group had to say about 2007 Caterpillar engines that were provided for testing: “Not one of Caterpillar’s engines has been able to make over 5,000 miles,” Renschler said. As a result, “we haven't sent a single one to customers for over-the-road testing.”


According to Renschler, Caterpillar's engines are failing in his company's test chambers after only a few miles.


John Deere, on the other hand, designs and manufactures engines specifically for commercial use. You won't find a John Deere engine in a truck.

Caterpillar's legal team came up with this lame duck excuse for the aftercooler problem: "It is appropriate here to recall that thousands of engines falling within the class description are in use every day in harsh marine environments. It is likely that from time to time one or another of them will develop some sort of aftercooler-related problem."

You think? Gee, maybe Cat's design engineers should have considered designing a marine engine that is intended for use in a marine environment. Then again, it appears the company can't even build a reliable truck engine.