480 DB Owners Club

So he's lowered his GPH recommendations even further? I haven't run across that yet. But that's not a good sign. That seems to imply that the engines are destined to eventually thermally destruct, and that it's just a case of when that happens. By continuing to lower fuel burn recommendations are we just trying to prolong the "when" as far as possible?

20-22 knots is a fine speed, especially for the size of the boat. The Cats can safely cruise faster, but they aren't without their issues, too. Glad to see these recommendations still produce cruising speeds over 20 knots!

I'd love to hear numbers from other Cummins owners, too!
The issue is not thermal destruction but rather saving the exhaust manifold and gaskets. If the QSM's had wet exhaust we wouldn't be talking about it. I just put the 52DB back in the water last week; had the props, shafts, bearings, couplings, and seals refurbished/replaced as well as the bottom done. When the props were in the shop I had 75-100 RPM added to the engines. No hard fuel data yet but went from 2250RPM at 99% load and 27.2 knots to 2420RPM at 95% load and 30.4 knots full fuel and water. Bahamas trip first of Sept so better data after that. The boat liked 1800 RPM before; we'll see where it want's to run now.
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If Aaron's boat is for sale........quit shopping and buy it!

Right boat
Right year
Right engines
Right owner (very experienced, knows the technical stuff, and cares
Right maintenance history

Thanks Frank, the reasons you listed are why I'm not totally convinced on selling. This has honestly been the best boat we've ever owned but I've got my eye on something...and that's where it starts!
 
If Aaron's boat is for sale........quit shopping and buy it!

Right boat
Right year
Right engines
Right owner (very experienced, knows the technical stuff, and cares
Right maintenance history

Absolutely will go see it if and when it’s listed for sale. Not having to buy a plane ticket to go see it is a big plus!
 
Thanks, we took a pre-survey ride on Friday and both on-engine gauges were reading 220! I'm not real familiar with the CAT displays but thought I saw 195 while scrolling through. The owner said he'd never had any aftercooler/HE service done because the boat runs great...
 
Thanks, we took a pre-survey ride on Friday and both on-engine gauges were reading 220! I'm not real familiar with the CAT displays but thought I saw 195 while scrolling through. The owner said he'd never had any aftercooler/HE service done because the boat runs great...
Quality Time,
I am not anything near an expert on the CATs 3196, I just follow the advise of others (Such as Frank Webster) and follow my mechanics advise and yearly work schedule. FWIW, my mechanic told me not to be too worried when I see a temp reading of 201 (typically I run at 199), but he said if I saw 207 or above, to pull back on and to give him a call right away. 220 seems real high to me, but I would check with other people who are much more knowledgeable.
 
Agreed, a mechanic friend said that's way too high as I was already sure myself. Just wish I could have verified which gauge was correct during the short ride. I kept this info to myself until we returned and could talk to my friend, the potential buyer in private.
 
Thanks, we took a pre-survey ride on Friday and both on-engine gauges were reading 220! I'm not real familiar with the CAT displays but thought I saw 195 while scrolling through. The owner said he'd never had any aftercooler/HE service done because the boat runs great...

My CAT 3196 manual says typical jacket water coolant temp range is 186 to 207F. Maximum allowable is 216F.

During the summer on the St. Johns river in Jacksonville my digital readouts at the helm indicate 199 degrees engine water temp cruising at 80% load and 201 degrees when I do a full power test. Temps are a couple of degrees less than that in colder water during the winter.

Does anyone know if the local temp gauges on the engines measure the same spot on the engines as the sensors for the digital helm readouts? Could the local gauges on the engine indicate oil temp while the helm readout indicates water temp? My CAT manual says the max oil temp at full load is 220 degrees--coincidence? Is anyone on their boat so they can go look to see how the gauges on the engines are labeled?
 
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Good thought but I took this pic during the ride and it’s clearly marked water jacket temp (just noticed that today). You can also see the analog gauge on the bridge is almost in the red assuming the top right is temp. Sorry for the sideways pic.
 
View attachment 59085 View attachment 59086 Good thought but I took this pic during the ride and it’s clearly marked water jacket temp (just noticed that today). You can also see the analog gauge on the bridge is almost in the red assuming the top right is temp. Sorry for the sideways pic.

Yes, top right is temp. I have the same CAT helm instruments. Just like in your photo, my helm analog gauge temp needles are almost, but not quite, in the red when I run at 80% power (about 1950 RPMs) when my digital readouts indicate 199F.

I think you're right that the jacket water temp on the local engine gauge is too high--but that's not a knowledgeable opinion as I have different local gauges. My 2001 3196s have just two gauges on each engine...one is engine hours and I think the other gauge is oil pressure, but I have to admit that I really don't remember. So I've run out of experience/advice/opinion other than suggesting that your friend mention this to his diesel inspector when he sea trials the boat.
 
Thanks for your input. Glad to hear that your analog gauges read almost in the red at cruise also. I'd like to hear if others also confirm this as we were running around 1850. I assumed the middle hash mark would indicate the normal temp range.
 
The new to me 2001 480 has both door latches on heads not working correctly. I am struggling online finding the replacements. Can anyone point me in the right direction. I am going to call Flounder Pounder tomorrow and see if they have them.
 
Thanks for your input. Glad to hear that your analog gauges read almost in the red at cruise also. I'd like to hear if others also confirm this as we were running around 1850. I assumed the middle hash mark would indicate the normal temp range.
I think I can help here. I have the 3196's and have done as much reserach as possible to know everything. The Cat should run at 192-195 at idle up to 1100rpm. At cruise, you should be 199-201/3. Above this number, start digging. Get an oil sample and verify that NA is not in double digits. Also dont rely on the guages in the engine room, they are known to fail. Use the Cat monitor at the helm. Scroll the the correct readout, which in my case is #2. I tear down my aftercoolers and have them pressure tested and cleaned every two years. I run in NC water which is 80-89 degrees all summer. My engines do not go above 199. Hope that helps.
 
Question for y'all. Woould you install Green or Smoke Polycarbonate on the flybridge. My Sunbrella is Black, but I would like to add some color? Love to hear the thoughts. Thanks.
 
Question for y'all. Woould you install Green or Smoke Polycarbonate on the flybridge. My Sunbrella is Black, but I would like to add some color? Love to hear the thoughts. Thanks.

From sunglasses, green distorts color. It's hard enough to find those damn channel markers in the distance at times so I wouldn't do anything to make that harder. Of course, that may be the polarization of the lenses adding to the challenge. But if you're going to tint, I'd go smoke. Added bonus: when you wear blue, you won't clash with your boat!
 
I think I can help here. I have the 3196's and have done as much reserach as possible to know everything. The Cat should run at 192-195 at idle up to 1100rpm. At cruise, you should be 199-201/3. Above this number, start digging. Get an oil sample and verify that NA is not in double digits. Also dont rely on the guages in the engine room, they are known to fail. Use the Cat monitor at the helm. Scroll the the correct readout, which in my case is #2. I tear down my aftercoolers and have them pressure tested and cleaned every two years. I run in NC water which is 80-89 degrees all summer. My engines do not go above 199. Hope that helps.

Thanks Matt, do you find that your analog temp gauge reads almost in the red when at normal operating temps?
 
Thanks Matt, do you find that your analog temp gauge reads almost in the red when at normal operating temps?
Yes, that is spot on. The analog gauge at the helm sits just off the red...thats why I scroll through my menu and keep one on the temp readout and the other on either RPM. Once cruising, I have both reading temp and just use the analog gauges for RPM.
 
Yes, that is spot on. The analog gauge at the helm sits just off the red...thats why I scroll through my menu and keep one on the temp readout and the other on either RPM. Once cruising, I have both reading temp and just use the analog gauges for RPM.

Analog gauges seem to be this way a lot. On my 320, the engine temp gauges show over 195 (proper operating temp is 165-175). The first year I had the boat, this totally freaked me out. So I bought an I/R temperature gun from Harbor Freight and "shot" the engines while hot. Wouldn't you know... 165 +/-. Realizing I couldn't often open the hatch to check engine temps while operating with people on board, I decided to connect my SmartCraft engines to a NMEA200 network using a gateway (I had SC-enabled engines, but no gauges). Now I get digital-readout engine data on my chart plotter and can see the engine temps sitting at 165-170 all the time. Meanwhile, the analog gauges still show lot an overheating condition is imminent... lol.

Long story, I know. The point being: analog gauges are sometimes way off. Still, it would upset me having to look at the temp gauges nestled right up to the RED unless I had another data source - like the Cat monitor - for reference.

EDIT: In re-reading this entire thread (yes, really) I came across posts #674 and #675 where this same discussion was had. Temp gauges on Cats DO appear to normally run right up to the
RED.
 
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