460DA performance

osd9

osd9

New Member
Oct 3, 2006
4,874
MidAtlantic
Boat Info
2003 410DA
Engines
Caterpillar 3126-TA w/ ZF 80-IV
I'm tyring to kick up my 460DA search a notch and was wondering what type of "real" numbers you 460DA owners are seeing with respect to cruise speed and economy. I know Volvo's were an option, but most likely I see myself with Cummins...either the 6C's or 6CE's depending on the year.

Most likely looking at 2001-2003...I think late 2002 or 2003's had the CE's but I'm not sure.

I'm VERY happy with the performance and ESPECIALLY the economy of the CATs in my 410DA. I'm just wondering what to expect.

Also, what type of effect would the Hardtop and/or hydraulic platform have?

thanks in advance...I appreciate the help.
 
Four Suns said:
osd9 said:
I see myself with Cummins...either the 6C's or 6CE's
Click to expand...

The sky is falling.
Click to expand...

When I was typing it in, some how I just KNEW that you would say something like that.... :smt043 Either that, or something about a vibrator.... :grin:
 
The real skinny on the 460

I'm running a 2001 460 with 6C's. I have a HT but only a std swim platform (no TNT lift) These engines have a WOT of 2650 RPM and when clocked back to 85% cruise 2250, you'll get 18.9 knots with full fuel and water and reasonable amount of gear. Fuel consumption will run over 33 gals per hr @ 2250. WOT about 23.5knts and fuel at 50 gals per hr.

These big cummins have a sweet spot for fuel consumption vs. speed at about 1900 RPMs where spec is about 15.5 -16 knots and the fuel consumption is about 22 gals per hr. . These engines are all mechanical, easy to work on except for access. The 460 has a blind element for the stb. engine with cablemaster. The outboard side of the engine is inaccessable except for the fine employees of Drawrfs.Com.

I can give you volumes on the boat ... where it counts which is below decks. PM me and we can set up a call.
 
Wow...I'm a little shocked at the performance and economy numbers!

Are you're Fuel burn numbers from experience or Cummins specs?

And thanks for the feedback...
 
While over in the far country(Bahamas), we ran into several 46 DA. Every one of them really liked the boat but Didnt like the fuel consumption. My 450DA with Cat 3126's gets 2200rpm, 19knts at right about 20gph give or take alittle. Have you thought about a 95-99 450DA? You know how those big cats handle!!!!! :cool: JC
Or you could look at a good used 68SSS WITH THOSE BIG CATS!!!!
JC
 
JC3 said:
While over in the far country(Bahamas), we ran into several 46 DA. Every one of them really liked the boat but Didnt like the fuel consumption. My 450DA with Cat 3126's gets 2200rpm, 19knts at right about 20gph give or take alittle. Have you thought about a 97-99 450DA? JC
Click to expand...

I would have been in a 45DA right now except that the admiral had a few mis-givings about the layout down below...it's been said before, and I'll say it again....if the admiral ain't happy the navy ain't happy....otherwise, I would be in a 42 DB as I type....

My 410DA is running 21-23 Knots at 2250-2375 RPM. Over the course of this season (68.2 Hours and counting), and 6 full Tanks of fuel (just took on my 7th tank Saturday) I am averaging 16.8 Gal/ Hr. That includes idling through no wake zones and coming into some ports. The worst Fuel mileage I got, which included some very heavy seas, was a tank full that I ran 95% on plane at cruise was 21 Gal/ HR. I can count on 1 (or slightly over) Statue Mile Per Gallon.....

I may just have to re-think my move up for bit.....

I'm editing my own statement...I haven't gone through 6 full tanks...in fact, the most fuel I've taken at any fill is 195 gallons and once as little as 75 gallons just to top off the tanks....I should have said 6 fuel stops....
 
DOM, You are right on the layout below. The washer/dryer was a big hit during our vacation but the seating is terrible! We are currently trying to figure out how to fix that. We intend to overhaul that this winter. We also saw and talked to alot of big SeaRay bridge owners. Went inside most of them and really liked them alot.
JC
 
There ya go Dominic... You need a 480 DB with some big honkin' CUMMINS in it.
 
Dom,
When you come on over to Team Cummins, I bet Frank H will take that snazzy CAT flag off your hands, minus appropriate depreciation, of course. Also, I have a very spiffy Cummins Marine chrome emblem identical to the one on the transom of Truly Blessed II (forever immortalized in Gary's cruising the Chesapeake post, iwth a truly superb digital photo) that I will give, yes give you, just because we Cummins dudes are big hearted types, content in our propulsion choice, quietly humble, and therefore not given to overt demonstrations regarding the specific manufacturer of our thundering cathedrals of torque.

I run 6CTA 8.3s and my average fuel consumption last year was 21.5 GPH, and the sweet spot on the 420DA is 2100 RPMs, 23.5-24.5 knots. This year I am running just a bit faster, running longer trips, and my average consumption is 22.5 GPH.

Welcome. Cummins Nation is happy to have you join us good old boys.

Git 'er Done!
regards
Skip
 
I put a few hours on the boat each year. Most costs associated with boating are far greater than the fuel. As far as differences in economy between brands of diesels.... there's really not much difference. The fuel only contains so many BTU's and all of the manufacturers are pretty good at extracting all they can.
 
I appreciate all the welcomes and offers from the Cummins crew....... BUT...doesn't some of the 510DAs come with CATs...3406/8's...... :smt017 ......hmmmmm......

Oh Honey....can we talk.... :grin:
 
460's

I think the fuel burn issue with the 460 is it's a heavy boat.

I estimte that loaded its 35000 lbs. , These same 6c's in a 42 would be producing an entirely different burn profile. The 460 simply neededs more horses to be efficient.

CSR doesn't have many 460's but I suspect the later models with the Q's give much better fuel performance and distance over the bottom per gallon.

I don't know about those because I just pay attention to getting my boat right as she wants to be.
 
The Cat flag would be nice but I am still trying to figure out how I can replace my 3126's with 5 or 6 out boards (I personally like Mercury's) like Gary did so I don't have to worry about water depth!

I have not used ImpulseIII for the past month as I have been bumming rides on other boats. We took a trip to Wildwood NJ this past weekend and my speed topped out at 22 Knots. I think I have a tap root or something growing on the bottom of the boat as performance went into the tank!! I almost look forward to the end of the season to get the boat pulled and see what new life forms have taken over the bottom of the boat.

Yeah, I know, I should have taken better care of the bottom and had it cleaned.......lazy..only excuse! :smt021
 
Dom, I burn a little less in my rig that Chad does, I have the 480CE's. He is right that the burn rate will be higher than your 410, it is aLOT bigger boat. We had mechancal 450C's in our 41- these "sudo-electronic" burn cleaner-quieter and less vibration than our mechanicals. Don't let a little thing like a few more gph stop you from the "next-level". Remember-Clean T-shirts all the time! I don't have my ship's log infront of me but our average burn is somewhere around 26 gph. The highest all year is 32 gph running the boat for 9 hours stratight in seas. The difference in running a 410 vs. a 460 is the 460 will cruise slower than the 410's/420's do. We run our boat at 25-26 mph. Our 410 we ran at 30 mph. We don't miss the 4-5 mph!
 
Avg. Fuel

Dom, when I cruised thr Abacos this past June I averaged 26 GPH which constituted mostly crusing speeds at 1900-2100 RPMs and 17-19 knots.
 
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